Hey there!

I took a break from my usual type-type-type mode of working yesterday, and spent the day in the studio at Microcosm Publishing, recording an audiobook.

And I hope it's good, because those may be the last words I ever speak. 😅

Wow is my voice tired today.

I was recording the audiobook for my creative productivity guide, From Chaos to Creativity: Building a Productivity System for Artists and Writers.

I've wanted to see this book (and my other nonfiction) in audio for a long time now, but because I'm working with a traditional publisher on these, it wasn't as simple as "just go hire someone and do it."

But a month ago, my publisher and I decided that now was the right time to make something happen.

With fiction, readers typically want to hear an audiobook read by a professional, amazing narrator. (Like the marvelous J.S. Arquin, who narrated my Bulari Saga and Nanshe Chronicles series.)

But with nonfiction, it's much more common for the author to narrate the book. Readers like to hear the author's voice describing their own concepts.

I spent the whole day recording.

While the process was really fun, it was also... weird.

Revisiting your own work after so many years is a bit uncomfortable. Especially a book like From Chaos to Creativity, where 2019 Jessie is confidently talking about how she's got it all figured out.

(2026 Jessie still does not have it figured out, sorry!)

Some of my processes have changed a bit, but I was very pleased to find that I still stand behind everything that I wrote in that book, and my overall theory still stands.

A creative productivity system is necessary to find time for your art. You need a system to help you confidently capture the chaos of incoming projects and demands on your time, and to help you prioritize so you know that you're working on the right thing in the right moment.

And, you know what?

I wrote a damn good book about that, and the audio version is going to be even more helpful to people!

While I was in the studio, we also recorded a couple episodes for Microcosm's People's Guide to Publishing podcast, with Elly Blue, Joe Biel, and Bernie the Pup.

Granted, Bernie didn't say much. But he did spent the entire time sitting on my lap, being adorable. So he contributed quite a bit.

This was my first time recording a full audiobook, and my voice is super sore this morning. I spent last night sucking on throat lozenges and drinking honey and lemon, so I'm sure it'll feel better soon!

I have another few recording sessions scheduled to record the other three books that I have published with Microcosm. I'm so excited to see those out in the world!

I'll let you know when they're available.

For Your TBR

If you're a fan of psychic suspense, I've got something exciting to share with you today.

My friend Matty Dalrymple is doing something very fun with her Ann Kinnear Suspense Novel series. She's serializing book 7 directly on Substack!

For those who aren't familiar, the Ann Kinnear series follows a psychic-for-hire who helps to solve crime with her unique abilities and it's earned a devoted following in the psychic thriller space. Serializing a novel is a throwback to the classic tradition of Dickens-style storytelling, combined with all the benefits of technological advancement.

If you'd like to follow along as the story unfolds, you can find Matty's Substack here: https://annkinnear7serial.substack.com/​

And if you think this might resonate with a fellow reader, Matty would appreciate it if you'd consider sharing or recommending her Substack as well!

This is the kind of creative experiment I love seeing authors try. Go give Matty some love!

Terra Blanca Insurrection by Zoë Routh Zoë and I connected at Author Nation last year, talking about our nonfiction books. It was only after we'd been swapping ideas on running coaching businesses and hosting webinars that we started talking about our books. When she described her series, I was delighted. "My Bulari Saga readers would love that premise!" I said. And you can get the first book (including the audio!) for free. -- Rylie Addison faces the greatest leadership challenge of her life. As climate change ravages the world, leaving millions displaced, Rylie is handpicked by the enigmatic Maja Garcia of Gaia Enterprises to govern Terra Blanca, an unprecedented man-made island community for climate refugees. Thrust into a new world of power and responsibility, Rylie must navigate the treacherous waters of team dynamics and power struggles as she fights to make Terra Blanca a beacon of hope amidst the chaos. But her mission takes a sinister turn when a secret agent infiltrates the community, hell-bent on testing the innovative governance and social structures that form the backbone of the ambitious social experiment. As the stakes rise and the fragile foundations of Terra Blanca begin to crumble, Rylie is forced to confront her own beliefs and faces a leadership decision that could change the course of history. Can she find the strength to make the right choice, or will her actions lead to the downfall of the very people she has vowed to protect? Immerse yourself in the thrilling world of Terra Blanca, where every decision counts, and the future of humanity hangs in the balance. A.G. Riddle meets Emily St John Mandel in this gripping techno thriller prequel to the Gaia series—a tale of courage, ambition, and the relentless pursuit of a better world. Perfect for readers who love smart, suspenseful science fiction with big ideas and bigger consequences. Get My Copy!

Happy reading,

Jessie