An Autumn Letter
Let's talk books, adding to the beauty (not the noise), and our next supper club!
Welcome! If you’re new here, I’m Bailey—a writer and adjunct faculty from Northern California. These weekly essays are for the old souls and the quietly hopeful, offering reflections on literature, life with God, and living healthy even alongside our deepest longings.
Hello friends,
How are you? I’ve really looked forward to writing and sharing this week’s letter. Autumn always brings with it a fresh desire to curl up and write — and tonight it’s blustery and cool (and a bit humid) here in Northern California. We had a yummy pink sunset, and I can finally taste the turning of the seasons. Our kitchen counter is overflowing with a bounty of winter squash, and I’m listening to my favorite achey autumnal playlist.
It’s a good night, and I’m feeling hopeful and energized.
Asking for a friend…
Instead of a typical essay, I have two questions for you:
I’m hosting another Book & Supper Club this November! What book genre would you like to read? VOTE HERE
There are a lot of people writing online these days. What are you most looking for in your reading life right now? What sort of pieces bring you value and enjoyment?
I want to keep sharing words that serve you, but I need your feedback to do this. So, if you can share your answer in the comments, it would be so helpful! And it’s a great opportunity for me to get to know you better, too.
What I write (at least for now)
In June, I published a piece called My Life List of Books for Spiritual Formation, and you could say it went mini-viral (at least for Substack). So, I imagine many of you are also readers of such books, looking to draw closer to Jesus.
I also write about my health and well-being journey with Graves’ disease, PMDD, chronic pain, and how living with long-term conditions forms you spiritually. Check out The Wisdom of Sweet Potatoes for a (fairly detailed) glimpse into the rhythms that have helped me along the way — like eating an autoimmune-friendly diet.
Lastly, I plan to write more openly about topics like childlessness, adoption, what it’s like being single until your mid-30s, and softening your heart to love when you’ve been hurt (especially when you have a chronic illness). These topics are really close to my heart this year. You can read Dating with PMDD if any of that appeals to you.
I just want you to know that my heart is never to add to the noise. Instead, I hope to share stories and words that encourage and inspire you. Stealing from one of my favorite artists, Andrew Peterson, my goal is to “tell the truth as beautifully as I can.” Sara Groves, another favorite artist and songwriter, calls it adding to the beauty. I love this perspective. Beauty is so much better than noise.
Please let me know how I can keep doing this for you. Thanks!
Much love,
Bailey
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Thank you for sharing. I can’t wait to read some of these books.
I also would like to recommend “Amazing Grace” by Kathleen Norris. I’ve read this book several times over the years.
I also recommend “Open Heart Open Mind” by Father Thomas Keating.