Thanks for the heads up on the Peanuts stamps, how fun, and yes, I do still write letters and postcards. It's a pleasant boost to people to receive personal mail.
What are you loving about the Elizabeth Strout books? I haven't tried them.
From a Jersey girl, Wyckoff native, and Kopp sisters fan girl...
The Strout books are very Anne Tyler-esque, I would say...contemporary novels mostly about women, a bit domestic, but extremely well-written and insightful and wonderful.
Love your Kopp Sisters books and the wonderful research that you have done to bring these characters to love. And your illustrations are fantastic. Good luck on book of illustrations!
Another beautiful newsletter. Thank you for the time you spend putting these together--they are a bright spot in my inbox! Yes, I'm waiting, waiting for those Peanuts stamps to finally release! :)
Fabulous newsletter! Amsterdam looked like a great holiday as did your blackberry cocktail! What a fortuitous opportunity to meet and draw with a fellow street artist, love that your observations and style are so different. Looking forward to your upcoming book, well done on a year of writing. Hoping also that Aus Post releases the Peanut stamps.. sending you warmest wishes from Aus, your friend Jane. 😊🇦🇺
Hi Jane, good to hear from you! I am planning a trip to New Zealand next spring. Not sure if I will set foot in Aus or not...possibly just a night in Sydney before the next flight...
Ha! Now you know! You can also make a blackberry syrup with those...blackberries, a bit of water, a bit of sugar, just let it all melt and get syrupy...then strain it so the seeds come out, add a splash of vodka so it doesn't freeze, and you can keep it in the freezer in a mason jar and just scoop out a spoonful of slushy blackberry goodness anytime you want to make a drink like this.
I love your newsletter with a little bit of everything! Forgive me if you have answered this before, but I am curious to know your background as an artist. Your sketchbook is wonderful! I envy you your skill and talent!
I haven't quite answered that, maybe I should in more detail in some future edition...but the short version is that I was no good at art as a kid, but I started taking a painting class about 20 years ago and I've basically just taken classes in my spare time since then. Still learning!
yeah, I got kind of obsessed with a few ideas in that sketchbook and had to just keep doing them until I got it the way I wanted. An artist I really admire always says that when you do something you like, "go make ten of them, right now." Maybe not ten exact copies, but ten of that kind of thing. We tend to do one cool thing and go, "that was cool," and then just move on. Sit with it for a while!
I love reading your newsletter! I always find interesting news ideas to explore and new inspirations for my sketchbook. I also enjoy the fact that, since we live in the same city, I recognize some of the scenes you sketch from home. Seeing your work inspires me to get out with my sketchbook more. I used to do it lots before Covid have been needing some inspiration to get out there and do it again. Thank you for providing it!
Hello Amy! Thank you for another fun newsletter with a little bit of everything. I always look forward to receiving them. You answered a question of mine in one of your newsletters back in 2019, about the terrifying prospect of leaving my agent. The advice you gave me helped boost my confidence and as you advised, I kept going. I kept writing, kept querying, kept submitting, kept getting better. And next year my debut novel is coming out! I wanted to stop by and say thank you for both your advice and encouragement.
When I first saw that b&w line drawing I thought, Wow, that's a different style for Amy! Then I read what you wrote and patted myself on the back for recognizing your style. (I don't know much about art so that was a big deal for me.) Looking forward to the new book.
Hi Amy, greetings from Brighton, England! Thanks for that enjoyable read, the perfect length for a lunch break at my desk.
I started following Nishant recently, which led me to Substack, where I found your blog (I was already getting your email newsletter but hadn't discovered Substack). I like the format on here, and that you can watch a video without being taken away from the page. I'd been thinking about writing a blog anyway so have started my own, though I'm not convinced I'll hit the publish button!
Anyway, loving your Amsterdam sketchbook - it's great to see the whole flip-through. Loving those bold colours combined with the lines.
Partly as a result of your travels there, and Nishant also being there over the summer, along with a couple of other people I follow, I've been chatting with my partner about making Amsterdam / the Netherlands a destination for a January break. We haven't been out of the UK since 2019 and at last I'm getting itchy feet again. I've been a couple of times before but never feel I have enough time there.
Eek I know! We've been weighing up the pros and cons of visiting at that time of year. The issue is that it's the best time for us to get away. It will be quieter (and cheaper) for sure!
Your sketchbook of Amsterdam is beautiful. Thanks for sharing. I miss your Kopp sisters books. Read them all and wish you’d write more. The silent film series was a neat find. Maybe aspiring actress, Fleurette could be the star. Just wishing.
I really loved Oh, William, too! Strout is a wonderful writer...and so are you!
Thank you!
Thanks for the heads up on the Peanuts stamps, how fun, and yes, I do still write letters and postcards. It's a pleasant boost to people to receive personal mail.
What are you loving about the Elizabeth Strout books? I haven't tried them.
From a Jersey girl, Wyckoff native, and Kopp sisters fan girl...
The Strout books are very Anne Tyler-esque, I would say...contemporary novels mostly about women, a bit domestic, but extremely well-written and insightful and wonderful.
I love Anne Tyler books and have read them all! Have you tried Lee Smith? Excellent. Try Oral History and Fair and Tender Ladies.
Love your Kopp Sisters books and the wonderful research that you have done to bring these characters to love. And your illustrations are fantastic. Good luck on book of illustrations!
Thanks so much! It's a fun new challenge. I'm learning a lot.
Another beautiful newsletter. Thank you for the time you spend putting these together--they are a bright spot in my inbox! Yes, I'm waiting, waiting for those Peanuts stamps to finally release! :)
I'm so glad you enjoy it!
Fabulous newsletter! Amsterdam looked like a great holiday as did your blackberry cocktail! What a fortuitous opportunity to meet and draw with a fellow street artist, love that your observations and style are so different. Looking forward to your upcoming book, well done on a year of writing. Hoping also that Aus Post releases the Peanut stamps.. sending you warmest wishes from Aus, your friend Jane. 😊🇦🇺
Hi Jane, good to hear from you! I am planning a trip to New Zealand next spring. Not sure if I will set foot in Aus or not...possibly just a night in Sydney before the next flight...
I was just wondering what to do with the large bag of frozen blackberries from last season…🤗
Ha! Now you know! You can also make a blackberry syrup with those...blackberries, a bit of water, a bit of sugar, just let it all melt and get syrupy...then strain it so the seeds come out, add a splash of vodka so it doesn't freeze, and you can keep it in the freezer in a mason jar and just scoop out a spoonful of slushy blackberry goodness anytime you want to make a drink like this.
Thanks for the tip about PEANUTS stamps. I ordered some.
They make me so happy!
I love your newsletter with a little bit of everything! Forgive me if you have answered this before, but I am curious to know your background as an artist. Your sketchbook is wonderful! I envy you your skill and talent!
I haven't quite answered that, maybe I should in more detail in some future edition...but the short version is that I was no good at art as a kid, but I started taking a painting class about 20 years ago and I've basically just taken classes in my spare time since then. Still learning!
Love your newsletter, sketches and seasonal cocktail recipes! Thank you!
Much appreciated!
OH really enjoyed the sketchbook flip through, especially to see the different iterations of the same scene.
I also like that you called the cocktail recipe a template.
Also HOW CAN IT BE A YEAR ALREADY SINCE YOU STARTED CREATING THAT BOOK?!?
yeah, I got kind of obsessed with a few ideas in that sketchbook and had to just keep doing them until I got it the way I wanted. An artist I really admire always says that when you do something you like, "go make ten of them, right now." Maybe not ten exact copies, but ten of that kind of thing. We tend to do one cool thing and go, "that was cool," and then just move on. Sit with it for a while!
I'm learning how to paint disco balls now, so I might do that!
I love reading your newsletter! I always find interesting news ideas to explore and new inspirations for my sketchbook. I also enjoy the fact that, since we live in the same city, I recognize some of the scenes you sketch from home. Seeing your work inspires me to get out with my sketchbook more. I used to do it lots before Covid have been needing some inspiration to get out there and do it again. Thank you for providing it!
Thanks! Come out with the Portland Urban Sketchers sometime!
Thanks! I have always wanted to try that - now, maybe I will.
Hello Amy! Thank you for another fun newsletter with a little bit of everything. I always look forward to receiving them. You answered a question of mine in one of your newsletters back in 2019, about the terrifying prospect of leaving my agent. The advice you gave me helped boost my confidence and as you advised, I kept going. I kept writing, kept querying, kept submitting, kept getting better. And next year my debut novel is coming out! I wanted to stop by and say thank you for both your advice and encouragement.
Oh I'm so glad! Congratulations!
When I first saw that b&w line drawing I thought, Wow, that's a different style for Amy! Then I read what you wrote and patted myself on the back for recognizing your style. (I don't know much about art so that was a big deal for me.) Looking forward to the new book.
Ha! Good for you! Thank you!
I love the Netherlands' sketchbook! My partner and I were just there on a cruise and to visit family in 2019. I love your drawings!
Thanks! That's an infinitely draw-able place.
Hi Amy, greetings from Brighton, England! Thanks for that enjoyable read, the perfect length for a lunch break at my desk.
I started following Nishant recently, which led me to Substack, where I found your blog (I was already getting your email newsletter but hadn't discovered Substack). I like the format on here, and that you can watch a video without being taken away from the page. I'd been thinking about writing a blog anyway so have started my own, though I'm not convinced I'll hit the publish button!
Anyway, loving your Amsterdam sketchbook - it's great to see the whole flip-through. Loving those bold colours combined with the lines.
Partly as a result of your travels there, and Nishant also being there over the summer, along with a couple of other people I follow, I've been chatting with my partner about making Amsterdam / the Netherlands a destination for a January break. We haven't been out of the UK since 2019 and at last I'm getting itchy feet again. I've been a couple of times before but never feel I have enough time there.
Good luck with finishing the book!
January might be terrible weather in Amsterdam, Marta! But I was always recommend visiting that beautiful city. :)
Eek I know! We've been weighing up the pros and cons of visiting at that time of year. The issue is that it's the best time for us to get away. It will be quieter (and cheaper) for sure!
I understand. Go for it!
Your sketchbook of Amsterdam is beautiful. Thanks for sharing. I miss your Kopp sisters books. Read them all and wish you’d write more. The silent film series was a neat find. Maybe aspiring actress, Fleurette could be the star. Just wishing.