Shout out to my daughter - always my first reader - who read the first draft of this newsletter and said: It’s great! But… why don’t you tell people what’s really going on? I know it’s fun to share the good stuff. But maybe also show them what’s real. Show them the complete picture.
She’s so right. I freaking love that girl. So if you want to skip ahead to all the fun stuff, go ahead. But if you want to know what’s really going on? Here it is, the dark side of the coin:
Seasonal Affectiveness Disorder is real and it hit me hard this month. I had to work super hard to get myself out of the house and make healthy choices. Sometimes I felt like a Bad Ass for getting to strength training at 8am - only to come home, take a three-hour nap and then do nothing but read books until dinner.
I spent an inordinate amount of time staring out the window and petting my dog.
Plus my hormones are still out of whack, because duh I am a woman and we must fucking endure it all. My latest round of blood tests show that I have zero testosterone - meaning no energy, no (ahem) drive, no anything. Plus I feel sad for no reason. Except sometimes I also feel ALL THE RAGE OF A THOUSAND DEMONS. Which I mainly direct towards myself (not good)- but also to the guy at Robert Dyas last Tuesday (also not good, but he deserved it).
So yeah, the highlights below are all true. I did those things and I enjoyed myself. I even saw friends who made me laugh until I cried and mascara ran down my face. It’s just not the complete picture. There’s another side to me, just like there’s another side to you.
Don’t worry! I’m fine - really. I’m just going through it at the moment. If you are struggling too, know that you are not alone!
Great news! It’s finally February! Here are a few things worth sharing.
Best books I read this month:
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe This book is just delightful. It’s excellent on audible - Elle Fanning narrates. Fanning will also star in the Apple TV adaptation, alongside Michelle Pfeiffer!
The Silence in Between by Josie Ferguson. Historical fiction + dual timeline + strong female characters = everything I love in a book! “Mozart said that music is not in the notes but in the silence in between. I think that's where our souls are – hidden in that silence. Evil demanded little of me – it merely asked me to stay silent, to do nothing.”
The Wedding People by Alison Espach. This book didn’t pull me in at first , but everyone told me to stick with it and I’m glad I did. Phoebe, our distraught main character, decides to check into a fancy hotel and end her life. She changes her mind and decides to live! Although, she doesn’t see the point of staying alive only to do all the same things that made her want to die in the first place. Perhaps for the first time in her life, she starts saying what’s really on her mind and doing what she pleases. Yes please!
London recs:
Vogue | Inventing the Runway - take the fashionista in your life! Runs through 26 April at Lightroom London.
The Mousetrap is London’s longest running play and we got to see performance number 29,911. It’s great fun - and I have to admit I was surprised by whodunnit! I actually gasped!
Planthood - Listen up London mamas: This isn’t your standard recipe box! It’s more like a meal kit. Everything comes together super fast because they pre-make the sauces for you. And most importantly - the food is good! (Definitely better than hello fresh.)
In writing and creative news:
One of my goals for 2025 is to nurture human connection - that is to say, meeting people IRL whenever possible. So I was absolutely thrilled to be invited to the first ever Women’s Prize Writer/Patron Meet Up at The Ivy Club in Covent Garden. Women’s Prize has been supporting female writers and readers for over 30 years. Their annual prize-giving party is not to be missed. We’d love to have you join us! To learn more, visit
Women’s Prize. And if you are already a patron and would like to join our writer’s group - contact me at lauriemucha@gmail.com.
Substack Writers who live in West London: Join us for another meet up in Hammersmith! Our host,
, is just about the most welcoming host you could imagine. tickets are £10 and includes a drink at the door. I went in January and met so many incredible writers and humans. Also the margaritas are excellent.One of the best things I did this month was join The London Library, a private lending library established in 1841. The library is actually made up of several buildings - a literal labyrinth of books with treasures in every nook and cranny. The shelving system is antiquated but utterly delightful. The back stacks are haunted, and photos of previous members watch you climb the stairs to the main reading room. (Virginia Woolf is right by the Ladies Lavatory).
Writer/editor Kristen Tate has started a (live) online book club focused on discussing best-selling books from a writing craft perspective. Cost is £5 per month. Our first book is God of the Woods by Liz Moore and it’s a real page-turner!
Looking forward to…
A quick sun run to Marrakech!
Shadow Work for Creatives with
Some great events at The London Library
See you next month!
xo, L
P.S. I’m finally on goodreads! And I updated my website!
P.P.S. I published at 70%.
Loved this and what a gift to have a daughter who encourages the truth. Also that book club sounds so fun, I've book marked it for next month :)
Love love love you.