Dumelang (Hello),

Can you believe the first quarter of 2025 is already over? Oh my goodness—where does the time go?

Truly, that’s how I’ve been feeling lately. I had a personal goal to finish my current round of edits by the end of March... and well, March has come and gone, and I’m still at it! But I’m making good progress, so no complaints. If you haven't read Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, by Oliver Burkeman, I HIGHLY recommend it and will in fact slot that in the Spotlight Corner. One of the lessons that sticks in my mind is one I need to remember now more than ever: “Things take the time they take. Don’t worry.”

As I mentioned in the last newsletter, I’ve been working with my agent, Barbara, on editing my manuscript. I received my editorial letter—a detailed outline of areas that need attention to strengthen the book and get it ready for submission (aka going on sale to publishing houses). As Barbara reminded me, these are suggestions, not prescriptions. As the author, it’s up to me to decide what resonates and what doesn’t. (Though let me be honest—never on the first read! That first read can feel brutal. Like, why are you talking bad about my baby 😂!)

Here’s how I like to describe the process: imagine you're an estate agent and your client (me) wants to sell their house. Sure, you could list it as-is, but if you want to attract the best buyers and offers, you suggest some renovations—maybe light, maybe extensive—to make it shine. That’s exactly where I’m at: the renovation phase. And honestly? I’ve been in it for a while, because writing is editing. The day I'm no longer editing, I’m throwing the biggest party. And yes—you’re invited!

This round of editing has also included a lot of reading and historical research to polish some key details in the book. If I haven’t mentioned it before, the novel is a historical fiction set across two timelines, both in South Africa. I’ve always loved history—not necessarily in the “let me read a textbook for fun” kind of way, but more in the “I need to understand this part of the past” kind of way. (Below is a snapshot of some of the books I’ve been diving into.)

And for some exciting news! One of the LitUp fellows, Natalie Meisner, has already sold her work in a two-book deal! How cool is that? https://reesesbookclub.com/lit-up/​

That’s it from me for now. Hopefully, by the next update, I’ll be saying, “I’m done with edits!” and we’ll be heading into submission.

Until then, take care and thanks for being on this journey with me.

Warmly,
​Ntebogeng