Books Inc. in the Marina

Barnes & Noble plans to acquire Books Inc., the 174-year-old bookstore with eight stores in the Bay Area and two at San Francisco International Airport. Books Inc. filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in January and has now filed a motion in bankruptcy court to allow the sale of its assets to BI Acquisition Co., LLC, an affiliate of B&N, for $3.25 million. The court is expected to rule on the sale this fall.

B&N said that Books Inc. will "preserve its independent identity," continuing to do business under the Books Inc. name and operating its stores. The purchase is similar to B&N's purchase last year of Tattered Cover in Denver, which also had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Andy Perham, Books Inc. CEO since 2019 and a 15-year veteran of the company, said, "This agreement will ensure that Book Inc.'s legacy will continue for the foreseeable future. With Barnes & Noble's deep resources and world-class support, Books Inc. will be able to quickly modernize its operations so we can focus on what we do best: connecting people with books, ideas and each other."

B&N CEO James Daunt said, "Books Inc. has a storied history and wonderful bookstores, and we are very pleased to ensure their continuity. We look forward to welcoming the booksellers of Books Inc. to Barnes & Noble."

Books Inc. in Opera Plaza

In its Chapter 11 filing in January, Books Inc. said that the main cause for its problems were "dramatic changes to consumer buying patterns" during and after the pandemic. The lockdowns and then the prevalence of hybrid and remote work led to lower foot traffic and thus lower sales. At the Civic Center store in San Francisco, for example, foot traffic had declined to less than half of pre-pandemic levels. At the same time that sales declined, Books Inc. had to deal with "significant increases in operating costs, including higher payroll and rental expenses" as well as higher interest rates on its debts.

The company said it had 122 employees, "critical to its business operations," whom it planned to retain.

Sales dropped from $20.9 million in 2019 to $11.3 million in 2020, the first year of the pandemic. Sales improved in 2021, rising to $15.1 million, and to $17.7 million in 2022, then to $18.9 million in 2023. But last year, sales fell to $17.1 million--$3.75 million below 2019. Some 95% of revenue came from in-store sales. The rest of sales was evenly split between online and event programming.

In January, Books Inc. said its inventory was worth about $2.5 million. Secured debts amounted to about $1.75 million. Unsecured debts, including money owed publishers, amounted to about $3 million. Debts included unpaid California sales tax of $427,123.

Books Inc. said it had taken measures to cut costs and return to profitability, including cutting store hours and shifting staff hours to reflect the changes in foot traffic. At the height of the pandemic, it also negotiated rent forgiveness and rent reductions. It also began a customer rewards program "to promote sales growth and customer loyalty" and moved its book fair programs, children's event programs, and community outreach programs--none of which were profitable--to its nonprofit Reading Bridge entity.

Books Inc. Laurel Village

Books Inc. said additionally that it planned to work with its landlords "to adjust lease costs to align with the current levels of foot traffic and sales" in its stores. If it couldn't negotiate changes at "underperforming" stores, it planned to close them. In January, Books Inc. said it would close its Berkeley store, which it has done.

Books Inc. was founded in 1851 and boasts of being the oldest independent bookstore in the West. It's noted for having stores that are quite different from each other in look and inventory, reflecting their differing cities and neighborhoods. The company has regularly expanded and contracted during its history. Thirty years ago it filed for Chapter 11 reorganization after longtime owner Lew Lengfeld died and Borders and Barnes & Noble superstores were expanding across the country. At that point, Books Inc. closed all but two of its stores, but then rebounded under the leadership of former CEO Michael Tucker and Stephen Mayer, both of whom remained directors and equity owners.

Following its debut as an online and pop-up store nearly a year ago, the Cranford Bookstore in Cranford, N.J., will open a bricks-and-mortar location tomorrow, September 5, TAPinto Cranford reported.

Store owners Kate Lydon and Lauren King will host a ribbon cutting for the new store on Friday night, and Saturday will be the store's first official day of business. The physical store resides at 1 South Ave. East and will carry general-interest titles for all ages. 

Prior to starting the Cranford Bookstore, Lydon helped found the Asbury Park Book Cooperative in Asbury Park, N.J., while King was an English teacher in New York City Public Schools. They've made pop-up appearances at flea markets, cafes, and other locales while searching for a suitable bricks-and-mortar space.

"We have felt so much support and encouragement from Cranford and beyond," Lydon told TAPinto Cranford. "It's been a wonderful experience so far."

Pete Mulvihill

The Watermark Agency has hired Pete Mulvihill, longtime co-owner of Green Apple Books, San Francisco, Calif., as an agent. (He continues at Green Apple.) He will represent a range of authors in all categories, "driven by genuine curiosity, deep connections in the book world, and a bold, heartfelt belief in the power of compelling storytelling," the agency said. His first deal involves a children's board book, ABC Dim Sum by Karen Wong, sold to Penguin Workshop.

Mulvihill is a former board member of the American Booksellers Association and the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association (now part of CALIBA). Throughout his more than 30 years at Green Apple, he has "strived to bring attention to small press, indie and self-published books," Watermark continued. "His expertise as a bookseller is grounded in personal, hands-on experience and an unwavering enthusiasm for both literary and bestselling authors."

Other recent hires by Watermark include Lynn Grady as v-p and agent based in New York City. She has been senior v-p and deputy publisher at William Morrow, publisher of Dey Street Books, and group publisher at Chronicle Books. She will represent projects across every category and genre and is championing bold new voices and unexpected ideas in both fiction and nonfiction.

Lily McMahon has joined Watermark as literary associate based in San Francisco. McMahon was most recently an assistant editor at Bloomsbury Publishing in London and plans to work with nonfiction authors addressing big-picture questions concerning morality and well-being as well as contemporary social, political, and economic issues.

After 10 years at the ABA, Gen de Botton, senior manager of children's bookselling programming and education, has left the organization to explore other opportunities in the bookselling industry. Her last day was July 8.

De Botton began her bookselling career in 2004 as the children's specialist at Borders Books & Music in Mt. Kisco, N.Y. In 2011, she was scouted by a community member to launch Little Joe's Books in Katonah, N.Y. In 2015, de Botton was hired by the ABA, where she worked closely with ABA's current COO, Joy Dallanegra-Sanger, and former development and publisher relationships officer Mark Nichols. Not long after, de Botton was promoted to manager of the children's group (formerly the ABC Group). In 2021, she was promoted to her most recent position.

During her time at ABA, de Botton made significant contributions to the culture of independent children's bookselling and has been a staunch advocate for the work of children's booksellers. Some notable programs de Botton led were #STEMReads and the Children's Institute. She also played a valuable role in fundraising efforts and organizing during ABA's 2020 #SaveIndieBookstores campaign at the onset of COVID-19. She may be reached via e-mail or @gendebotton.

After 31 years, Jill Perlstein, meetings and planning officer, has left the ABA to explore new opportunities. She began her ABA career in the marketing department, creating a catalog for the Booksellers Order Service to promote non-book products for bookstore members. Over the years, she worked with committees and contributed to numerous promotional campaigns. She also edited Out of the Mold: Independent Voices Breaking Out of the Mold, published in celebration of National Independent Bookstore Week. One of her proudest accomplishments was the Book Sense Gift Card program, the first of its kind to allow customers of indie bookstores to purchase a gift card in one store and redeem it in another.

In 2010, Perlstein moved into her most recent role, working behind the scenes at both the Winter and Children's Institutes, where she managed logistics and tracked thousands of details to ensure smooth, successful, and safe events. She looks forward to staying connected with friends and colleagues through LinkedIn or via e-mail.

Jonathan Main

British bookseller Jonathan Main, co-owner of the Bookseller Crow in Crystal Palace, London, died September 2. The bookshop posted the news "with a deep profound sadness" on its social media channels, noting: "As you know he has been very sick in ICU at Kings for the last couple of weeks and at about 10 a.m. this morning, we lost him.... Thank you for all your support over the past week or so, but for now it is time to catch our breath. Keep fighting evil."

For more than a quarter of a century, Main was "a force behind one of Crystal Palace's favorite shops," Inside Croydon reported. "Bookseller Crow was voted 'Bookshop Heroes' in 2020 in the Bookseller magazine, for the stoic and innovative way Main and his family, including partner and author Karen McLeod, managed to keep the business operating during the Covid crisis."

Booksellers Association managing director Meryl Halls told the Bookseller: "We were shocked and saddened by Jonathan's illness and untimely death. He's been an iconic bookseller for as long as most of us have been in the industry and was much loved and valued by his community and customers. Bookselling is a collegiate industry and he was admired and respected by his peers from across the country and across the community. Our hearts go out to Justine [Main's wife and co-owner of the Bookseller Crow] and his family--and his bookselling community in Crystal Palace. He'll be much and deeply missed."

In a tribute, Chris Shepherd wrote in Anfield Road News: "For decades, Jonathan, alongside his partner Justine [Crow], transformed their shop into far more than a place to buy books. The Bookseller Crow became a beating heart of the community, a cultural hub where stories were shared, friendships formed, and creativity nurtured.

"Jonathan was not just a purveyor of literature; he was a listener, a supporter, and a quiet force behind countless creative journeys.... Jonathan's presence in the window, his chats, his quiet wisdom, these things shaped the soul of the triangle. His absence will be felt not just by those of us in Crystal Palace, but by authors, publishers, and readers far beyond. He championed individuality in a time of algorithms and mass marketing, reminding us that stories and the people behind them matter deeply. Jonathan Main was one of a kind. He will be missed profoundly, remembered fondly, and celebrated always."

London's Kirkdale Bookshop posted: "As fellow colleagues & comrades in the world of books (the very things that give language to our thoughts and our feelings), we find ourselves at a loss for words to learn that Jonathan Main, stalwart of SE London, irreplaceable bookseller and friend, has died. A huge, devastating loss to the book community, to the Bookseller Crow team and to Crystal Palace."

Bookworks in Albuquerque, N.Mex., hosted T. Kingfisher for the launch of Hemlock & Silver (Tor Books). Store co-owner Nancy Guinn reported, "We managed to fit 100 delighted fans into the store." (photo: Nadav Soroker)

"We've got something brand new that we think you will LOVE!" the Wandering Raccoon Books in Grimes, Iowa, posted on Instagram. "We've made it easier than ever to see what's coming soon with our brand new In-Store Pre-Order Station! This little kiosk is linked to our selection of forthcoming titles to make it easy as pie to see what's up-and-coming right here in the shop!"

Heather Fain

Heather Fain has been named senior v-p, publishing director, Vintage, and marketing strategy, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Before joining KDPG last year as senior v-p, publishing, marketing, and backlist strategy, she was COO of Pushkin Industries, the podcast and audiobook production company, and has held senior marketing, publicity, and publishing positions at Hachette, Little, Brown, and Holt.

Red Sapphire: The Woman Who Beat the Blacklist by Julia Bricklin (Lyons Press).

Today:
Fresh Air: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, author of It Doesn't Have to Hurt: Your Smart Guide to a Pain-Free Life (Simon & Schuster, $30, 9781668014479).

Tomorrow:
Good Morning America: Charlie Sheen, author of The Book of Sheen: A Memoir (Gallery Books, $35, 9781668075289).

CBS Mornings: Debbie Gibson, author of Eternally Electric: The Message in My Music (Gallery Books, $30, 9781668056769).

Book TV airs on C-Span 2 this weekend from 8 a.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Monday and focuses on political and historical books as well as the book industry. The following are highlights for this coming weekend. For more information, go to Book TV's website.

Saturday, September 6
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Live coverage of the 2025 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. Authors appearing include Kwame Alexander, Leigh Bardugo, Katherine Applegate, Ron Chernow, John Green, Stephen Graham Jones, Nnedi Okorafor, V.E. Schwab, and R.L. Stine, among many others.

Sunday, September 7
9 a.m. George Takei, author of It Rhymes With Takei (Top Shelf Productions, $29.99, 9781603095747). (Re-airs Sunday at 9 p.m.)

10 a.m. Tim Weiner, author of The Mission: The CIA in the 21st Century (Mariner, $35, 9780063270183), at Politics and Prose in Washington, D.C. (Re-airs Sunday at 10 p.m.)

11:10 a.m. Katie Mitchell, author of Prose to the People: A Celebration of Black Bookstores (‎Clarkson Potter, $26.99, 9780593581346).

12:20 p.m. Michael Grunwald, author of We Are Eating the Earth: The Race to Fix Our Food System and Save Our Climate (‎Simon & Schuster, $29.99, 9781982160074).

The longlist has been selected for the 2025 Baillie Gifford Prize for Nonfiction. The shortlist will be announced on October 2 and the winner on November 4. To see the 12 longlisted titles, click here.

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Emma Collicott was named this year's winner of the Margaret Mahy Illustration Prize by Hachette Aotearoa NZ and the Margaret Mahy Estate for her illustrations of Mahy's children's book The Man Whose Mother Was a Pirate. The winner receives NZ$2,000 (about US$1,180), NZ$500 (about US$295) worth of Hachette books, and the opportunity to develop her submission into a published work.

The judging panel praised Collicott's choice to use watercolors for her illustrations, and the cleverly plotted and humorous sub-narratives hidden within the spreads, sprinkled with "uniquely Aotearoan touches. A strong feature of Collicott's illustrations was their clarity and accessibility, offering a quirky charm for children while still holding interest for adults. The line drawings, enriched by a lively color range, added a delightful vibrancy and appeal to the work. One of the more complex aspects of the task lay in balancing the images for a younger audience with a rich vocabulary and detailed text, yet this was managed thoughtfully and with creative endeavor."

Hachette Aotearoa NZ managing director Mel Winder said: "The Man Whose Mother Was a Pirate is one of my favorite stories. Who doesn't love a story about a subversive mother! The opportunity to reinterpret the way this classic story looks is incredibly exciting, and I look forward to seeing how Emma Collicott takes up the challenge."

Selected new titles appearing next Tuesday, September 9:

The Secret of Secrets: A Novel by Dan Brown (Doubleday, $38, 9780385546898) is the sixth Robert Langdon thriller.

Clown Town by Mick Herron (Soho Crime, $29.95, 9781641297264) is book nine in the Slough House espionage thriller series.

Reacher: The Stories Behind the Stories by Lee Child (Mysterious Press, $26.95, 9781613167069) includes an original Reacher short story and discusses inspirations for the series.

You Weren't Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White (S&S/Saga Press, $29, 9781668038079) is debut queer horror set in Appalachia.

The House of Quiet by Kiersten White (Delacorte, $19.99, 9780593806579) is a YA dark fantasy about a young woman's attempt to save her sister from a sinister institution.

Just Shine! by Sonia Sotomayor, illus. by Jacqueline Alcántara (Philomel, $18.99, 9780593206294) is a picture book based on the associate justice of the Supreme Court's mother and her ability to highlight the good in others.

All the Way to the River: Love, Loss, and Liberation by Elizabeth Gilbert (Riverhead, $35, 9780593540985) is a memoir about a troubled relationship.

The Book of Sheen: A Memoir by Charlie Sheen (Gallery, $35, 9781668075289) is the memoir of the actor.

Nowhere Girl: Life as a Member of ADHD's Lost Generation by Carla Ciccone (The Dial Press, $29, 9780593729519) is the author's account of being diagnosed with ADHD at age 39--and why it has been typical that women of her age have not been diagnosed with it.

Paperbacks:
People Watching: A Novel by Hannah Bonam-Young (Dell, $19, 9780593871881).

Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey (Avon, $18.99, 9780063380837).

The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn by Valerie Bowman (Avon, $18.99, 9780063454033).

From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:

Hardcover
Little World by Josephine Rowe (Transit Books, $22.95, 9798893380163). "Is a saint a victim, an exercise in wishful thinking, an exculpation of someone else's sins, or truly something miraculous? Poetic and transcendent, yet very much of this plane, Little World is its own miracle." --Jennifer Ray, Powell's Books, Portland, Ore.

Women, Seated by Zhang Yueran, trans. by Jeremy Tiang (Riverhead, $29, 9780593851920). "Riveting, smart, funny, and introspective, Women, Seated paints a portrait of a family's fall from grace from the inside. This book will leave you questioning your sense of freedom, desire, and security." --Sophia Abuabara, Seminary Co-Op Bookstores, Chicago, Ill.

Paperback
The Man Who Died Seven Times by Yasuhiko Nishizawa, illus. by Jesse Kirkwood (Pushkin Vertigo, $17.95, 9781805335436). "What could be worse than spending New Year's with your dysfunctional family? Getting stuck in a nine-day time-loop. Oh, and your grandfather who is planning to announce the sole benefactor of the family inheritance dies each day." --Jenny Gilroy, E. Shaver, Bookseller, Savannah, Ga.

Ages 4-8
Island Storm by Brian Floca, illus. by Sydney Smith (Neal Porter Books, $18.99, 9780823456475). "This is beautiful. The perfect match of text and image bring an island storm to life. You can feel the anxiety. You can hear the cry of the neighbor to 'go home' just as you can hear the wind building, the thunder rumbling, and the trees creaking." --Kristine Jelstrom-Hamill, Buttonwood Books and Toys, Cohasset, Mass.

Ages 9-12
Tyger by SF Said, illus. by Dave McKean (Penguin Workshop, $18.99, 9780593887240). "Tyger is a breathtaking story of courage, creativity, and resistance. With themes of anticolonialism, anticapitalism, and the power of empathy, this book reminds us that young minds can shape the world, if only we let them." --Hezekiah Olorode, Old Town Books, Alexandria, Va.

Ages 12+
Soulmatch by Rebecca Danzenbaker (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $19.99, 9781665963701). "Just what I needed to read to get me out of my reading slump! Sivon was a very compelling heroine. This brought me back to when dystopian was all the rage! The premise of the book had me from the beginning and held my attention all the way through." --Tammy Klawitter, Lykke Books, New Ulm, Minn.

[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]

In his erudite, fascinating fourth book, Unabridged, journalist and amateur lexicographer Stefan Fatsis (Word Freak) dives into the history of dictionaries in the United States, the process by which new words are "officially" added to the language, and the threats and challenges facing language. At once a chronicle of his time at Merriam-Webster (with corresponding attempts to draft dictionary definitions the company would use) and a love letter to language, Unabridged examines differing philosophies of word inclusion and considers how dictionaries can remain relevant in the digital age.

Fatsis begins with Noah Webster himself, recounting Webster's early efforts at dictionary publishing (and the related business pressures that have dogged American dictionaries from the start). The Oxford English Dictionary, with its rather different history and approach, also receives significant real estate; Fatsis notes the broad divisions between American and British English (some of them created, or at least enshrined, by Webster). The narrative traces the progression of American dictionaries, including multiple landmark editions by Webster (later Merriam-Webster), one of which--Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language (Second College Edition, Deluxe Color Edition)--is dear to the author's heart. Fatsis meets lexicographers, handles rare editions of dictionaries, and spends untold hours at Merriam-Webster's elegant headquarters in Springfield, Mass.--all detailed in his ruminative history of a largely under-the-radar world that nevertheless has helped shape American thought and language for more than two centuries.

Although Fatsis is a self-professed dictionary lover, he understands that language changes--and that dictionaries and other resources must meet the moment. Thus, he delves into the acquisition and painstaking definition of neologisms, or new words; examines Webster's approach to handling racial and other slurs; discusses the (sometimes explosive) shifting definitions and spectrum of pronouns; and wrestles with the looming question of artificial intelligence and its effect on language. He trawls the web (including his own journalistic oeuvre) for new words to include; parses the rules for definition and inclusion in the dictionary; revisits historical events and figures that gave rise to entirely new words; and visits a Greenwich Village apartment stuffed with more than 20,000 books, including dictionaries, periodicals, and ephemera from multiple eras.

While obviously appealing to word nerds and writers, Fatsis's narrative is more broadly relevant to anyone who speaks, reads, and writes in American English. It provides a thorough, thoughtful history of dictionaries and the language they both shape and record, while championing the dictionary's continued relevance in the 21st century. Lively, well-researched, and often entertaining, Unabridged is an essential resource for anyone interested in understanding how language evolves. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams

Shelf Talker: Stefan Fatsis's erudite, fascinating fourth book is an entertaining deep dive into the history of dictionaries and how language continues to evolve in the 21st century.

Depending upon when you're reading this column, if you just go over here right now, you can watch something you don't see every day: a livestream of a bestselling author writing her next novel in real time at a desk in an upstairs room of a newly opened independent bookstore. Go ahead, check it out. I'll wait....

Katherine Croft

Welcome back. So, here's the deal. Bestselling British author Kathryn Croft, whose 19 psychological thriller novels include While You Were Sleeping and The Lying Wife, has taken on the challenge of writing an 80,000-word novel live in just seven days in a dedicated upstairs space at recently opened Paper Moon Bookshop in Guildford, which posted on Instagram: "This has never been done before--and we're thrilled to host this literary first. Come by, witness the magic, and be part of the creative journey!"

The project is called "The Writer in the Window," though as Croft noted beforehand: "Well, technically I won't physically be in a window (as I'd first imagined), but The Writer on the Upstairs Floor doesn't quite have the same ring to it!"). 

Croft typed her first word on Monday, September 1, and the plan is to work during shop hours (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. BST), within sight, and perhaps more challenging, conversational range of the bookshop's patrons.

The novel-now-in-progress will be the second book in a new deal with Headline, the Bookseller reported. The first, I Know What I Saw, will be released in summer 2026. Deputy publishing director Lucy Dauman said: "I have long been a fan of Kathryn's unputdownable thrillers and am absolutely delighted to be publishing her new books. I Know What I Saw had my head spinning in the best way and I know this new book will be just as pacy, compelling and addictive. I am completely in awe of the challenge Kathryn has taken on and have every faith that she'll pull it out the bag. Go, Kathryn--we're rooting for you!"

Before launching her quest, Croft observed: "This is the most intense creative challenge I've ever taken on, and it will push me to my limits. I'm doing it not just for the personal goal, but to celebrate independent bookshops and show what it really takes to write a novel from scratch.... We writers can be strange creatures--sitting alone for hours in front of our laptops, lost in our own minds. And it's hard sometimes."

Croft added that another "huge reason" for doing this is that Paper Moon "is a fantastic independent bookshop, and I want it to stay there. Hannah and Jack's passion for, and knowledge of, books is clear the moment you step inside and they are an inspiration. And beyond that, I want all independent bookshops to flourish in this age of algorithms and screens. I really believe that there are books out there for everyone, and bookshops help us find them."

I've been checking in on Croft's progress periodically. Writing is a solitary game ("Disclaimer: this livestream isn't for entertainment purposes (I won't have much time to chitchat!), it's primarily for verification."), even in a public venue ("Don't miss out on all the riveting action of me sitting at my laptop all day barely moving."). 

Croft at work

When I first tuned in Monday morning, Croft was already in conversation with a woman who had climbed the stairs and started a conversation that included mentioning she was also writing a book. I suspect that's happened more than a few times. Although Croft has some House Rules ("Be Kind • No Spoilers • Respect Quiet Zones"), she has been invariably gracious in the interactions I've witnessed. 

After Day 1, she reported: "Firstly, I'm completely drained.... But I know what I need to do differently tomorrow." She cited highlights like "meeting lots of lovely people in the bookshop, many of whom had come in to show their support for this crazy author." 

She wrote 6,000 words, "which although not enough, was more than I've ever written in a day before. Just means the pressure is on to write more for the next 6 days." Her goals for Day 2 included writing in 45-minute sprints, with a 15-minute break; not getting "distracted talking to lovely bookshop customers"; being "prepared for how tough it is to write in one spot all day"; and "eating lunch!" She added: "I'm exhausted, my head hurts, but I showed up and I did the first day. Now I need to up my game."
 
Day 2 found Croft feeling "surprisingly... a lot less exhausted than I was yesterday." Her daily word count rose to 8,000 words (14,000 total), but she noted that "one thing is still clear--this is TOUGH! I knew it would be, but knowing it and feeling it are very different things. I'm too shattered and word-tired (is that even a thing?) to write too much here now." Highlights included "witnessing how people of all ages love books" and meeting "more lovely people, including some local authors, who I wish all the best of luck to with their books." She also celebrated "actually eating my lunch today!" 

Day 3 got off to a glitchy start ("Sorry, the livestream is currently down--hopefully sorted soon but in the meantime I'm still ploughing on!"). Later, she reported that her total word count had risen to 21,182, but the effort was taking a toll: "I'm exhausted, mentally drained and the intense pressure I've put on myself (no one else--I set the goal post!) is taking its toll on my health.... So I'm taking the intense pressure off myself in the hopes that for the next 4 days I will enjoy my writing with no pressure other than to have fun." Her new goal is "50,000 words of a novel that I can then go back over and add to once I've had a long rest!... Please be kind to me, Day 4!"

What will happen next? Tune in to find out.