Happy Release Day, LumiNerds!

This one's for you...

Dearest LumiNerd,

We have finally come to release day for The Luminaries.

It feels like it took a thousand years to get here, even though it has only been three. Hoo boy! All of us have been through so much in that time! I mean, I’m the mother of a freaking 2.5 year old! How is that possible? Especially since I sat down to do our original Twitter adventure as way to navigate the grief of miscarriage and IVF.

Now here we all are. The Luminaries is in actual stores across the US, available as an ebook around the world, and soon to be available as a beautiful physical book around the world too!

First off, I want to thank you.

Thank you for joining me in the original Sooz Your Own Adventure.

Thank you for patiently waiting while I wrote an actual book with a new story but familiar world and characters.

Thank you for supporting me and spreading the word about #UghJay and Winnie Wednesday and all the Very Important Boops!

Thank you for preordering if you were able and requesting at your local libraries.

Thank you for opening these emails and participating in the Hunter Trials and joining in the new Sooz Your Own Adventure that’s still happening on Twitter.

This book has always been about community. First our community online and then Winnie’s community in Hemlock Falls. She grapples with the basic question of “Where do I fit? Am I a true Luminary or does my Wednesday loyalty lie elsewhere?”

Well, I know my loyalty is to all of you. First and foremost.

Every word I wrote and every page, I was thinking about how to entertain YOU with a new tale that would keep you on your toes…but without ever losing the heart of our original epic adventure.

(And don’t worry! I didn’t stop with book 1. Books 2 and 3 will have plenty more easter eggs just for you!)

So if there’s one thing I hope you all take away from this book it’s this:

I will forever be grateful to YOU for bringing this book to life.

You showed the world that this story had potential even if no one wanted it 9 years ago. You showed the world that Winnie and #UghJay were worth publishing and worth reading about.

And you showed ME that something good can come out of twitter and the internet and a messy world that feels like it’s falling apart.

As Winnie’s grandfather once told her:

That’s why we’re called the Luminaries, Winnie: we are lanterns the forest can never snuff out.

Thank you for being my Luminaries, my lanterns, my community. I know this is veering into Very Cheesy Territory, but bear with me (lol, a little Wednesday pun for you) while I put my heart on my sleeve.

I OWE EVERYTHING IN THIS BOOK TO YOU.

And that is why it’s dedicated to you:

The dedication in The Luminaries.

You might be the worst Hive Mind YA Protagonist who ever lived, but your MY Hive Mind YA Protagonist, and I love you forever and always for it.

Now, rather than bog this letter down with links, I’ll just leave you with a single button back to the main hub, where you can find preorder links and tour dates and Sooz Your Own Adventure updates and even a CLAN QUIZ!

Thank you, LumiNerds. For everything.

I can’t wait to see some of you, in person or online.

Thank you.

💚 - Sooz