April Newsletter

What's John Up To This Month?

I'm not going to lie; March was a particularly challenging month for me, and I'm happy to see it in the rearview mirror. I'm not one to adopt a “woe is me” attitude, but I came down with a respiratory virus early in the month that lingered far longer than I anticipated. It took a few weeks before I could finally shake it off, and only just a few days ago did I start to feel like my old self again. This experience brought into sharp focus the ways in which our forefathers confronted illness and adversity. It's all too easy to romanticize the idea that they simply “bucked up and got over it,” but the reality is, I doubt what I experienced would have been so easily overcome without access to modern medicine. Attempting to push through such an illness back then likely could have resulted in complications like pneumonia. Even in our current society, with its moderate physical workloads and extensive support systems, the feeling of losing a couple of productive weeks can be daunting and demoralizing.

Community Garden

Despite my health setbacks, I managed to do just enough work in the community garden to keep things relatively on schedule. We successfully planted our cool-season crops—including onions, radishes, carrots, spinach, lettuce, turnips, and potatoes—on March 15th, as planned. While we aren't exactly where I envisioned us being in the first week of April, we're still on track for the warm-season planting scheduled for April 26th. One significant hurdle this growing season has been the closure of the North Mecklenburg Mulch and Compost Recycling Center, which has been our go-to resource for free or low-cost mulch and compost for the past five years. Now, we find ourselves facing a 15-mile trip to the Charlotte location, which, while manageable—I’ve already made the trip twice—definitely impacts convenience and costs. Finding a way to adapt to this change will be part of my challenge this gardening season.

Mountain Camp

I'm eagerly anticipating my time at my mountain camp, Stone's Throw, where I plan to spend the spring season starting April 8th. While I don’t yet have all the necessary infrastructure in place for an extended stay over the full six weeks, I aim to be there four to five days each week through early June. I’m looking forward to a mix of fishing and working on various projects around camp, including the construction of a screened-in deck at the top of the mountain—a perfect spot for enjoying those breathtaking sunsets! Additionally, I’m planning to build a split rail fence around the workshack, which I believe will add a charming touch to the landscape and allow Millie and Laika a little more freedom to roam. If you are interested in joining me for a couple of hours of fly fishing, drop me a line, and I'll work you into my calendar. Beginners welcome!

Summer Book Events

In the literary world, I’m still in the running for the coveted artist-in-residence position at Isle Royale National Park this summer. The possibility is thrilling, but it also poses a challenge when it comes to scheduling my summer book events. I expect to receive a decision on my application by the end of the month. Should I be fortunate enough to be selected, I plan to hold a stand-alone book signing at Primal Brewery in May, after which I will devote the remainder of the summer to the park. However, if I’m not chosen, I’ll expand that May signing into an “Author On Tap” Book Tour for Summer 2025, which will involve events at three or four additional craft breweries in the Greater Charlotte area.

Hellbender Timeline

The timeline for the release of my next Owen Sinclair novel, Hellbender, is also influenced by the outcome of my application to Isle Royale. If I am named artist in residence, I will need to produce a novella inspired by my experiences and writing during that time, which would push the release of Hellbender back to late 2025 or, more likely, early 2026. Without the additional work of the Isle Royale novella, I’m aiming to have Hellbender ready for release in October or November of 2025.

While the coming months are filled with uncertainties, I’m optimistic about what lies ahead. I look forward to everything from cultivating crops in the garden to catching a monster brookie to developing my writing, and I can’t wait to share the journey with you all!

APRIL EVENTS

14th - Author Hours (10AM-11AM) at Lowe’s Foods Huntersville Mezzanine

26th - Warm-Season Crop Planting (10AM-Noon) at New Beginnings Moravien Garden