Literary Pixie

Fall 2025 Newsletter

A person sitting in a library holding a book, surrounded by shelves of books, with a newsletter header 'Literary Pixie' on the right.

Hi friend,

Can you believe it is September!?

Time is passing. And life is happening whether we like it or not.

This fall for the first time in 5 years, I am not teaching!! It feels amazing. Instead, I have been working at the CSUN Writing project and on the Los Feliz Writers Festival doing community engagement (aka PR and marketing talking to teachers of writing and writers), and I am starting to feel like the Sammy I was in London and St. Andrews.

It is delightful. Especially since the Los Feliz Writers Festival happened and went so well!

During my first medical leave in November of 2024, I started imagining the festival. Héléné of Porchfest helped me write the proposal, and through talking about the festival at the Skylight Coyotes book club, I found a co-director Dawn who got her husband Ryan involved. Together we made it happen. And oh did it feel so good!

We got an article in the Daily Trojan and were interviewed on the Voice of Los Feliz podcast! 200 people came to our events! We launched a Poet Laureate of Los Feliz! The positive feedback was amazing.

I felt soooooo highhhhhhh!! Blasting “Comeback Kid” by Brett Dennen and dancing around the living room.

In this newsletter, I’ll talk about:

It’s been a fucking time! Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Love youuuuuuu,

Sammy

A crowd gathered at the inaugural Los Feliz Writers Festival in Barnsdall Art Park, listening to Mitra Parineh share her original work.
A group of four friends standing together, smiling in front of a wooden lattice background. One person is wearing oversized pink glasses, another has a colorful shirt, while the others are casually dressed, displaying a sense of camaraderie and joy.

Life Updates

Well the big updates is I didn’t move again! Although golly, have thought about it a million times – and in a parallel universe I moved back to London and in another I moved to India, but in this one still living with my cousin Wyatt in Los Feliz.

While I have found employment and there are no gaps on my resume, I am not making a full-time income. I have some savings so I’m not fucked, but I am on a tight budget.

The jobs I have found though I am super excited about, and I truly believe that they will turn into amazing full-time income opportunities that provide healthcare (America SMH)!

I’m working as one of the co-directors of the CSUN Writing Project and as a researcher for a Cambridge Thinklab project called Writing Partners that is looking at the impact of social writing on achievement and health.

I was trying to substitute teach and tutor and launch Los Feliz Writers Festival and do these two jobs, but it was all too much! Thus, I decided to do one thing at a time. Now that the festival is basically finished (which was 100% voluntary but we may be able to find grants next year although who knows given the NEA situation) – I am turning my attention to these two opportunities.

And my health. Honestly Stability Sammy is going okay? I basically started working like crazy, not prioritizing my health, then got super anxious and overwhelmed – got through the festival – and while it was magical and enjoyable, I gotta rest and calm down and keep recovering.

So yes! That leads to my fall priorities

Fall Priorities

This fall, I am prioritizing:

  • My Stability Sammy Project and keeping things simple
  • Sticking to my budget
  • Maximum of two Purpose & Contribution projects at a time.
    • September: CSUN Writing Project & Cambridge Thinklab
    • October: Subbing & Festivals (Porchfest & CSUN Book Arts Festival)
    • November: Festivals & Spring/2026 Applications

Fall Affirmations

There is plenty of time.

I have time to rest.

Things are going to work out.

Things are going to improve.

You are strong.

You can handle this.

Fall Structure

I have realized that I love structure and routine. It helps my anxiety a lot. I also love spending quality time with people! It’s definitely my love language. I am adapting still and adjusting to not being a teacher so things may get confusing and change as I adapt to the new projects and situation but I am starting to create a structure.

I would love to overlap our needs and be on the same timeline and spend time together!!

I am still creating my routine but the things I want to do with people

  • Go to yoga together at Yoga Vibes (I have an unlimited membership!) – Sundays at 6pm are my favorite!
  • Go hiking in Griffith Park once a week!
  • Do HIIT youtube videos in my living room.
  • Write/co work together, especially in the afternoon! Trying to set up a Shut Up & Write in Los Feliz
  • Go to Skylight Coyotes Bookclub!
  • Go to fun cultural events, networking events, classes, lectures, poetry readings, book events, and explore Los Angeles, ideally local and typically on Fridays, Saturdays, or once or twice during the week. Ideally free or less than $20).
  • Go to actvisim events
  • Read our books in the same cafe or park
  • Cook and eat at home!!
  • Go for nice walks.
  • Once in a while eat at a yummy exciting restaurant!

Ideally, I’ll hang out in Los Feliz! But I am happy to travel as long as I have a few days notice, and I spend at least 5 hours there.

It’s a day trip if I leave my neighborhood thank you!!

It’s looking like I will spend at least one day a week at CSUN – probably Wednesdays!

Summer Reads

This summer I read:

  • The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
  • Psycho Magic by Alejandro Jodorowsky
  • The $100 Start U by Chris Guillebeau
  • Mean Girls Grow Up by Cheryl Dellsega
  • Strange Magic by Syd Moore
  • Shatterproof by Tasha Eurich
  • Whose Body by Dorothy L. Sayer
  • Service by John Tottenham (Read my Review)

What did you read?

Mutual Support

Again, I am sharing this as an invitation for you to share! What do you need? How can I support you? What are your fall priorities? Any life updates?

This reminds me – the passion project i am starting is We Need Each Other aka teh Relationships section of my Stability Sammy! I realized that much of my anxiety is caused my boundaries with social media and relationships!!!

As I learned in the Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck – the problem is that I careee about too many people and too many things and thus I am trying to maintain too many things and that’s just not possible!! Thus creating this feeling of never enough, never enough.

Thus, to soothe this anxiety – I have decided to reach out to everyone in this email list (and possibly all 1,000 of my instagram followers??!) to interview – what is enough? What is a healthy relationship to you? Is our relationship healthy? What types of relationships are there?

Looking forward to speaking to you soon!

Summer Memories

A woman stands on stage with a microphone, wearing a colorful patterned shirt and glasses, speaking to an audience. The backdrop features a rich red wall with mirrors and decorative elements.
A group of six friends enjoying a sunny day at an outdoor table in a vineyard setting, with mountains in the background and parked cars visible in the distance.
Two friends joyfully holding tropical drinks with cherries on top in a lively bar setting.
A diverse group of six people posing together outdoors, with a sunny sky in the background. The group includes an older man wearing a military cap and sunglasses, standing at the center, surrounded by women and a man, all wearing casual clothing. The scene is set in a park with greenery visible.
A person in a red cloak holding a sign that reads 'NOLITE TE BASTARDES CARBURNORDUM' while participating in a protest, surrounded by a diverse crowd and palm trees in a city setting.
A group of three people poses together in front of a green backdrop featuring a 'The Breakfast Club' banner. They stand beside a colorful, artistic table shaped like a horse.
A person with curly hair crouched in a grassy area, smiling while holding their knees close to their chest, against a clear blue sky.
An elderly person sitting in a chair, wearing a hospital gown and yellow socks, with a table next to them holding a mug and some items, in a softly lit room with floral curtains.
A serene view of a pond surrounded by lush greenery, with trees lining the banks and a clear blue sky above.
A cozy living room with a bookshelf filled with various books, a clock on the wall, framed pictures, and a sofa covered with a red blanket.
A person standing in a cozy living space with white walls and wooden beams, wearing a grey shirt, black shorts, and brown shoes with white socks. There is a green cabinet in the background and a coffee table with books and a laptop.
Person standing outside Causton Town Hall, dressed in a green cardigan and black pants.
A joyful woman with curly hair and glasses hugs a small child with curly hair, both smiling. They are in a hallway with soft lighting and framed pictures on the wall.
A group of five women smiling and posing together in a park, with a child in a stroller in front of them. The background features lush greenery and a partly cloudy sky.
Two women smiling for a selfie in a natural outdoor setting, with lush greenery in the background.
Two women smiling together on a wooden balcony overlooking a body of water with a cloudy sky.
Three smiling friends posing for a selfie at a celebration, wearing elegant dresses and surrounded by soft lighting.
Three women standing together on a city sidewalk, with a small dog in front. The background features a partially visible urban landscape including parked cars and a building. A sign for valet parking is also visible nearby.
Two friends smiling and posing for a selfie in a crowded venue, with a stage and audience in the background.
A smiling woman with curly hair and glasses, sitting next to a man with short hair, both enjoying a moment outdoors with greenery in the background.
A group of four friends posing for a photo in front of a colorful backdrop, each holding a sign with lyrics from popular songs.
A person with curly hair wearing eyeglasses and a colorful patterned top speaks into a microphone while standing on a stage in front of a red wall.
An outdoor event at night with people gathered under a modern pavilion, surrounded by trees. Some attendees are seated on blankets, enjoying a community gathering.
A group of people sitting in chairs, engaged in a nighttime event at an outdoor venue with a modern architectural design.
A speaker with curly hair and pink glasses stands at a podium, addressing an audience at the Los Angeles Municipal Library during the Voices of Los Feliz event.
A handwritten note on lined paper, clipped to a board, expressing thoughts about Los Feliz, mentioning kindness, local culture, and personal reflections.
Three women standing together outdoors, smiling at the camera. The first woman on the left is wearing a red dress with a slit and holding a wine glass. The second woman in the middle is dressed in a white gown and holding a drink. The third woman on the right is wearing a pink dress and holding a cup. A large tree is visible in the background.
, ,

2 responses to “Fall 2025 Newsletter”

  1. Helia Avatar
    Helia

    Yay Sammy I’m so happy you’re accomplishing so many great things!!

    Reply
  2. Struan Avatar
    Struan

    So proud of your journey Sammy, keep it up!! This post made me very happy

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Discover more from Literary Pixie

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading