Why I’ve been MIA recently

And some very, very special news.

So…as you can see, it’s been a little while since I’ve sent you a newsletter. Truthfully, I’ve been wrapped up in a pretty massive project that sucked up a lot of my time in March. Which, of course, I’m very excited to tell all of you about right here.

Here’s my special news: I’m publishing my first novel this summer. 🥹

While you all likely know me for my work as a journalist—writing about all things food, health, nutrition, and wellness—the other major part of me is also a writer of prose. I’ve been writing fiction for a while now, and after many attempts at trying to go the traditional publishing route, I decided to screw the system and just publish this book myself.

Now, because a lot of my journalism work is under my name, I’ve decided to go with a pen name for my fiction. I’m finding it easier to market myself given that the writing is so different in nature. My pen name, K.Sinko, is actually my maiden name.

My debut novel is titled Safe Harbor, a young adult contemporary romance, and is the first in a series of three novels. And, as a special treat for all of you for being very patient with me this month, I’m going to share a description of the book that no one has seen yet! 😍

Safe Harbor description:

Melanie’s twin brother made a life-altering mistake, and now her entire world is about to change.

After years of getting straight A’s at Garrison Prep so she could have a shot at getting into Yale, Melanie’s parents announce they are moving to Haverport—a small coastal Connecticut beach town—to give her brother Duncan “a fresh new start.”

Skeptical that anything will actually change at home, Melanie decides to spend that summer before her senior year working at the local ice cream shop, Scoops By The Sea, where she meets Calvin—tall, broody, and pretty much on a mission to make Melanie’s training absolutely miserable.

Yet while her job and the people at Scoops were meant to be a distraction from her life that was falling apart, Melanie finds them to be a lifeline in the torrential sea of terror she faces at home. And even if Calvin may seem reclusive, Melanie soon learns what it means to truly open up her heart and share the pain that torments her, especially when disaster completely shatters her life once again.

Safe Harbor is a sweet young adult romance featuring the intensity of two people falling in love for the first time, a pack of fiercely loving co-workers that feel like family, and a small town that has an obsession for festivals, fireworks, bonfires, and 32 delicious flavors of ice cream.

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You can follow along and get all of the book updates via Substack, Instagram, and TikTok. Oh yes, I’m on Booktok now.

Next week I’ll be fully back at it with the Bite Sized podcast and our weekly essays. Thanks for your patience, and for always supporting my writing. It means so much!