This was originally sent as a newsletter.
Here’s a riddle:
What do emails to China, being thankful for a plastic bag, and quicksand have in common?
Answer: Me. 
Technically, it started Friday, with an email exchange from Mia in Guang Dong Province, China, where we discussed the riveting topic of…paper stock. (No, really.)
The design for my From Draft to Done: Edit Your Non-fiction Book card deck is complete, but I’ve been debating switching printers for the next print run.
Then Friday night hit, and with it, a five-hour drive to Michigan for my nephews celebration-of-life. We were asked to wear bright colors and celebrate his life, not mourn.
And celebrate we did!
All day and into the early hours of Sunday.
I rarely drink alcohol anymore, but this night I made an exception. It was a raucous, storytelling, and beautiful time. The only thing missing? Music.
Then Sunday morning, 8:00 AM. Everyone was still asleep (thankfully). I woke up feeling queasy, stumbled to the bathroom, then back to the guest room, and started rummaging through my suitcase.
There it was: a plastic grocery bag. Originally packed for dirty clothes, it was now serving a higher calling.
I crouched over it, occasionally dry heaving. After an hour, a couple tablespoons of what looked like water but tasted like vodka and regret finally made their exit.
Then, blissful sleep.
When Robert and I finally rolled out of bed around 11:30 am, my grandfather’s voice echoed in my head: The dead have risen!
Pretty much nailed it. (That full story’s in my book Fill the Gap if you’re curious)
So much for sunrise filming at Indiana Dunes National Park.
We made it there eventually to film for my YouTube channel, Tashai Travels.
And, surprise!
We ran into quicksand, for real.
Right where the boardwalk ended and the sand began—bam, my leg sank calf-deep. Not dangerous, just startling.
The walk to the beach over the dunes was hot, but the payoff? So worth it.
Lake Michigan was clear, calm, and felt like a freshwater ocean. If you haven’t been, I recommend it. It’s that good.
Even with all the chaos: grief, joy, hangover, and quicksand, I still made my decision. I’m sticking with my USA printer for the next card deck run.
Sometimes we celebrate. Sometimes we crash. And sometimes, miraculously, we still get the thing done anyway.
So why am I telling you this?
Because whether you’re writing a book, building something meaningful, or navigating quicksand (literal or metaphorical), progress isn’t always pretty, but it is worth it.
Just keep going. The mess is part of the magic.
Speaking of which…
If you’re editing (or are writing) a nonfiction book, you need this deck!
It breaks the editing process into bite-sized, dare I say fun, steps.
How about you?
What delightful or unexpected things are on your summer radar?
Feel free to leave a comment and tell me.
Sorry, if the plastic bag reference was too much for you. Wait, not sorry, If you’re on my list you can handle it… right! 
Quote of the moment:
“Writer’s block is a fancy term made up by whiners so they can have an excuse to drink alcohol.” —Steve Martin
Love it Tashai and thankful that we were able to help you get to this amazing part of your journey. Wishing you all the best and I’m sure you will help others in their journey♥️.