I have just added quite a few titles to my want to read list! Thank you so much for sharing this insightful interview. I really appreciated the insights about how little we control, particularly with regards to the affection of others, be they people, or creatures!
Thank you Jane and Russell for this excellent interview.
First of all, I say "Yay to Russell's amazing wife, her ripple effect is wide". Next, I appreciate your desire to be kind to your future self. I have never heard a goal worded like this and yet it's the best goal, and outcome, any of us could wish for. Thank you for sharing it.
So much to love about this interview: bunny lessons in love, his love/admiration for his wife, and "be kind to future Russell." So much goodness packed in this gem!
I love this quote 'You think you don’t have room in your heart to love another thing, but then your heart opens another chamber and you realize your ability to love is infinite, and you can love everything 100%.' Always so beautiful to hear people talk about their connections with animals 😊
Love it! To foster fascination is a great reminder--and from someone who clearly is so deeply fascinated! My favorite piece in this is the commitment to being kind to future Russell. That’s brilliant. I’m going to adopt it. Thanks, Jane and Russell.
Yay! I love that bit. As a present russell. It was very nice for past russell to do so much to make it easier on me, even if it still often feels impossibly hard
So I’m already a huge fan of Russell, but the bunny story has catapulted him into a new level of personal regard. Thank you for such a lovely feature, Jane! (Also, truer words than “bunnies destroy everything they touch” were never spoken.)
Great line: "I am constantly asking myself if future Russell will be happy with a decision I made or not. Sometimes, of course, future Russell is angry with me because you need to center the present, but I like to be kind to him, even if it means suffering a bit in the moment." This is insightful about the man...and the best way I've found to be kind to my future self, is to read the writing of my former-self. Nice work, Jane.
"I’m just going to be corny and call out my wife. I was not a great human when I met her. I was every bit the entitled, white, millennial, man stereotype and watching her neverending fount of kindness for everyone around her, and the grace she showed to everybody really snapped me out of the way I looked at the world and showed me how to move through the world with more grace." Not everyone gets this kind of opportunity to learn, and I guess even fewer actually take it. So my admiration and thanks to you, Russell, for the reminder on how we can learn grace from others if we open ourselves to the possibility of doing so.
I'm glad it resonated with you. I have been very privileged to have so much love in my life, and people who treated me with grace even when I didn't deserve it. I try to return the favor now, and treat people like they are doing their best, no matter what that looks like, though it's often hard.
“I am going to keep putting good into the world regardless, and if somebody wants to manipulate it then that’s their problem, not mine.”
It’s taken me most of my life to really understand and accept this. Thank you for articulating these feelings so well. Once I got it, it made life easier. No expectations on my part, just to keep putting kindness out there.
I absolutely love what you quoted. One of my favorite parts of the interview. And, yes, I agree, CeCe, once you understand and accept this, it changes your life!
So glad it resonated with you. It's a very hard lesson, and I am not always good about it, but it definitely takes the sting out of life to a significant degree.
What a lovely interview! Always so nice to hear from a fellow author, and also to hear shoutouts for my friends’ books (Caraval, the Hazelwood). Thanks for this piece!
So glad you enjoyed it, Evelyn. And how wonderful your friends with Melissa Albert and Stephanie Garber! And you've also written beautiful books! (Hmm. Might the three of you each want to do the questionnaire?)
That makes sense. I love creepy but not scary stuff so Melissa's work is tight in the sweet spot for me, along with Leigh Bardugo's Ninth's House Series, Naomi Novik's Scholomance, Alix Harrow's Starling House, etc.
Do you read Shaun David Hutchinson? The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza is one of my all-time favorites. No creepiness or scariness, I just really love it.
I haven't read Shaun David Hutchinson but will definitely check him out. An "all-time favorite" rec is really not one to pass up. I'll trade you a rec-- Dawn Kurtagich if you like YA horror that tends to the psychological side. I connected with her because she's also an organ transplant recipient like my husband, and some of her books are drawn from that well of inspiration (but fictional!)
Russell Nohelty's insights into literature, life, and personal growth are truly profound. His passion for books, especially the Caraval series and The Hazel Wood, reflects a deep appreciation for storytelling and the power of imagination. I admire his commitment to staying fascinated by the world around him, even in the face of challenges and disappointments.
Explore captivating Contemporary, Romance, Thriller & Suspense, Science Fiction, Horror, and more stories on my Substack for FREE at https://jonahtown.substack.com
My business partner thinks it's because that's how I consume data as a Tundra (which is one of the archetypes). I'm not sure about that, but yeah, I mainly turn an audiobook on in the morning and finish 1-2 by the end of a work day. I only turn it off while I'm writing.
Yes; yes and yes! Mary Oliver’s admonition “Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it”. Life is full and joyful when we’re kind to ourselves and others.
I have just added quite a few titles to my want to read list! Thank you so much for sharing this insightful interview. I really appreciated the insights about how little we control, particularly with regards to the affection of others, be they people, or creatures!
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it. If you like those recommendations, I wrote about my favorite books from last year and it's filled with others like them. https://www.theauthorstack.com/p/my-32-favorite-books-of-2023
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Lisa! And, yes, we control sooo little! 🌸
Thank you Jane and Russell for this excellent interview.
First of all, I say "Yay to Russell's amazing wife, her ripple effect is wide". Next, I appreciate your desire to be kind to your future self. I have never heard a goal worded like this and yet it's the best goal, and outcome, any of us could wish for. Thank you for sharing it.
It's such a wonderful goal! I feel inspired! And, yes, yay to Russell's amazing wife, indeed! I'm glad you enjoyed the interview, Donna!
Yay! so happy it resonated. Yes, my wife is the real star here.
So much to love about this interview: bunny lessons in love, his love/admiration for his wife, and "be kind to future Russell." So much goodness packed in this gem!
I agree! I loved this one so much! So many gems, indeed!
Yay! So glad it resonated with you. This was one of my favorite interviews to do.
I love this quote 'You think you don’t have room in your heart to love another thing, but then your heart opens another chamber and you realize your ability to love is infinite, and you can love everything 100%.' Always so beautiful to hear people talk about their connections with animals 😊
Oooooh, I love that quote, too! Animal love is the best! ❤️
Yay! So happy it resonated.
Love it! To foster fascination is a great reminder--and from someone who clearly is so deeply fascinated! My favorite piece in this is the commitment to being kind to future Russell. That’s brilliant. I’m going to adopt it. Thanks, Jane and Russell.
I love that, too! And, yes, to fostering fascination! So glad you enjoyed it, Holly!
Yay! I love that bit. As a present russell. It was very nice for past russell to do so much to make it easier on me, even if it still often feels impossibly hard
So I’m already a huge fan of Russell, but the bunny story has catapulted him into a new level of personal regard. Thank you for such a lovely feature, Jane! (Also, truer words than “bunnies destroy everything they touch” were never spoken.)
I know!! I love the bunny story!! Glad you enjoyed the interview, Maddie!
Yay! I’m so happy that story resonated with you! As somebody who is a huge fan of your work, it’s very nice to have some mutual appreciation time :)
Oh my gosh...ALL the warm fuzzies!! 🥰
Great line: "I am constantly asking myself if future Russell will be happy with a decision I made or not. Sometimes, of course, future Russell is angry with me because you need to center the present, but I like to be kind to him, even if it means suffering a bit in the moment." This is insightful about the man...and the best way I've found to be kind to my future self, is to read the writing of my former-self. Nice work, Jane.
Thank you, Jennifer! I really love that quote. Russell says so many beautiful and thoughtful things!
That’s very interesting. I had never thought of that, but I think that is true. Hrm, well said
A great interview, Jane!
"I’m just going to be corny and call out my wife. I was not a great human when I met her. I was every bit the entitled, white, millennial, man stereotype and watching her neverending fount of kindness for everyone around her, and the grace she showed to everybody really snapped me out of the way I looked at the world and showed me how to move through the world with more grace." Not everyone gets this kind of opportunity to learn, and I guess even fewer actually take it. So my admiration and thanks to you, Russell, for the reminder on how we can learn grace from others if we open ourselves to the possibility of doing so.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Jeffrey! And I agree with everything you said here!
I'm glad it resonated with you. I have been very privileged to have so much love in my life, and people who treated me with grace even when I didn't deserve it. I try to return the favor now, and treat people like they are doing their best, no matter what that looks like, though it's often hard.
“I am going to keep putting good into the world regardless, and if somebody wants to manipulate it then that’s their problem, not mine.”
It’s taken me most of my life to really understand and accept this. Thank you for articulating these feelings so well. Once I got it, it made life easier. No expectations on my part, just to keep putting kindness out there.
I absolutely love what you quoted. One of my favorite parts of the interview. And, yes, I agree, CeCe, once you understand and accept this, it changes your life!
It certainly does Jane. Thanks for this insightful and inspiring newsletter.
So glad it resonated with you. It's a very hard lesson, and I am not always good about it, but it definitely takes the sting out of life to a significant degree.
What a wonderfully grounding, healing read. Thank you both.
I agree! And I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Yay! So glad it resonated :)
What a lovely interview! Always so nice to hear from a fellow author, and also to hear shoutouts for my friends’ books (Caraval, the Hazelwood). Thanks for this piece!
So glad you enjoyed it, Evelyn. And how wonderful your friends with Melissa Albert and Stephanie Garber! And you've also written beautiful books! (Hmm. Might the three of you each want to do the questionnaire?)
I just emailed you!
They are the best ones. I cannot wait for the bad ones to drop later this month.
I am such a scaredy cat. The Hazelwood really got into my head and I had the most vivid, terrifying dreams for a while!
That makes sense. I love creepy but not scary stuff so Melissa's work is tight in the sweet spot for me, along with Leigh Bardugo's Ninth's House Series, Naomi Novik's Scholomance, Alix Harrow's Starling House, etc.
Do you read Shaun David Hutchinson? The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza is one of my all-time favorites. No creepiness or scariness, I just really love it.
I haven't read Shaun David Hutchinson but will definitely check him out. An "all-time favorite" rec is really not one to pass up. I'll trade you a rec-- Dawn Kurtagich if you like YA horror that tends to the psychological side. I connected with her because she's also an organ transplant recipient like my husband, and some of her books are drawn from that well of inspiration (but fictional!)
ooh, I will check them out.
Russell Nohelty's insights into literature, life, and personal growth are truly profound. His passion for books, especially the Caraval series and The Hazel Wood, reflects a deep appreciation for storytelling and the power of imagination. I admire his commitment to staying fascinated by the world around him, even in the face of challenges and disappointments.
Explore captivating Contemporary, Romance, Thriller & Suspense, Science Fiction, Horror, and more stories on my Substack for FREE at https://jonahtown.substack.com
I agree!
Glad it resonated with you :) I think I have read a book a day on average since the beginning of the year.
Wow, Russell! That's impressive!
My business partner thinks it's because that's how I consume data as a Tundra (which is one of the archetypes). I'm not sure about that, but yeah, I mainly turn an audiobook on in the morning and finish 1-2 by the end of a work day. I only turn it off while I'm writing.
Yes; yes and yes! Mary Oliver’s admonition “Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it”. Life is full and joyful when we’re kind to ourselves and others.