The Buzz Has Begun: 3 New Retreat Author Releases 🎉 (More Coming!)

by | Jun 3, 2025 | Inspiration & Motivation

🎉 Today I’m thrilled to showcase three of our brilliant retreat alums who are living the dream—with book launches and media magic that’s worth celebrating. So much has happened since last year’s roundup of 15 releases from 14 authors that I’ve decided to split this update into two parts. If you’ve been following along on social, you’ve likely caught some of the early love I’ve poured into these titles—from deal announcements and preorder excitement to Pub Day celebrations. But here, with the luxurious space of a blog (and newsletter!), I get to go deeper. More juicy details. More behind-the-scenes magic. More media-tastic FUN + press links.👌

I love highlighting these stories: who the authors are, the heart of their beautiful books, and the momentum keeping their creations in the spotlight—and in readers’ hearts.

Whether you’re just beginning your book journey, knee-deep in revisions, or savoring your own wins, I hope these success stories—earned through years of dedication and craft—bring a smile to your face and, if needed, rekindle your faith in the creative process. May they inspire you to read, share, and keep showing up to write your masterpiece. 🥰

Part 2 is on its way to your inbox shortly. (And if I somehow miss your book, let me know—we’ll add it to one of the two blogs posthaste and feature it in our next alum newsletter.)

So, without further ado, and in no particular order, let’s toast to these incredible books and the beloved storytellers birthing them:

1). MAILMAN: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home, by Steve Grant (Simon & Schuster, July 2025):

Going the extra mile, this mailman’s memoir hits shelves this summer, just in time for a historic anniversary.

THIS BOOK! If you feel like you’re losing faith—in people, this country, our institutions, your sense of meaning—this memoir is a miracle. This July, as we mark the 250th anniversary of the creation of the postal system for the United Colonies—with Benjamin Franklin as its first Postmaster General—Mailman arrives as a timely, tender, and triumphant book you won’t want to put down.

Written by Steve Grant, a brash, big-hearted raconteur and rural letter carrier in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Mailman is as exuberant and hilarious as it is profound. The story follows Steve’s deeply personal journey after being laid off from his big marketing job during the pandemic at fifty—while battling cancer and scrambling for health insurance—only to find unlikely salvation in a USPS uniform.

What began as a lifeline job became a calling. From delivering dog food and heirloom tomato seeds to traversing a creek with a refrigerator strapped to his back, Steve carried far more than just the mail. Backed by a ragtag crew of devoted letter carriers, Steve’s days became a testament to the quiet heroism of daily service: human connection in isolated hollers, the dignity of blue-collar work, and sweetness of showing up—for your family, your neighbors, and your truest self.

But perhaps my favorite part of this launch is not just the book—although Mailman will have you laughing out loud one moment and tearing up the next—but the company it keeps. Steve’s brilliant wife, Alicia, is one of the most talented writers I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. Truly. Her fellow writers from our 2023 Virtual Retreat still talk about her book—and how eager they are to read it—every time we connect. She’s been supporting Steve through the creation of Mailman and its launch before we submit her equally riveting manuscript to agents. That’s love. That’s belief. That’s partnership.

I feel so blessed to be in the orbit of people like Steve and Alicia—writers with grit, heart, and stories that matter. Mailman is more than a memoir. It’s a love letter to service, to second chances, and to the transformative power of purpose. You can preorder now! I can’t wait to hear what you think, as I’ll be rereading it in real time because I treasure it that much.

Pre-pub media hits 🏆🎬: A starred review in Kirkus (“A charming book that’s guaranteed to make you think differently about the USPS”). Incidentally, a Kirkus starred review is one of the highest honors in publishing—a coveted nod to a book’s exceptional merit and literary brilliance. All three of today’s titles are starred!

Publisher’s Weekly (“With good humor and plainspoken prose, Grant illustrates how the work helped him feel useful to a town he’d left behind and reignited his sense of vitality. This has charm to spare.”)

More exciting news on the horizon—Steve just wrapped recording his audiobook narration a few days ago in L.A.! 🎧

PS. Alicia and her husband are brand new to Instagram—as of last week (wow, right?!). Let’s help them feel the love and stay encouraged as they share their journey. 💫 You can follow Steve here and Alicia here, and maybe drop a heart or a comment on our joint post—their very first on the ’Gram. 🤠✨

______________________________________________________________________________________________

A quick note about my Virtual Retreats 📣📣📣 Since announcing a pause on my retreats last October, something unexpected—and wildly tempting—has happened. A flurry of amazing writers and screenwriters have joined the waitlist, some sending deeply compelling letters. I wasn’t prepared for this outpouring. Many of their bios and book babies are so magnetic, I find myself “ratwheeling” on them—spinning with ideas for how to support their work. (That’s just how my brain works.)

So… I’m toying with the idea of hosting one Virtual Retreat in 2025—for just five writers.

According to my sister, the Vedic Astrologer, launching on August 28th and ending on September 26th would be especially auspicious. That window also gives me time to finish helping other beautiful projects already in the pipeline.

Feel into it. If this possibility stirs something in you, maybe it’s meant to be. And if the stars (and everyone’s schedules) align—we just might GO.

To explore the possibilities with me, click here.
______________________________________________________________________________________________

 

2). THE INSTABILITY OF TRUTH: Brainwashing, Mind Control, and Hyper Persuasion, by Rebecca Lemov (W.W. Norton, March 2025):

Author & longtime Harvard professor Rebecca Lemov’s latest title has made a significant impact since its release in March. The book delves into the pervasive nature of psychological manipulation, tracing its history from Cold War-era tactics to contemporary digital platforms. Sounds creepy, right? It is—because brainwashing is more common than we think (it’s not so much what happens to other people as what can happen to anyone). But have no fear; Rebecca’s compiled just the information we need to protect ourselves! I assure you she’s such a beautiful storyteller that the book’s highly readable, even downright enjoyable despite its heavy topic. (Don’t believe me? In her recent interview on the Joe Rogan Experience, it was deeply heartening to see so many glowing comments about Rebecca’s humility, likability, intelligence, and trustworthiness. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much unanimous praise on such a big show, all revealing the best in people—a vibe that’s reflected in her writing.)

JOY is what I feel around Becks, who I’ve been sharing the most enjoyably squealy phone chats and texts as the media magic unfolds around her. You may remember me posting a few years ago about how Rebecca is an equally gifted concert pianist and artist who surprised me with a launch-day drawing of Beautiful Writers. When it was about time to send this book proposal out to agents, I had her include many of her own drawings (not mine—ha!).

“Why?” she asked. “Aren’t they [her drawings] unrelated?” 🧐

Rebecca’s humble. Shy, even. You might be, too. But please—resist the urge to hide your gifts, including details about your fabulous well-roundedness that helps agents and publishers fall in love with you. 💕

Odd fact 🌀🧠😲: Rebecca happened to be at our Carmel retreat the very day the New York Times ran a front-page story about Catherine Oxenberg’s daughter, India, being held as a brainwashed prisoner in the NXIVM sex cult. As a longtime family friend, I was a wreck—texting India inside the cult to see if she was okay (she assured me she was and claimed her mom had been lied to—classic brainwashing) while also franticly messaging with Catherine, who was desperate to save her daughter.

It was Rebecca, calmly eating breakfast downstairs, who knew exactly what to say—how to support Catherine (who was already doing so much right) and how to keep communication open with India without breaking her trust. Sheesh.

Unlike most cult stories, this one has a remarkably happy ending. As you probably know, Catherine and the FBI took down NXIVM. Its leader, Keith Raniere, is serving a life sentence. India is free, deprogrammed, happily married, and thriving. Catherine’s powerful memoir, Captive, tells their story. (And if you haven’t already, check out our Beautiful Writers Podcast episode about the ordeal—talk about a celebration—of the power of a mother’s love!)

Even odder fact 🌀🌀🌀: When India was just a baby, one of my sister’s Vedic astrology teachers warned me she would be kidnapped—a chilling prediction I immediately shared with her mother. Decades later, after India was miraculously rescued—and with her full blessing—I wrote this blog post about the experience while helping to promote her mother’s book.

Rebecca’s recent media hits & critical acclaim (more in the can!): 🏆🎬📰:

______________________________________________________________________________________________

3). MAYA BLUE: A Memoir of Survival, by Brenda Coffee (She Writes Press, May 2025):

When the fairytale turned into a thriller. I’d swear this hair-raising, stunning story was impossible—if I didn’t know the author so well. MAYA BLUE is all true and as cinematic as any bestseller—think Working Girl meets Taken. Or for fans of Breaking Bad and Narcos, Maya Blue is a searingly honest and unforgettable memoir that challenges women to rethink everything they know about survival, resilience, and finding their voice.

At twenty-one, Brenda Coffee surrendered herself to her marriage and became the kind of woman who would do almost anything her charismatic, powerful older husband, Philip Ray, wanted. Whether it was dangerous, adventurous, sexual, or flat-out illegal—she wanted to be the one woman he couldn’t live without.

Their life together felt like a fairytale. Until . . .

When Philip—the founder of two high-profile, groundbreaking public companies—began making cocaine in their basement and became addicted, Brenda had to muster a new kind of courage. Ditto when the Big Six tobacco companies threatened their lives for creating the first smokeless cigarette (Brenda coined the terms vape and vaping). Her retreat mates and I were spellbound as she read scene after scene. When we got to the point in the story when she was kidnapped by brutal Guatemalan military commandos at gunpoint through the jungle—and made a miraculous escape, I knew I’d follow her anywhere.

Brenda never thought she’d share these stories beyond the close circle of friends present when the fairytale unraveled. But she was called to write this book for anyone who’s ever lost their voice or has lived with an addict or grieved the loss of a spouse.

In this suspenseful, fast-paced memoir that reads like a thriller, the lessons in Maya Blue will help you to stay grounded in yourself, even when the world around you falls apart. Via Brenda’s example, you’ll know that you, too, can survive almost anything.

Some of Brenda’s recent media hits include 🏆🎬📰:

  • Coverage in Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper “A high-stakes, raw memoir of addiction, survival, and reclaiming power from the shadows of chaos. This is one you won’t forget.” —Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper, 2025 Summer Reading List
  • Placement in New York Times bestselling author Lee Woodruff’s prestigious Bookmarks newsletter
  • Kirkus starred review: “Coffee demonstrates her considerable powers as a storyteller and a wordsmith.”
  • An appearance on Daytime TV
    Follow Brenda on Instagram for all her coming adventures!

Okay, y’all—that was a blast! A wild rainstorm just rolled through, so I’m off to hop on the tractor and cruise through the horse stalls to smooth out the erosion rills. Yeehaw! 😂

Keep an eye out for Part 2—more delicious book releases coming your way soon. And if you’re feeling called to chat about your book, I’d love to hear from you.

LOVE. Write on!
Linda xo
PS. Have thoughts? Share them! 🤠 Instagram, Facebook, or X.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This