Dearest Salty Nation,
I’m writing to you from under a pile of double-sided A4 paper and colour-coded Post-it notes as I attempt to juggle the final touches on THE LAUNCH DATE before it heads to print (wtf) and edit the dumpster fire that is the second draft of my second book, hereby know as UNTITLED SLATOR NOVEL #2 (catchy).
‘So why have you started a newsletter?’ I hear you all screaming impatiently.
Am I a procrastinator by nature, even with the job of my dreams? Maybe.
Do I want to feel like the Carrie Bradshaw of Cambridgeshire? Yes.
Do I look chic while typing this? No. I suffer from a hereditary resting bitch face (thanks, Dad) that unfortunately no amount of Botox will cure.
All three can be true at once. But the real answer is there are few things I love more than giving my unsolicited opinions and recommendations. So please enjoy this monthly list to add a little sprinkle of flavour to your life, much like a touch of Malden’s Smoked Sea Salt on top of a big slice of ripe heirloom tomato. And yes my no 1 recommendation will always be to carry a pinch tin in your bag.
Read this:
📖 Just One Taste by Lizzy Dent - fair warning, when you buy this book you might as well buy some pasta and put your wand on charge because once you start reading you will immediately become hungry and horny.
📖 Match Me If You Can by Swati Hegde - if you know me, you know I am a sucker for a classic retelling (book 2 who…? 👀). Match Me If You Can is slow burn friends-to-lovers interpretation of Jane Austen’s Emma set in Mumbai and I loved every page.
📖 The Half of It by Nicole Ocran and Emma Slade Edmondson - I worked with Nicole a few years ago and it was one of my favourite influencer collaborations. I can’t wait for this book to arrive in the post on the 4th of July. If it’s half as thoughtful, funny and insightful as Nicole I know it’s going to be a vital read.
📖 Cross the Line by my fabulous agent sibling, Simone Soltani, is out in the USA on 23rd July! UK readers (who can buy it NOW) will have probably already seen me go feral over this book. Side effects include giggling, lip biting and kicking your feet in the air.
📖 Subscribe to the I Heart Mess newsletter for top-tier pop culture commentary and the best esoteric celeb photographs Getty Images has to offer.
Listen to this:
🎧 Listening to Keith Haring’s Mixtapes makes me feel cool as shit. Curated by the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver from over a hundred digitised mixtapes, this has expanded my daily listens beyond Francesca by Hozier and Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl by Chappell Roan on repeat.
🎧 Close to You by Gracie Abrams is a VERY CUTE BOP and is creeping it’s way towards my book writing playlist.
🎧 If, like me, you love those history Tiktoks that start with ‘Was Anne of Cleeves actually clapped?’ then you will also love Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
🎧 If you’re into Emily Henry, please, even if you already have the physical book, please please please download Book Lovers narrated by Julia Whelan. Her Charlie Lastra will change your life.
Watch this
📺 I am not watching Acolyte, but like the rest of twitter I am watching the edits of Manny Jacinto because I have taste. He is also very good in the underrated romcom I Want You Back.
📺 Hannibal walked so Interview With The Vampire could run into a season 3 renewal.
📺 Monte Carlo is a fave summer rewatch. If Leighton Meester has zero fans, I am dead.
📺 I will watch everything Ashley Norton talks about but her The Bachelor recap is one of the best things I’ve ever seen on Youtube.
Eat this
🍽️ Guittard dairy free dark chocolate chips are becoming one of the Slator McHale’s major household expenses. It’s outweighing our bills and frankly ruining our lives.
🍽️ Everything bagel seasoning on everything with everything.
🍽️ ALERT THE PRESS: Toast is out, crunchy rye bread is in. No I will not explain further.
🍽️ Illy Instant espresso coffee with tonic water. Or, if you’re a lil bitch, lemonade.
Buy me this:
💸 Vintage Gucci 1100 Watch With Interchangeable Bezels you will always be famous.
💸 My guest bedroom is a garish baby blue that I painted in the height of a covid lockdown depression era. I’m hoping this Good In Bed Pillow will help.
💸 I included The Chicken Wine in THE LAUNCH DATE as a loving homage to my childhood best friends but also mostly with the hopes of receiving a vat of rosé from the company in the future. If that happens, I will sit in it like a cold plunge while sporting this shirt.
💸 My agent threatened to drop me as a client if I ever did this… but I bought Crocs. Specifically the black Mega Crush Sandals from a fancy Crocs pop up in Japan which IMO feels acceptably cool. It is like walking on air, I love them, I want to never take them off and I don’t care how stupid they look. My fingers are inching to get the pink/purple version so I can dress up as Groovy Chick for Halloween.
Do this:
👊 Donate to the PCRF Gaza Relief Efforts.
👊 Register your support for The Common Press bookshop in London.
👊 Grow up and wear SPF 50+ sunscreen.
👊 Add THE LAUNCH DATE on Goodreads (ilysm)
Okay, love you bye!
AS x