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What’s New With Katrina Kittle
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November is called “the month of gratitude” because of Thanksgiving. Happiness and gratitude are so closely related they’re like siblings. Many studies have shown that people who practice gratitude consistently reap a whole host of benefits. Some of those benefits make total sense: a sense of abundance, more positive emotions like happiness and optimism, the ability to recognize life’s small pleasures. But some benefits are surprising. People who keep a gratitude practice have stronger immune systems, have lower blood pressure, sleep more and sleep better, are more likely to reach their goals, and feel less lonely and isolated.
Who wouldn’t want some of that goodness, right? So, what’s a gratitude practice? Simply the consistent and intentional effort to acknowledge the good things in our lives. Just like with the Reasons to Be Happy lists, paying attention to life’s positives trains you to see more of them. Just like with anything else, practice makes you better at it. To practice gratitude, simply list specific things for which you’re grateful. Try for at least five a day this month (and beyond) and watch how it trains you to see more. Here are some of my gratitudes: Living in the age of modern medicine Being NINE YEARS cancer free as of November 4, 2025 The right to vote A safe home A tribe of fierce, supportive, funny friends A healthy body that moves through the world pain-free Books A loving, true partner who makes me laugh like nobody’s business Free speech Having enough Walks with my dad
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You know I love all things spooky, so my October reads were deliciously creepy tales perfect for Halloween month. WE USED TO LIVE HERE, by Marcus Kliewer Eve and Charlie buy an old, isolated property in the country. One day, Eve answers a knock on the door to a man with his family, claiming he used to live there and asking whether it would be okay if he showed his kids around. But, when the strangers enter the home, the family’s youngest child goes missing, a ghostly presence materializes in the basement, and a snow storm traps the family overnight. In the morning, the family can’t seem to take the hint that the visit should be over. When Charlie vanishes, Eve starts losing her grip on reality. This is one of those haunting, “Wait-did-that-really-happen-or-is-she-imagining-this?” tales that fills you with stomach-churning dread! I loved it and can’t stop thinking about it. ALL’S WELL, by Mona Awad Sometimes we wish for terrible things…and sometimes our wishes come true. If you love theatre and a little magic, and if you’re a woman who’s ever had her physical pain dismissed, doubted, or disbelieved, you will love this twisted tale. Miranda Fitch fell off the stage in an accident that ended her promising acting career and left her with excruciating chronic pain. Now a college theatre director, she’s determined to stage All’s Well That Ends Well, but faces a mutinous cast who want to do Macbeth instead. But then, she meets three strange benefactors who offer a tantalizing promise for her future. Miranda is as funny and mesmerizing as she is unreliable, as this story tips into a modern, surreal revisiting of Macbeth.
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Lots of Writing Classes
Coming Up!
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I love teaching for Word’s Worth Writing Connections, and we’ve just scheduled six new classes from now (like, literally TONIGHT) into 2026—from one-night inspiration doses to three-week classes to year-long communities. There’s something for writers of every level. Go to the Word’s Worth Classes page, and click “View Event” to get a full description, location, and more for any class that strikes your fancy. I hope you’ll join us!
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Remember:
Books Make Great Gifts
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If you’re in the Dayton-Cincinnati area and you’d like to get personalized books to give as gifts, come to the brand-spanking-new Barnes & Noble in Hamilton, Ohio, on Sunday, November 16, from noon to 1:30 p.m. I’ll be there with my wonderful friends and talented authors Christina Consolino, Meredith Doench, Erin Flanagan, and Sharon Short, and we’ll happily sign and personalize books for you. The store will be stocked with our titles!
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Kat & Oliver reels on Facebook, like this one (This dog is awesome.) A pink-and-black speckled belly on a beagle puppy Attending the No Kings Rally in Kankakee, Illinois, with my cousin Rhonda
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Cozy, gray rainy days—the very best, most productive writing days Jane Goodall Pumpkin patches The comedy of Josh Johnson (His work is insightful, his demeanor gentle, and his smile can light up a room.) Vaccines Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” Donkeys (I love their hand puppet ears; they seem to have a life of their own.)
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A field of sunflowers This poem: This is how we resist: By thinking. By feeling. By refusing to go numb. Empathy is resistance. And so is critical thought. Let neither be lost— not on your watch. -ella hicks Have a beautiful month and Happy Thanksgiving, all. May your whipping cream be real, may the butter be plentiful, and may the political discussions remain civil. Eat the pie, take a hike, love your friends!
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