Michelle Chalkey - Writer

Setting my novel in the timeline of Taylor Swift’s eras has made writing more fun than it’s supposed to be. These books are filled with insights of her impact on the industry, the deep beauty in the lyrics, and best of all, Taylor’s own journal entries.

💖Taylor’s Version: The Poetic and Musical Genius of Taylor Swift by Stephanie Burt

🫶There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift by Kevin Evers

🤩Lover - the journal by Taylor herself

Have you taken a deep dive into the Swiftie universe with any of these? Share your thoughts! 📚

Leo’s preschool year is in the books! I couldn’t be happier with - it was a great fit for Leo. He loved every one of his classmates and teachers and classroom pets 🐹 I loved seeing him come home from school telling me about how far he got with his chains (math), boxes (spelling), and continent maps. Sometimes he wanted to leave for school early to get back to work on them!

I’m loving this school age but still can’t believe we’re here already. Onto kindergarten 📚

We’re 2 for 2 in our 5k era! Leo beat his last time by 13 minutes today 🏃 It has been fun this past year figuring out what this boy truly loves to do and what he just does because we want to try things out with him. Racing lights him up. First thing this morning when he came out of his room, he asked to put his race bib on. I love that we get to do this together and get in all these fun themed races 🥂🍩

Our little man finished his first 5k today! Donuts at every mile were the perfect incentive. 🍩 way to go, my Leo! 🏃

2026 tears so far: birthday candles, books, soccer, and kitchen tongs. Most tears have been good ones 🙏 (except for the bloody kitchen tongs) New post is up 🫶

New Year, New Tears What I'm crying about in 2026

🧡October was one for the books. Yoga retreat in Portugal with 🧡 12 new Taylor Swift songs 🧡 Halloween fun with my little Paw Patrol pup and sea monster 🧡 Wine and handstands with my man 🧡 lots of writing time and back to volleyball for Mama 🧡 the desert summer haze has lifted 🙏

A favorite tradition of mine is my husband buying me a book for Christmas. He doesn’t read much fiction or know the top books of the year. He just judges the book by its cover, title and jacket copy to see if he thinks I’ll like it. So far, he hasn’t picked a book I don’t like and he has helped me branch out to new authors. Hello Beautiful by Anne Napolitano has proved to be an all-star pick. This book is rich in family dynamics and character development. I can’t wait to read more of Napolitano’s work.

Have you read Hello Beautiful?

7 days in Streator with our 4 and 1 year old may have aged me another decade, but I love seeing my kids play with their cousins, taking them to the park we grew up at and celebrating their Papi 💖