Exciting Announcement! Our (Slightly) New Name + Book Club Picks for Early 2026
+ Mini Creativity Coaching sessions
Hello Protagonists!
In this post, you’ll find our 2026 preview, including:
🎉 Our (Slightly) New Name
📚 Book Club Picks for the first months of 2026
🫶🏼 Mini Creativity Coaching sessions coming next year
📖 January Book Club invite + Discussion Questions
Our (Slightly) New Name
CREATIVE. INSPIRED. HAPPY is transforming into…
CREATIVE. INSPIRED. ALIVE !
It’s just a small change and yet, it feels expansive at the same time.
We’ll still be a happy bunch, of course, but the word “ALIVE” feels so right, because now we have Joanna, who is expanding our horizons even more with her perspectives in writing and creativity coaching.
Also, we get to be the CIA. The good CIA. 😉 (Credit to Joanna for that joke… I’m not that clever).
We’ll be working on all the backend stuff over the holidays, like moving to a new domain name (creativeinspiredALIVE.com).
Nothing will change for you except:
the email address these newsletters come from
we’ll unveil our logo in January
So… Welcome to the CIA!
📚 Book Club Picks for Early 2026
It’s time to reveal our book club picks for the first three months of next year—just in the nick of time to add to your holiday wishlists.
“Read Like a Writer” Book Club is for our community members who want to dive even deeper into how great books work. Come nerd out with us! 🤓
January:
The Favorites by Layne Fargo - Think Wuthering Heights meets Tonya Harding-esque machinations. A drama-filled story of the competitive world of ice dancing, complete with a love triangle, career sabotage, and told in an interesting documentary/narrative hybrid style. After you read this, the upcoming Winter Olympics might suddenly feel more intriguing.
Meeting date: Sunday, January 25, 2026 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT
» RSVP and ZOOM Link at the end of this newsletter
February:
The Way of Integrity by Martha Beck - Inspired by Dante’s The Divine Comedy, Martha Beck maps out a four-stage journey to help readers reclaim their wholeness and reduce their anguish. She combines expert coaching techniques with practical advice to help us distinguish our true desires from societal pressures. Ultimately, this guide offers a path away from negative habits that zap our authenticity and toward a life of deep purpose and happiness.
Meeting date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT
March:
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans - A novel about the power of writing letters, finding solace in literature, and connection with people we might never meet in person. It is also about the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime.
Meeting date: Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT
🫶🏼 Mini Creativity Coaching sessions coming next year
Next year, our Book Club meetings:
will alternate between weekends and weekdays for more inclusive scheduling,
will begin with a 30-minute discussion of the book, and
✨ New feature ✨ : the second 30-minutes will include creativity conversations and coaching sessions!
Joanna will choose a topic each month (such as creative goal setting, the grief of rejection, the psychology of writer’s block, the power of play, etc.) and book club members will get to share their experiences, as well as receive reflection and support.
Together, we’ll see deeper into our creative selves, feel camaraderie in our community, and find ways through our challenges. 💛
If you’d like to join us in the Book Club, you can upgrade to a paid membership here:
Or refer friends to receive complimentary months:
1 referral = 1 month free
2 referrals = 3 months free
3 referrals = 1 year free
OR
Give a gift this holiday to a fellow writer or creative person in your life!
📖 January Book Club Discussion Qs: The Favorites
Whether you’re a curious reader or a fellow writer, we’d love to have you join us. No need to be “an expert”—just bring your thoughts and your love of books.
Meeting Date:
Sunday, January 25, 2026
8pm ET / 5pm PT
Zoom link below
💬 During the book discussion, we’ll chat about:
The novel is a retelling of Wuthering Heights. In what ways do you see those influences? Where does The Favorites carve its own lane?
Kat and Heath are bound together by trauma, ambition, and shared goals. What makes their connection compelling? What makes it problematic?
The story uses multiple formats: Kat’s first-person voice, flashbacks, and interview transcripts of a fictional documentary.
How did this structure affect your experience of the book?
What were its strengths and weaknesses?
The title The Favorites suggests many layers—favorites in competition, fandom, media, “favorites” that people root for. What does the title evoke for you and how do you see it playing out?
This book may also get us excited for the Winter Olympics and the upcoming Wuthering Heights film:
💬 During the Mini Creativity Coaching portion, we will talk about:
A Guided Creative Goal Imagining in the New Year
Reflecting on and celebrating our biggest accomplishments of 2025
Centering on our deepest desires for 2026
Distinguishing our outcome vs process goals
✨ Introverts welcome: Cameras on or off. Your presence is enough.
We think this is going to be a wonderful conversation!
🔐 RSVP & Zoom Link
To protect the privacy of our discussion space and prevent Zoom-bombing, the RSVP and Zoom link are posted below the paywall.