Julie's Plot Twist

Updates on Julie Carrick Dalton's novel and garden plots — always delivered with a twist.

Jun 30, 2025

Are you a fan of twisty novels, curious about the writing life, or passionate about nature, climate activism, gardening, tea, and bad puns? If so, you’re in the right place.

Let’s get to know each other!

I’m Julie Carrick Dalton, the New England-based author of The Last Beekeeper and Waiting for the Night Song, with The Forest Becomes Her coming in 2026 from St. Martin’s Press and a fourth novel in the works. I’m also part of the faculty at Drexel University’s MFA program, a former organic farmer and beekeeper, and a lifelong tea enthusiast. Through this newsletter, I’ll share behind-the-scenes peeks at my books, updates on climate action, and a dash of herbal wisdom—all served up with a plot twist of hope for the future of this planet and the creatures that live on it.

I’ve been married to my college sweetheart for 32 years, and have four kids, two dogs, five grand-cats, and three grand-dogs. When I’m not reading or writing, you can probably find me gardening, skiing, kayaking, swimming, or hunting down sources of outstanding gingerbread.

Buy The Last Beekeeper

Buy Waiting for the Night Song

Spilling the Tea:

Alongside writing, tea is a daily ritual and source of creative inspiration for me. I grow dozens of herbs, flowers, and fruits to dry and blend my own signature teas. I will be doing a few giveaways of custom-blended teas in future editions of Julie’s Plot Twist. My favorite blends include my Immunity Booster, Tummy Tea, Clari-tea, Sleepytime, and Menopositivitea.

Homegrown herbal tea ingredients -- anise hyssop, echinacea, and lavender -- hang upside down from rough-hewn rafters in a rustic cabin. — Anise hyssop, echinacea, and lavender drying from the rafters in my writing office.

Pour yourself a cuppa while I share this teaser for my forthcoming novel, The Forest Becomes Her …

In historic Concord, Massachusetts, a centuries-old forest has been clear-cut to build a gleaming, eco-friendly housing development. Out-of-towners flocking to buy “guilt-free” homes are perfectly happy to forget about the trees that were destroyed. The forest, however, has other plans.
A celebration of sisterhood, female rage, and the ever-transfiguring female form, The Forest Becomes Her explores our connections to land, body, and each other—and how these attachments transcend mortality and time.

Early reviews of The Forest Becomes Her are coming in!

"Julie Carrick Dalton writes with extraordinary power and beauty about both the outside wilderness and the wildness inside women's bodies, connecting the two in surprising and magnificent ways. A primal scream, and an exhilarating and unforgettable novel. You'll never look at an oak tree — or a woman — the same way again." — Katie Gutierrez, bestselling author of GMA Book Club Pick, More Than You’ll Ever Know

This summer I’ll be revealing the cover for The Forest Becomes Her, as well as sharing insider info, including how to win an advance copy and pre-order. Stay tuned!

All the Dirt

Here’s what I’ve been up to lately:

I just found out my most recent novel, The Last Beekeeper, is a finalist for the ALSE Environmental Creative Writing Book Award. Winners will be announced in July. I’m honored to be on this list that includes one of my favorite climate communicators, Emily Raboteau.

I recently spent a week in LA where I attended the Hollywood Climate Summit. I met some amazing thought leaders and activists, learned about sustainable innovations in the film industry, and expanded my network of creatives dedicated to storytelling as a form of climate activism. I left feeling invigorated, inspired, and full of hope.

Julie Carrick Dalton standing in front of a promotional banner reading Hollywood Climate Summit.

From LA, I made my way to Seattle, where I went hiking with my daughter at Mt. Rainier National Park. It was warm and sunny, but the mountain was still covered in snow, which made for slippery, but fun, climbing (and sliding.)

Julie Carrick Dalton and her adult daughter standing on a mountaintop. Both are smiling and wearing sunglasses and baseball caps. A blue sky and snow-covered peaks in the background.

Digging In

I’m currently digging into The Afterlife Project, Tim Weed’s fantastic speculative novel about what life on planet Earth might look like in the near and far future. So far, I’m LOVING it. Grab your copy and let me know what you think. I’ll be in conversation with Tim to discuss The Afterlife Project on July 10 at Belmont Books (just outside of Boston.) I’d love to see you there.

I also highly recommend Milo Todd’s debut novel The Lilac People. This poignant historical novel about a trans man surviving first the Nazis, then the Allies, took my breath away. You can subscribe to Milo’s newsletter, The Queer Writer, here. I can’t resist sharing this photo of my husband, my daughter, and me at Milo’s recent book launch, a spectacular Twenties-themed, queer burlesque show.

Julie Carrick Dalton with her husband and daughter, all three dressed in Roaring Twenties attire and holding copies of Milo Todd's novel The Lilac People.

Up Next: Now that the weather is finally warm, I’m excited to read Kristy Woodson Harvey’s new book, Beach House Rules, and Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady.

Planting Seeds

The same passion that drives my activism infuses my fiction, as I believe stories can inspire real-world change. One real-world organization I’m particularly excited about is SunDay.earth, recently founded by one of my heroes, Bill McKibben. Please check it out and sign up for a day of climate action on Sept 21.

I also want to share a new song by Antonique Smith, a Grammy-nominated singer, actor, and dynamic climate activist. She co-founded Climate Revival, an environmental justice org doing amazing work. Antonique is the official 2025 Earth Day Ambassador and the Sun Day Ambassador. I’ve been lucky to meet her a couple of times. Her warmth, passion, and activism are truly inspiring. Here’s a video of Antonique’s newly released single, Love Song to the Earth. I love this song so much, and I know you will too.

The Twist

Did you know that mushrooms can evolve laterally? That means they can adapt to environmental changes in a single generation. Fungi play a big role in The Forest Becomes Her — and in my yet-to-be-named fourth book, which I’m busy working on right now. I’ve been having tons of fun unearthing and breaking down mushroom-related research. Can you imagine if other species could adapt to our changing climate in a single generation?

Why did the mushroom get picked first for the soccer team?
Because he was such a good spore-t!

(Sorry. Not really. I love puns. Brace yourselves.)

Growing our Relationship

I’d love to stay in touch. Please drop a comment and introduce yourself. I’d love to know what you are reading, what type of tea you love most, and, of course, what your favorite mushroom puns are.