Your Invitation to Book (& Craft) Alchemy
Our cozy reading, writing, and creative hideaway through a bookcase door
Welcome.
Come through the bookcase door into our space
Life as a creative can be a lonely endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be. This space is a way for writers to come together and support what we all love most: cats books.
Think of this as a library with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, tea and coffee service at all hours, and perhaps something stronger in the evening if you’d like. We have big windows, but also an enormous fireplace, and cozy nooks everywhere to read, write, and dream. And now, as the conversations have unfolded, we’ve added art supplies into cabinets, tucked yarn and fabric and some sewing machines into the corners so your creativity can expand even more.
I’m your guide, Caroline Donahue, a writer, book coach, and podcaster who helps writers complete books. My Master’s Degree in Psychology and Expressive Arts and work as an editor, proofreader, and bookseller have been the foundation of twenty years exploring the psychology of the creative process.
A passionate knitter the last 25 years, I’ve fallen in love with sewing my own clothing (evidence: the shirt in the above photograph) and with learning about the history of clothing. There are so many overlaps between the making crafts and the craft of writing. I’ll be sharing more about the points where these ideas weave together.
What’s in the card catalog?
I’ve curated and created resources for writers for nearly ten years, and Book Alchemy is where I share practical writing tips and inspiring stories, all in manageable doses.
In addition, we explore creativity and ways it can enrich your real, imperfect, busy life, just as it is.
Here’s a taste of Book Alchemy…
Top Posts:
Here are a few of my most popular posts, without paywall:
The Secret Library Podcast:
Since 2016, I’ve interviewed writers and industry professionals about writing and publishing books. See the show catalogued by season and topic here.
A few listener favorite episodes to get you started:
Jojo Moyes (Author of Me Before You) reveals why it’s best to succeed slowly
Emily Nagoski (Author of Burnout) and I discuss writing and burnout
LaToya Watkins (Author of Perish) on how to connect deeply with characters
V.E. Schwab (Author of Shades of Magic) gives the most encouraging advice ever
Danny Ramadan (Author of The Foghorn Echoes) goes draft by draft through his writing process
Resources you get with your Book Alchemy library card:
Everyone can peruse public posts and listen to the full catalogue of
The Secret Library. If you’d like to dive deeper, here’s what’s available:
Free subscribers get:
Access to weekly public posts on writing and the psychology of creativity for two weeks after publication
Discussions about books, reading and what’s exciting us in a monthly post.
Updates about new events coming soon
Paid subscribers get:
Everything from the free tier
Monthly accountability thread for writing + creativity goals
Workshop: Keeping a Process Journal, plus FOUR other workshops in the Secret Reference Library.
Full access to all posts in the archives
Entry into the slow read of A.S. Byatt’s gorgeous novel, Possession, coming September 2025
Access to Novel Possible, a month-long writing challenge with manageable goals every November
New workshops quarterly, just for paid members
**Learn more about membership and extra benefits coming soon here.**
Kind words from current members:
Enjoy settling in! Find a favorite mug, pull up a chair, and let’s read, write, and create together.
Need more support?
I offer coaching, courses, and tarot readings to writers.
You can also check out my books here.
You have put into words how I’ve always felt about this magical space you create. Now you’re adding crafts and I couldn’t be more happy!! I’m just going to lay this cloth out so I don’t spill Mod Podge on the table. 🤓
Love this!! I absolutely love the idea of a space that feels like a bookish hideaway!! Just subscribed 💖🥰