Introducing The Novel Envelope

Slow mail for lovers of classic tales

May 10, 2025

Saturday Morning Serial is the weekend section of Library Binding. It’s a personal corner where I publish short stories, book reviews, and literary musings.

I love getting letters in the mail.

I like sending them, too.

I'm one of those people who enjoys writing in greeting cards for birthdays, weddings, and such.

I have been tossing around the idea of starting a slow-mail subscription for you, and I was delighted to see that “literary snail mail” ranked high on the little survey I sent out.

So, I’m thrilled to announce a monthly snail-mail subscription called The Novel Envelope.

The Novel Envelope: What is it?

Snail mail = you get a hard copy in your actual mailbox. You do NOT have to print anything from a digital download.

My goal is to give you the gift of a quiet hour amid the whirlwind of life.

One analog hour of slowing down, sinking into a story, and writing something by hand.

Each monthly envelope is tied to a seasonal theme (like Ghosts in the Stacks or Laughter & Regret) and includes:

A handwritten letter from me (scribbled with a digital pencil)
The full text of a short story by a classic author (lesser known and hopefully new to you)
A themed booklist for your next library visit or bookstore wander
A brace of writing prompts inspired by the theme (one memoir prompt, one fiction prompt)
One surprise goodie (coloring page, puzzle, game—you never know!)
A Shakespeare passage to memorize
A mini calendar of literary anniversaries, book releases, and newsy happenings

Slow down, reconnect with paper, and rediscover joy in the tangible.

Subscribe to The Novel Envelope

If you like Library Binding, this is one way to support what I'm doing over here.

It's $5 a month, and you receive a full-color, 10-page printed packet that you can rub between your fingers.

It’s a low-key monthly subscription model (no yearly commitments). Cancel anytime. No pressure, just delight.

For the cost of a latte, you get to retreat into a soft, still analog space—I'll bring a classic author with me, and we'll share words and ideas across the miles.

How does it work?

When I was first toying with the idea of sending you physical mail, I quickly hit a few barriers, the biggest of which is this: I don't want to take possession of your mailing address. Then, there's the issue of envelopes, stamps, paper, etc.

The folks over at StampFans solved this. You sign up for my snail mail subscription through them without giving me personal access to your mailing or billing information. StampFans handles the printing and posting, too.

The photos in this post are NOT of a StampFans-produced mailing. These are photos of the June packet that I printed myself at home to give you an idea of what to expect.

The StampFans product will print on nicer paper.

It will arrive tri-folded in a standard envelope.

Oh-so ordinary looking on the outside, but not-so on the inside.

StampFans is brand-spanking new, so I connected with Nick Freiling, the company founder, to ask questions and ensure everything was suitable for our needs.

Every month is, well, novel

Here’s something else that’s part of the charm: Each mailing is unique and available for that month, and that month alone.

No digital copy. No reruns. One opportunity.

In a world where we can get pretty much anything we want whenever we want it, I want you to receive something special for a change.

I also want it to be a surprise. Every envelope will contain the same basic elements, but I’m planning to keep the details close to the vest. What’s the fun of getting mail if you know exactly what it is beforehand?

When you subscribe, your envelope will be mailed on the first of the month, and you should get it a few days later.

A couple of weeks later, I’ll give everyone here on Substack a small taste of what was in that month’s envelope—I’ll reveal the story selection and give a few highlights from the booklist—but only subscribers will get the full experience.

The June Envelope: The Rose of Summer

The first envelope will roll off the press June 1. The theme is The Rose of Summer.

What to expect:

A bittersweet short story by a classic author
A sun-kissed book list
Two writing prompts
Ah, yes, and one mystery surprise
And more—Shakespeare, mini-calendar, the chance to share your writing with me, and even a discount code for exclusive merch…I’m striving to exceed your expectations.

Subscribe to The Novel Envelope