The Dua Lipa Summer to Kathleen Kelly Fall Pipeline
plus, "Between the Lines" with Erika Veurink, author of Exit Lane, writer behind Long Live and founder of EV Salon
Hello, lovers!
Your girl slept in later than I can recall in recent memory for the quintessential lazy Sunday morning because we had a big night last night! Dua Lipa at The Garden!!!! I woke up still riding the high of being amidst her Pop Star Princess™️ aura. Dua exudes confidence at the highest level—but it’s not as if she amassed the style and cultural cachet (uhm, hello, face of the CHANEL 25 handbag) she now holds overnight.
Despite being a freshly minted thirty, Dua told the crowd last night that October marks the ten-year anniversary of Be The One, the second single from her debut album. As someone who’s only more recently become obsessed with her, I bring this decade-long timeline up for a few reasons.
Following our optimism-infused evening (please note, dear reader, few things will give you hope in humanity quite like dancing to Electricity with your girlfriends and 20,000 strangers), we went back to our friend Jenna’s to partake in our favorite version of a nightcap: watching music videos and being silly. That session evolved into the musical lead of our crew, Laura, providing a HERstory lesson on Dua, beginning with her performance at the Brit Awards in 2018.
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My jaw was ON THE FLOOR as I took in the difference between the confidence of the performer we’d just seen effortlessly dominate a sold-out MSG and her on-stage presence eight years ago. Dua’s glow up feels like evidence that even when you’re seemingly destined to be famous, it takes grit, vulnerability, and an ungodly amount of time honing your craft to make anything look effortless.
That said, it feels particularly fitting to make Dua’s evolution the opener of today’s letter, considering one of my July issues was dedicated to “How To Have A Dua Lipa Summer.” Between ending up in Mallorca at the same time as her to sharing her outlook on making everything feel like a vacation, she was famously quoted in a Vogue interview saying, “People do really love to joke about the fact that I’m always on holiday. I’m not always on holiday; I just make everything I do feel like a holiday.”—it felt like mission accomplished.
And today, we soak up the last official day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. I know, you’re like, haven’t you been talking about summer for like, five months? ENOUGH ALREADY. I fear I have. But trust me, I got alllllll my last licks in…that is, until I’m Southern Hemisphere-bound in a few months, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves!
Summer droning on aside, funny enough, much like Richard Gilmore himself, I really am an autumn.
I couldn’t be happier to be diving into Kathleen Kelly season, as it’s time for my annual rewatch of You’ve Got Mail, with the urge to break out my sweaters persisting despite it being over 80 degrees multiple times this week. But trust, I will be ready when the weather finally flips! And if you, too, are craving a seasonal wardrobe change, I’ve got you covered because today we’re rounding up some fall fashion nods I don’t want you to miss.
Paid Subscriber Exclusive: I’ve recorded myself reading the intro in audio form! As someone who writes like I speak, I thought it might be fun to start working on this added bonus for paid subscribers so you can more easily consume on the go.
A fall-inspired shopping edit, including my new signature scent for the season and a roundup of gems from the Madewell 30% off sale
Meet , author of Exit Lane, writer behind Long Live and founder of EV Salon
The Vault (Paid Subscriber Exclusive): A curation of things I’ve consumed and loved this week. Stories and podcasts that have caught my eye and ear!
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I’m a sucker for Madewell, specifically their denim…even more so after listening to one of the podcasts I’m sharing in today’s “The Vault” section for paid subscribers. So, I couldn’t resist sharing their 30% off sale, which comes just in time to transition your wardrobe from spring to fall. Find me stocking up on favorite denim styles, plus adding a few other fun pieces into the mix.
Paneled Midi Skirt In Cotton Blend Twill in Dark Carob: originally $276, now $194
Suiting Mini Skirt in Plaid: originally $128, now $90
Denim Mini Skirt in Rinse Wash: originally $118, now $83
The Balloon Jean: originally $148, now $74
Cashmere Buttonfront Cardigan in Lemon Chiffon: originally $198, now $139
The Suede Shopper Tote: originally $198, now $139
The Sculptural Buckle Bag: originally $168, now $118
Double-Brested Blazer in Suede: originally $548, now $384
💸 Aaaaaand as a disclaimer, this shopping section—as always—includes affiliate links. These little babes help me continually reinvest in making The Sunday Series better. I make a small commission when readers click and shop through my links at no additional cost to you—so if you found something through a link I sourced, please do consider purchasing through that link so I’m credited! Speaking of, I’ve been using the ShopMy platform for several months and love it. Want to start making commission on the links YOU share? Sign up with my referral link for a 10% bonus on your fist six months of linking.
Kayla Douglas: Erika, your debut novel Exit Lane hit shelves on September 16th. What inspired this story, and how did it find a home at 831 Stories?
Erika Veurink: Claire and Erica reached out to me with an email subject line of "Something romantic?" and the rest is history. The story is deeply inspired by When Harry Met Sally, a story I've always loved, but never found that sexy. So I tried to write a Midwestern, modern version of it with characters that felt both familiar and fresh.
KD: What was the most surprising—or unexpectedly challenging—part of bringing Exit Lane into the world?
EV: I was so surprised at how laborious the editing and revision process was. Honestly, thank God, because I worked with some brilliant minds who helped bring the book to a whole new level, but when you're writing a Substack or for an outlet, the process is, understandably, less robust.
KD: You’ve built what you often call a “portfolio career,” spanning fiction, journalism, consulting, and events. For someone looking to carve out a similar path, what advice would you give on building a portfolio career that feels both sustainable and creatively fulfilling?
EV: My advice would be to ask yourself what you would do for free, forever, and see if there's a way you can bake this into your portfolio career. For me, it's writing. It always has been. I wrote Long Live weekly to an audience of 500 readers for a year before I found any real traction. And I did it willingly!
Also, my advice would be that no one knows what you're building like you do. Trust your intuition and your ability to architect your career from the inside.
KD: Tell us a bit about the inspiration behind EV Salon, your creative series where attendees are matched for conversation and connection.
EV: I wanted to steal the Old Boys Club model and use it on the really compelling, creative women in my network—creating opportunities and bridging connections in a warm space where everyone has a match. It started in my apartment and now, it's a brand-led series in NY and LA, mostly.
KD: In addition to your editorial work, you consult with brands on editorial strategy and voice, often guiding them into Substack. How do you decide which projects feel like the right fit for your creative energy?
EV: Well, it's funny you ask. In 2026, I'm sunsetting this part of my offering to be able to focus more on my own projects. It's bittersweet! But the time I can reinvest into my creative pursuits and my own audience always comes back with compound interest. Working with clients can be very draining, but I'll miss the special relationships that have turned into friendships I've made along the way.
KD: You’ve been refreshingly candid about money, often sharing financial transparency in your work to encourage other creators to know their worth. What drives that openness, and what response have you seen from your community?
EV: My dad worked in finance and we started talking about money when I was two. It's always been a fact of life to me, one he found endlessly interesting, and I guess I inherited some of that. When I graduated from my MFA program, I was starving to read a writer talking candidly about how they made money. It was so hard to come by! So I sort of made a pact with myself that if I really made a go out of creating a career out of writing, I'd be honest about the finances, knowing how helpful it can be for others.
KD: How does being comfortable with rejection (nothing will quiet one's ego quite like being a writer!) help you gain the confidence to create content consistently across so many platforms?
EV: I have been rejected by so many agents, so many editors, brands, potential collaborators, you name it. And I used to keep a list of every single no I got from story pitches, which resulted in a very depressing sheet of paper taped above my desk, but then when I did get a pitch accepted, it made it all the sweeter. I'm a former athlete, so I use the phrase "shots on goal" to reorient myself. The more reps you can get in, the better your game gets.
KD: It was recently announced that you're joining the contributing editor lineup at Marie Claire. Congrats! What type of stories can we look forward to from you there?
EV: Marie Claire has always been an iconic magazine to me, so I'm really thrilled about the new role. You can expect secondhand fashion, extremely practical recs, etc. Think of it as an extension of the Long Live universe.
KD: The Sunday Series was conceptualized as a love letter to my favorite day of the week. If we were with you in your neighborhood on a Sunday, where would you take us to spend the afternoon?
EV: I would insist we swing by Greenlight for a new book, then maybe we'd read and have tea at Anaïs for an hour. An afternoon matinee at BAM is a certain kind of bliss. And maybe we'd wrap things up with a foot massage at Bergen Spa.
And in closing, my curation of stories, pop culture moments, and podcasts I’ve consumed and loved this week.
The Books Times Readers Are Most Excited About This Fall. Thrillers, literary fiction, history, science, memoirs and more: Here are the books you’ve saved most to your reading lists. (The New York Times)
Nobody Wants This season 2 airs on October 23rd. Seth Rogan will be guest starring!
Hailey Bieber Gives Chase Sapphire Reserve a Hollywood Glow Up. It's part of a huge marketing investment as the card's annual fee increases this year. (Ad Week)
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