THE INDIE AUTHOR EXPERIMENT · DAY 68 · NOVEMBER 7, 2026
Freida McFadden, The Housemaid and My Imaginary Musical
Literary tea, thunderstorms, Coke Zero and a very imaginary Housemaid musical.
Dear Rebels,
Yesterday, I took practically the entire day off. What does that mean? Well, it means I only answered emails, looked at ARCs, translated one chapter of The Chosen, looked at my books, and wrote a little. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy kind of day for Lupe Farkas, because usually my days are filled with a million things.
I even took a long bath with two rounds of hot water. For those of you who are new here, I measure my relaxing days based on how many rounds of hot water I use in my bath. Yesterday, I say two, but it was actually one and a half. So, yeah. A very good, relaxing day.
I received some lovely emails, including one asking why I have these columns — the Journal, Rebel Notes, and Chaos Lab — on my website. Well… let me think. Because I want to, and I can, because it’s my blog and I do what I want to. Just kidding. (Maybe.)
The truth is that the Journal, Rebel Notes, and Chaos Lab are extensions of my real journals. The physical ones, where I actually write. This blog, even though it looks more like a website these days, is essentially the online version of my diaries and notebooks.
Why do I publish what I write in my four notebooks? Because I want to. There’s no particular reason. I’m a writer. I’m an author. What I write, I publish. It’s 2026, pookies. I get to share whatever I want.
I wish I could read diary entries from my favourite authors. Imagine getting inside their heads, discovering what they were thinking on an ordinary Friday, what annoyed them, what made them laugh, or what ridiculous idea interrupted their afternoon. Now, I’m not anybody’s favourite author yet, but maybe one day I will be.
…Sorry. Got lost for five seconds wondering whether I’m setting a goal or being delusional. Maybe both.
A Little Literary Tea (Powered by Coke Zero)
By the way, you know I’ve become kind of addicted to literary tea? No, Coke Zero, there’s no need to worry. I won’t drink tea. You’re my biggest addiction, and I’ll never betray you. You, on the other hand… WHERE IS MY SPONSORSHIP?
Back to us. The tea. Sorry, the literary Coke Zero. I’ve been digging around the internet, and this is one of the stories that made me go, WTF?
Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid Heads to the Stage
Yes. THE THEATRE. The psychological thriller The Housemaid is being adapted for the stage, with a UK production planned for September 2027. We’ve had the book, the film adaptation, and now a stage play.
At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if somebody announced The Housemaid: The Musical. Can you imagine?
The singer, standing centre stage, dramatically singing:
“Take offfff one hundred hairs with the bulbbbbb! Only seventy-six have bulbs! I want you to start overrrrrrr!”
Fast-forward to the next act…
“And take offfff your front tooooooth!”
POP! The tooth rolls across the stage. The orchestra goes silent. And the singer, in the strongest operatic voice imaginable: “AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!”
Sorry, Rebels. I got a little carried away with the voices in my head. Actually, don’t answer that. Somebody in the entertainment industry might be reading this and get ideas.
that, my dear Rebels, is today’s little serving of literary Coke Zero.
FRIDAY THE 13TH · NOVEMBER 2026
The Chosen
By the way, since I can’t remember whether I’ve mentioned it… Rebels, did you know that I’m an author? Well, well, well. On November 13, I have a new release!
Forty-one days. That’s how long it took me to write The Chosen. Forty-one days of demons, witches, ancient powers and a brain that apparently doesn’t believe in office hours. The darker edition arrives on Friday the 13th. What could possibly go wrong?
So, if you don’t know about The Chosen, there’s a page on this very website called The Chosen. When you click on it, it opens with a bloody cathedral, gargoyles, and real thunder. Yeah, I know. REAL THUNDER.
(You can’t see me, but right now I’m dancing and going, “Oh yeah, oh yeah, I built a cathedral with thunder and twilight! Oh yeah, oh yeah!”)
Yes, I wrote the book. Yes, I built the cathedral. Apparently, I also decided my website needed its own weather system. The lighter version is already waiting on the site; the darker edition is coming. Friday the 13th. A cathedral full of shadows. A little thunder. My kind of launch party.
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah! Oops, I did it again. Sorry. Little Britney Spears moment. I’m a millennial.
Friday’s Numbers — November 6 Final
According to Jetpack Stats, the November 6 end-of-day total was 95 website views and 34 visitors. Earlier in the evening, the provisional snapshot showed 60 views and 25 visitors; the final figures added 35 views and 9 visitors.
Instagram: 497 followers, author-reported November 5. No newer author-confirmed figure has been provided for Friday.
speaking of Instagram, Rebels, I’m trying to reach 1,000 followers. I want to do more live conversations, talk about books, meet readers, and probably embarrass myself on camera. So, if you enjoy hanging around this little corner of the internet, come follow me. Bring your friends. Bring your bookish friends. Bring the ones who like chaos.
One Last Thing Before You Go
Rebels, did you know I’m an author, right? 👀 Well, if you can’t wait to get inside my hyperactive brain, go read my review of my own book. Yes. I reviewed my own book. Because apparently writing it wasn’t enough. I also needed to sit down and discuss it with myself.
I’ll leave the link below, and then you can go read the book on Kindle Unlimited. (Sorry, Kindle+.) Yeah…
if you think I might one day become your favourite author, if you enjoy the chaos of this website and the even bigger chaos inside my head, and if you find the conjunction of Lupe Farkas and the voice in her head fascinating, well, I would like to let you know that… We are powered by Coke Zero.
Would you like to have one with me? Go ahead and offer me a Coke. If you’re a millennial like me, you’ll remember the old Buy Me a Coffee buttons from the blogs of the 2000s. Well, I don’t drink coffee. So, yeah. Coke Zero.
while you’re here, preorder The Chosen. Friday the 13th is coming, and I would love for you to be part of this little adventure.
Love you, rebellllllls! Read my book this weekend.
Lupe 🖤