Searching for Belonging at the Bottom of a Bottle One year sober, and what I’ve learned about friendship, boredom, and being present in my own life.

I hope this helps even one person feel a little less alone.

open.substack.com/pub/brittany...

One year sober. ✨

I decided to travel way back to my first experiences with alcohol to reflect on my one year of sobriety. It brought up the need for belonging, choosing fitting in over myself, and what it’s looked like to come back to that 12-year-old girl at the house party who chose herself.

“Even broken, Maggie realizes, Aynsley Court will always be home.” — Aynsley Court Remains - Part II: The Quieting
aynsleycourtmysteries.substack.com/p/aynsley-co...

“My dreams already came true. I dreamed I’d live somewhere I didn’t have to watch my dad put hands on my mom anymore.” — Aynsley Court Remains - Part II: The Quieting
aynsleycourtmysteries.substack.com/p/aynsley-co...

“This room is her sanctuary. In the early hours of the morning, she’ll return to these four walls—as always, stuck.” — Aynsley Court Remains - Part II: The Quieting

aynsleycourtmysteries.substack.com/p/aynsley-co...

Aynsley Court Remains - Part II The Quieting

“Another early afternoon sun filters through the blinds, dust motes floating lazily in the warm, fall light—the stillness suffocating.” — Aynsley Court Remains - Part II: The Quieting aynsleycourtmysteries.substack.com/p/aynsley-co...

The kettle’s on. Pour yourself a cup and join me at the table. ☕️

Aynsley Court Remains - Part II The Quieting

I hope you enjoy Aynsley Court Remains - Part II: The Quieting. aynsleycourtmysteries.substack.com/p/aynsley-co...

I think I’m struggling with Part II and Part III the most. I love the characters and want to give them the space they deserve, but the themes are dark and heavy. The foundation of Aynsley Court Mysteries is rooted in cozy mystery, so it’s more light-hearted—but it’s an earned light-heartedness.

2026 Intentions A yearly ritual that I've done for almost a decade.

"We do have to remember to take a step back to take care of ourselves, though, because we can’t fight if we’re broken."

Taking a look back on my 2025 intentions and setting 2026 intentions. open.substack.com/pub/brittany...

Part I is here! Excited to share with all of you. This part explores Aynsley Court in the 50s a year after Margaret "Maggie" Ellis arrives through the arch.

Read Part I: aynsleycourtmysteries.substack.com/p/aynsley-co...

Learn more and subscribe here: aynsleycourtmysteries.substack.com/about

Tomorrow! Not too late to subscribe at the link in my bio.

I may have been a bit overzealous and might not have the stamina to produce a written piece and three art pieces for the remaining three parts—but we’ll see. Here’s a sneak peek! 👀

Part I of my first Aynsley Court short story comes out Sunday! I’m very excited to share. Another skill I’m flexing is digital art, and I’m finishing up three pieces that will accompany the story.

Aynsley Court Mysteries | Brittany May | Substack At Aynsley Court, every corner holds a story, and some of them are bloody. This series follows the women that live between the walls at Aynsley Court as they uncover hidden truths of the building's hi...

Aynsley Court Mysteries: aynsleycourtmysteries.substack.com
My Personal Substack: substack.com/@brittanyjlmay

You can head over to the link in my bio to subscribe on Substack, and the first letter from Aynsley Court will land in your mailboxes on January 18th! It’s part one of a four-part story to get everyone familiar with the building.

I’m so excited to share my world and my words with so many talented writers. I invite you all to join me at Aynsley Court and indulge in all the delicious secrets it has to tell.

For now “Aynsley Court Mysteries” will hold short stories, almost like prequel material, that will help me world-build and get to know my characters in hopes of one day completing a series. Not for money or clout, but for me—to prove to myself that I can.

With that, I would like to welcome you all to Aynsley Court. This space comes from my deep love of mysteries and historical fiction. Aynsley Court is named after the building my life long friend Kaitlin and I rented together; I’ve always loved the name.

I recently dusted off my Substack, a place I owned but never inhabited. It’s an environment full of bright minds, supportive voices, & colourful commentary. Reading everyone’s weird short stories from various corners of the internet has sparked my creativity in a way I haven’t felt in a while.

Social media has stolen my time, hours I could be creating instead of consuming. We’ve replaced thoughtful, heartfelt prose with mindless, snappy clips. I’m not saying social media is bad, it can bring joy in the dark landscape we’re in but it can also be all-consuming.

Welcome to Aynsley Court I’m J.

As some of you know, I’ve been trying to set boundaries with social media over the last couple of years. Over the break, I deleted Instagram & Facebook from my phone, now only accessing them through my iPad or a web browser. It’s not radical, but it feels like it.

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I think we just want lower mortgage rates and affordable pricing, no?

My friend attends a silent book club where everyone gathers and reads quietly to themselves. They serve drinks and little snacks. I need this in my life.

I model in my spare time! ✨

Festival Campground RV/Trailer Permit Tickets are now SOLD OUT! You can still join the waitlist through Front Gate Tickets. RV/Permit Tickets are still available in the Quiet Campground. THANK YOU ALL for your amazing support today! ✨🙌

Get ready to celebrate 50 years of people and music at the 2025 Winnipeg Folk Fest! Treat yourself or your favourite folkie to the ultimate holiday gift… tickets to the Winnipeg Folk Festival from July 10-13, 2025, at the one and only Birds Hill Park. buff.ly/2GK56f5

World building has been really fun! I’m the type that likes to do all kinds of things all at once and this project has allowed me to explore digital art and story writing all at once. ✨

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Hey @bsky.app, I like it here! 🦋🩵