Hello! 👋🏼

Or こんにちは! Thanks for stopping by. I’m Erika Tovi, a writerly human with alien initials. Nōto is where I share essays for the heart punctuated with notes on life, nature, and creativity.

Last year, I gathered some courage (only a spoonful, but it was enough) and started this newsletter. I enjoy learning from writers, artists, and hobbyists who experiment publicly and wanted to take a similar route. 🚗

Nōto is the Japanese rōmaji word for “notebook” and feels fitting for my work here. You’ll find posts with:

• Heartfelt, personal essays

• Glimpses of my evolving projects

• Book reviews and mind maps

• Thoughts on art, disability, faith, hospitality, nature

If you read from a desktop browser or the Substack app, you can join the discussion on any post. The comments have become a warm, lovely place to exchange thoughts and I love hearing from everyone! I try to respond to each comment, so please share if you’re comfy doing so.

About me

You’ll quickly learn that I’m a…

📒 Writerly human - When I slow down enough to sit with words, they often help me unearth meaning. One day, I hope to publish books for kids—whether serious, cheeky, or a bit of both.

🍙 Japanese American - As a hāfu, my childhood looked different than my friends. My memories include setting up hinamatsuri dolls every March and watching my mom shape rice into onigiri for lunch. I’m smiling just thinking about this.

🍑 Georgia resident - I moved here in late 2017 after craving the rush of a place like Atlanta, a “city in the forest.” I now live outside the city’s limits, but I loved the years I spent near that bustling, tree-canopied energy.

💐 Wife & stepmom - Rain pitter-pattered the night Aaron and I met online. Our hearts clicked, and it felt serendipitous. Two years later, we married in a sunshiny photo studio as my (now) stepson ran circles around us. Tovi means “my good” in Hebrew, and these two guys certainly feel like goodness to me.