Happy Friday, all! Blessed solstice! 🌅
I’m afraid I have very little to report in terms of reading progress this week because I went to Chicago with my honey for a writing retreat. Well, he had a conference, so I tagged along, knowing I’d have long swathes of time to work in solitude, with nothing but my laptop, my notebooks, a pot of tea, and a view.
And there was a spider, but that’s a future post.
I wrote a lot. And thought a lot. And ate a lot of shrimp.
I am at a crucial point in the book’s development—the time in the writing when I usually find a huge, glaring issue that necessitates blowing up the book. I don’t have a glaring error this time, but I do have a larger overall…situation that I am pondering. The change would necessitate blowing up the book, yes, but if I do it right, it would be a small, controlled explosion rather than some of my past nuclear detonations (see: HER DARK LIES.)
I worked on it at length yesterday, and I know in my gut it’s the right thing to do. So controlled explosion it is. It’s also sort of heartening to know that my process is alive and well. One of my friends predicted this was coming… and she was right. Almost to the day!
I’m still reading Mary Kubica’s SHE’S NOT SORRY, and I have a slew of books lined up, but for now, I’m deep into this new book. The only things I’m going to be able to read over the next few weeks are three older Taylor Jackson titles, which I am preparing to get back into print! After I finish this book. And after I finish editing Jayne #5.
Sigh. I’ve hit a weird point in the year where there’s a lot of work looming. It’s going to be a busy fall. But nothing happens until I finish the new book. Deadline, activated!
Congrats to the following awesome people on their new releases this week! Have you read any of these? They are ALL on my TBR…
Riley Sager - MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
Wanda Morris - WHAT YOU LEAVE BEHIND
Liv Constantine - THE NEXT MRS. PARRISH
That’s it from me. How about you? How has it been going? I’d love to hear what you’re reading this weekend! Any recommendations?
I'm also in the middle of blowing a manuscript apart and using long hours in an empty hotel room to do so. (Why is that always the best way?) Godspeed!
Try Sandwich by Catherine Newman. It’s a short read but a total gem!!