Friday Reads

Just Chill, Baby

Hello, and happy Friday!

I’m coming to you from the southern command today, where I’ve finally been able to visit my family after the long knee rehab. We’ve had a good week—celebrated my mom’s 89th birthday, watched ALL of the Olympics, enjoyed my brother’s exceptional home cooking, and otherwise chilled out. Chilling out is my new thing. Not exactly watching the grass grow (and the cardinals court) but something close. It’s a strange state of being, but enjoyable, nonetheless.

I’ve been totally wrapped up in Lindsey Vonn’s spectacular story. Her courage to race despite adversity led to a difficult outcome, but you can’t fault her for giving it her all. She is bravery personified for me—and the weird similarities with the scene that opens TEAR ME APART have been giving me chills.

And yes, I’ve been watching the wall-to-wall Nancy Guthrie coverage. I won’t weigh in with my thoughts, but wow, it certainly is a strange and sad tale. I do hope she’s found safe. I can’t imagine the horror that family is experiencing.

That’s actually not entirely true. I can, all too well. It’s my job to take these horrifying moments and make sense of them, identify the real villains, find justice, find closure. I can’t help but assimilate these splashy crime stories, as well as everything else that floats through the news. Writing is how I process the strong emotions these events cause.

And writing I am. It’s slow, and not so pretty, but it’s progress. Beginnings are always achingly leaden over here.

With all these distractions, I haven’t done much reading, but I am deep into CONFORM by Ariel Sullivan. It’s another romantasy, but on the lighter side. It has a bit of a Hunger Games vibe.

I’m also reading a galley of Lauren Nossett’s INDIE DARLING, a PI procedural set in Nashville, which is going to be a big hit.

Couldn’t sleep the other night, so stayed up watching Notting Hill. What a perfect movie. A favorite chill-out rewatch.

How about you? Anything great happening in your world? Good books to share with us this week? Any plans for Valentine’s Day?