It’s Friday, and you know what that means. Let’s talk about what we’re reading!
The copyedits have been completed a full day ahead of schedule, and once I do one teensy little revision on the short story I finished at the end of the year, I find myself suddenly free, in body and spirit, to start writing HLN! Yesterday was a sunny, warmish day here in Nashville, so I sat in the driveway with my notebook and started pouring out scenes. I stopped at 40 — and that’s pretty much just the first act. For once in my life, I have done so much thinking ahead of time on the book that there are at least two acts worth of action already in my head. And I kind of know the ending. Huzzah! I’ll be plowing ahead on Step 4: Research this Sunday for those of you following 22 Steps, and then get into my 40 Scenes method in Step 5.
I find this to be a truth in my creative life: The more I read, the more I write. I’ve been reading a lot lately, and boy, does it feed the creative beast.
I started my slow read of Wolf Hall, and I think this book is going to have a deep impact on both my psyche and writing. I’m only a few chapters in, but Hilary Mantel is a genius, and the book shows it. Very cool.
I finished my buddy Jayne Ann Krentz’s THE NIGHT ISLAND just in time to have a wonderous chat with her and Barbara Peters from Poisoned Pen. From dragons to murderous mushrooms to psychic assassins to the ever-present gothic, we had a blast.
I’m reading the lovely Lauren Thoman’s second outing, YOU SHOULDN’T BE HERE and enjoying it immensely. Y’all, the Nashville writing scene is hopping these days.
I also started a research book, GOOD MORNING, MONSTER, by therapst Catherine Gildener, which was recommended by fellow author Victoria Schwab in her newsletter. All it took was a quick glance at the book’s description to fill in a big plot point for the new book, so I grabbed it straight away. It’s as wonderfully heartbreaking as it is fascinating. (Ed note: as I’ve gotten deeper into the book, I wanted to give a heads up—the stories told are distressing, and may be triggering for some readers.)
I am reading all of Agatha Christie’s works in 2024 - a big task but one I am loving so far! I just wrapped up “The Man in the Brown Suit” and now moving on to the Poirot Investigates short stories! -- also working on finishing some NetGalley arcs for review 🤓
Here in Southeast Nebraska, we're in the middle of our second snow storm this week. We received around 7 to 8 inches of heavy, wet snow Mon and Tues. Last night and today we're receiving a light powdery snow and will more than likely be another 7 to 8 inches. We also have up to 45 mph wind gusts blowing everything around. So glad I can work remotely.
Between the weather, I've been battling a cold, so I didn't read as much.
I read Six Scorched Rose's by Carissa Broadbent. This is a novella between the first and second book.
I'm about a quarter of the way through the 2nd book, The Ashes and the Star Cursed King. So far, it's not near as violent as the first book...and I'm sure I'll love it just as much as the first book!
This weekend, I will continue my slow read of War & Peace as well as Abbi Waxman’s The Bookish Life of Nina Hill and Maya Angelou’s Hallelujah The Welcome Table.
I'm re-reading BIRD BY BIRD by Anne Lamott, and I can't help but think about the story that inspired the title of the book. I'm holding onto getting things done right now by the saying bird by bird, hoping that one thing done at a time will get me there. I'm also reading Ariel Lawton's FROZEN RIVER. Oh my, where do I start? The writing is superb and the story compelling. You're immediately immersed into the world. As a previous nursing major, I love how vivid her midwife scene is, and how I was quickly agreeing with Mistress Ballard's thoughts and observations. It's a lesson in providing emotional moments while keeping the plot moving forward at a great pace.
Just started reading BULL'S EYE (Kate Fox #8) by Shannon Baker, and ONE WRONG WORD by Hank Phillippi Ryan (ARC).
I am reading all of Agatha Christie’s works in 2024 - a big task but one I am loving so far! I just wrapped up “The Man in the Brown Suit” and now moving on to the Poirot Investigates short stories! -- also working on finishing some NetGalley arcs for review 🤓
Here in Southeast Nebraska, we're in the middle of our second snow storm this week. We received around 7 to 8 inches of heavy, wet snow Mon and Tues. Last night and today we're receiving a light powdery snow and will more than likely be another 7 to 8 inches. We also have up to 45 mph wind gusts blowing everything around. So glad I can work remotely.
Between the weather, I've been battling a cold, so I didn't read as much.
I read Six Scorched Rose's by Carissa Broadbent. This is a novella between the first and second book.
I'm about a quarter of the way through the 2nd book, The Ashes and the Star Cursed King. So far, it's not near as violent as the first book...and I'm sure I'll love it just as much as the first book!
This weekend, I will continue my slow read of War & Peace as well as Abbi Waxman’s The Bookish Life of Nina Hill and Maya Angelou’s Hallelujah The Welcome Table.
I'm re-reading BIRD BY BIRD by Anne Lamott, and I can't help but think about the story that inspired the title of the book. I'm holding onto getting things done right now by the saying bird by bird, hoping that one thing done at a time will get me there. I'm also reading Ariel Lawton's FROZEN RIVER. Oh my, where do I start? The writing is superb and the story compelling. You're immediately immersed into the world. As a previous nursing major, I love how vivid her midwife scene is, and how I was quickly agreeing with Mistress Ballard's thoughts and observations. It's a lesson in providing emotional moments while keeping the plot moving forward at a great pace.
Shutter by Ramona Emerson
The Good House by Tananarive Due
The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Oracle by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
Slay by Laurell K. Hamilton
Ghost Eaters by Clay McLeod Chapman
I’m about halfway through an arc of Kendra Elliot’s At The River.
I finished WELLNESS by Nathan Hill (🤯🤯🤯) and am now on to ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS by Araminta Hall.