It’s Friday, and you know what that means. Let’s talk about all the things!
It’s been a very packed week! First, happy 87th birthday to my elegant, beautiful mom! I was able to sneak down to Florida for a visit, which was so lovely, and now I’ve pivoted back to work, flying to Alabama for a writers’ retreat. Last night, we went to the Little Professor Bookshop to see the magnificent
about her new novel, WHERE YOU END. It was very fun. And you all know my huge fascination with all things twins, so I can’t wait to dig into this story.
Two flights and some downtime at the beach has helped me net a bunch of words on the new book, so I’m excited to see what today and tomorrow bring. I write well on the road, and with a whole day ahead with nothing but a quiet room, a pot of tea, some peanut M&Ms, and a nascent story, I’m hoping for a big word count day.
Why, you ask? With this new book outlined, I’m finding it a bit easier to sit down and start writing. I’ll have more on that in the next 22 Steps series, Step Six: The Outline, coming in the next week or so. I’m also working on a couple of interim steps regarding how to schedule your day and how to deal with resistance. Such a character, resistance. It's almost alive. It's the Frankenstein of our creative existence.
The page proofs for A VERY BAD THING are also on my calendar, right on schedule, and I’m excited to do one last pass to align the comments, then print it out and read on paper as if I’m you, so I’m tackling that next week. I’ve already cheated and looked through the manuscript, and I am as in love with my proofreader as I am with my copyeditor. These ladies are killing it! This book is so much tighter and cleaner thanks to their efforts.
I also finalized the last edit of a short story I wrote for an anthology coming out in October from Titan Books, DEATH COMES AT CHRISTMAS, edited by Marie O’Regan and Paul Kane. My story, O Murder Night, was largely informed by the trip to Ireland last fall. It started as a supernatural mystery and when I rewrote it to be straight crime, a whole new world opened. I hope to explore the rest of that story…one day. I will say this. The base of this story is what I envisioned when I first started A VERY BAD THING, so the two are quite intertwined, though one is 1930s Ireland and one modern day. All in all, it’s been a very fun experience.
A lot, yes? When I say writing about writing breeds writing, I am not kidding.
On to the books!
FIRST LIE WINS by Ashley Elston ended up being a blast. I never like it when I see reviews that suggest there is a mind-blowing twist because I immediately go on the hunt for the clues and red herrings, and because I was on alert, I figured out part of it early on. But that just let me sit back and admire the wildly intricate Ocean’s Eleven-esque machinations. It’s going to be a super fun movie or TV show, for sure.
I wish I could go have coffee/lunch/drinks/dinner with everyone who needs to ask me for info, a favor, or just wants to say hi. But especially now, with all the extra appointments and the deadlines, I am both tired and pressed for free time. Sarah gave me an elegant solution that satisfies my desire to help, and protects my time and energy, Thanks!
did a very fun piece about how she’s building her creative businesses using a great gardening metaphor. It’s probably better than my magical bakery analogy, but the gist is the same. The more you put out there, the more your garden grows.
has a beautiful, heartfelt letter you need to read. It doesn’t matter what challenge you may be facing today, internal or external; her words are a soothing balm.
Oh, something else very cool…I can now sell directly to you from my website! If you’re interested in a great deal on my print books, check it out here.
That’s it from me this week. How about you? What’s on your reading plate this weekend?
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I am reading THE WINDSOR KNOT by SJ Bennett. And it's just delightful. Earlier this week, I finished VE Schwab's THE FRAGILE THREADS OF POWER, also wonderful.
I'm reading House of Flame and Shadow by the incredible Sarah J Maas. This book is huge and I'm just over halfway through. I've read a few reviews where some were disappointed in it, but I'm thoroughly enjoying it...spoiler alert....there's a crossover with another of her series in this book! I actually squealed like a little girl!!
87! What an accomplishment. Happy Birthday to your mom. 🥳 ~ I love writers' retreats. I've attend several in the UK. Any great ones in the US you can recommend?
Enjoy your quiet, tea, and peanut m&ms -- sounds like a great writing retreat!
I'm working my way through the second All Souls book... Wolf Hall... War & Peace. Nothing too exciting or earth shattering in the reading department -- though Mantel makes me want to simultaneously throw in the towel AND play with words endlessly on paper.
I'm coming to grips with how few books I may be finishing, this year, reading all these tomes!
Happy Birthday to your mom!! And to you for all that writing and more writing! It's been a slow reading week for me but that's okay. I have two books that are waiting for me to read--THE NORTH WOODS by Daniel Mason and Hank Phillipi Ryan's book ONE WRONG WORD. I did read THE SEARCH PARTY by Hannah Richell. The best way to describe it is like a sunny day at the beach that is suddenly disrupted by a huge storm, and you're caught in the water where the waves pound you. One after another. I enjoyed the relentless pounding. It's a story of family, friends, jealousy and secrets. Everyone has at least one.
I hope y'all have a great weekend. Oh, and I wanted to share some good news. My dad's cancer (stage 4) is responding well to the chemo. Gotta celebrate the wins.
Happy 87th Birthday to your mom!! 🎉 It’s been another doozy of a week, so I’m still not done with Amina Akhtar’s Almost Surely Dead. I’ll finish this weekend and start First Lie Wins. I can’t wait for the next book and that short story. These Cold Strangers is one of the best short stories I’ve ever read.
I am reading THE WINDSOR KNOT by SJ Bennett. And it's just delightful. Earlier this week, I finished VE Schwab's THE FRAGILE THREADS OF POWER, also wonderful.
Happy birthday to your Mom!!
I'm reading House of Flame and Shadow by the incredible Sarah J Maas. This book is huge and I'm just over halfway through. I've read a few reviews where some were disappointed in it, but I'm thoroughly enjoying it...spoiler alert....there's a crossover with another of her series in this book! I actually squealed like a little girl!!
I'm reading a bunch of ARCs for upcoming review assignments - yay!
Peanut M&Ms - always a good choice.
87! What an accomplishment. Happy Birthday to your mom. 🥳 ~ I love writers' retreats. I've attend several in the UK. Any great ones in the US you can recommend?
Enjoy your quiet, tea, and peanut m&ms -- sounds like a great writing retreat!
I'm working my way through the second All Souls book... Wolf Hall... War & Peace. Nothing too exciting or earth shattering in the reading department -- though Mantel makes me want to simultaneously throw in the towel AND play with words endlessly on paper.
I'm coming to grips with how few books I may be finishing, this year, reading all these tomes!
Happy Birthday to your mom!! And to you for all that writing and more writing! It's been a slow reading week for me but that's okay. I have two books that are waiting for me to read--THE NORTH WOODS by Daniel Mason and Hank Phillipi Ryan's book ONE WRONG WORD. I did read THE SEARCH PARTY by Hannah Richell. The best way to describe it is like a sunny day at the beach that is suddenly disrupted by a huge storm, and you're caught in the water where the waves pound you. One after another. I enjoyed the relentless pounding. It's a story of family, friends, jealousy and secrets. Everyone has at least one.
I hope y'all have a great weekend. Oh, and I wanted to share some good news. My dad's cancer (stage 4) is responding well to the chemo. Gotta celebrate the wins.
Happy 87th Birthday to your mom!! 🎉 It’s been another doozy of a week, so I’m still not done with Amina Akhtar’s Almost Surely Dead. I’ll finish this weekend and start First Lie Wins. I can’t wait for the next book and that short story. These Cold Strangers is one of the best short stories I’ve ever read.
Happy Birthday to your mom!
Heads Will Roll by Josh Winning
House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias
The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle