Hello! I feel the same - the ocean, the sunshine, a leisure walk - these help to ground me and readjust my focus and concentration.
Wow!! You are a super woman! Writing, read 7 books, done 4 podcasts, planned 2 trips!! You are a winner. I went on an Alaskan cruise for 9 days, and it seems I am done for my summer vacation :)). I am enjoying every second of my 3-more-weeks summer break.
Congratulations of the nomination! I feel exactly the same way about the ocean. There is just something about it that lifts me up while bringing me peace. Lake Michigan does the same thing for me. I hope the family health issues are doing better now. What I've been reading: I am catching up on series that I am so behind in reading. So far I'm now up to date on Joshua Moehling's Ben Packard series and I am one book away from being caught up with Bruce Borgos' Porter Beck series. Best of luck with editing the new book!
Thank you thank you. I have a longstanding desire to go to Michigan, to see the little lake towns and experience a totally new part of the country. One day... I do think any water will do when you need to regroup and center.
We're getting there. We've at least found a new normal, which takes off some of the pressure.
I have a friend who lives near Chicago. When I visit her, we always take a trip somewhere along Lake Michigan. It is an amazing body of water! It seems like when we (or our family members) hit a certain age, finding a new normal happens more frequently than we expect. Hugs!
Congrats on the Falchion nomination! A day by the ocean is always a good thing! I’m glad you had that day and hope the stressful events stop coming your away for awhile. The Correspondent was incredible! Not sure how anyone could get through the end of that book without sobbing.
I've heard a lot of people have listened to it. I have such a strong voice for Sybil in my head I don't know that I would have had the same experience if I'd listened. Just fantastic work.
It was a lovely afternoon. The second I get a draft done I'm heading back. Reboot for edits!
Yes, Sybil's voice coming through the writing is so strong. Between the character's voice and the way the book is written, I definitely think it is a book that should be read rather than listened to! I generally prefer reading anyway, but this one definitely should be read!
Sorry that your time at the beach was cut short, but happy you got at least some time there! Good to hear that Dungeon Crawler Carl is good - it's been on my list for a while, but I keep stalling on it. Have a great weekend!
It's really fun to listen to. More like a movie. I admit, this morning I was sitting at a red light that had turned green, giggling at it, until the person behind me leaned on their horn.
I'm glad you got at least 1 week in at the beach! I know our FL trip this past February was just what the hubby and I needed.
We had grandkids again all this past week. We had multiple days with 3 to 4 of them (ages 6 to 12), and we had 1 day with all 3 of my husband's sons, their wife's and 7 of the 9 grandkids! Big deal for us as 2 sons live out of state and the oldest grandsons have moved out and gotten jobs, etc...we just dropped the youngest 2 at their other grandma in Kansas City. We will be recovering for the next couple of days!
Best reads of the last month:
THE SOMEDAY GARDEN by Ashley Poston. I love her books and their little magical elements.
MIRANDA IN RETROGRADE by Lauren Lane. New to me author and I loved it!
WHISPER CREEK by Allison Brennan. Very suspenseful.
I'm late to the party on this one...I'm halfway through YESTERYEAR by Caro Claire Burke. Wow...I can't wait to see how this ends!!
Yay for the grandkids! And for having the whole family together. Remember the days when no one really left, and everyone was within an hour’s drive? I love our freedom to go anywhere and do anything, but wow, family really is everything.
Agree on Allison’s book. The others are new to me - thank you!
I loved Yesteryear, but I read it opening week, after just meeting Caro, and the whole conversation abotu it was yet to come. It certainly has gotten people talking. And that is huge these days, right? Can’t wait to hear what you think!
I hear you about staring into the waves. This year has been by far the most difficult year of my life, and I’ve written very little in terms of fiction. I’ve written here on Substack, but haven’t been able to work on a novel beyond responding to a copyedit. Nature helps.
Okay but a question: 25k words in a month! That’s amazing! How? And do you do these writing bursts for all of your books?
As for the word counts, yes, I do have these bursts forward. Especially toward the end. The first 25k takes me months. The last 75K takes me weeks. I get to a point where I feel like I’m slacking if I don’t write 2-3k a day toward the end. Whereas starting, even 500 feels like a triumph.
Happy for your beach reset. It’s so hard to shut everything off sometimes. I’m halfway through summer break. The humidity has been really awful for my achy bum knee, so trying to concentrate has been a little hard. But I’ve read two really good books this month Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney and I finally got to The Book Will Bury My by Ashley Winstead. I think I’m going to start a fantasy next. Either The Verdant Cage by Jess Lourey or Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry.
Erin I love both of those books. Ashley is incredible, and we all know I am a Feeney devotee. I hope your knee improves - I’m finally to the point where I feel like it’s truly healing and I can walk like a normal person again! Can you do some PT for it?
The beach is one of my resets too, very sorry yours was cut short. When I find the waves are not available to me, I go to the opposite realm of fire. And even if it's too hot for an outdoor fire, now you always have one on the tv. Even if it's not for writing, just to think over the last week or what happened and clear my head. Try to enjoy the rest of your sabbatical!
I’m sorry your sabbatical was cut short, but I’m glad you were able to increase your word count, which is something I need to do but don’t know how! I loved The Correspondent and I read the Ron Charles piece about Dua Lipa’s library, which is absolutely amazing!
Hello! I feel the same - the ocean, the sunshine, a leisure walk - these help to ground me and readjust my focus and concentration.
Wow!! You are a super woman! Writing, read 7 books, done 4 podcasts, planned 2 trips!! You are a winner. I went on an Alaskan cruise for 9 days, and it seems I am done for my summer vacation :)). I am enjoying every second of my 3-more-weeks summer break.
Sending love, hugs and healing energy your way.
My internet time is inversely proportional to my ability to focus. Add in some water and it really helps.
The cruise to Alaska sounds amazing!!!
Congratulations of the nomination! I feel exactly the same way about the ocean. There is just something about it that lifts me up while bringing me peace. Lake Michigan does the same thing for me. I hope the family health issues are doing better now. What I've been reading: I am catching up on series that I am so behind in reading. So far I'm now up to date on Joshua Moehling's Ben Packard series and I am one book away from being caught up with Bruce Borgos' Porter Beck series. Best of luck with editing the new book!
Thank you thank you. I have a longstanding desire to go to Michigan, to see the little lake towns and experience a totally new part of the country. One day... I do think any water will do when you need to regroup and center.
We're getting there. We've at least found a new normal, which takes off some of the pressure.
I have a friend who lives near Chicago. When I visit her, we always take a trip somewhere along Lake Michigan. It is an amazing body of water! It seems like when we (or our family members) hit a certain age, finding a new normal happens more frequently than we expect. Hugs!
I’ve seen it from the chicago side but never the other. One day!!!
My friend and I drove the circle tour around Lake Michigan to see the lighthouses. Amazing!
Congratulations on the Silver Falchion nomination! That's wonderful news.
I hope the health issues in the family are on the mend, and everyone is doing better now.
Here's this week's list:
Bog Queen by Anna North
The Ex-Boyfriend's Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee by Saki Kawashiro
Gutted: How an Old House Remodeled Me by Maida Korte
Horror Hotel by Victoria Fulton, Faith McClaren
January and July by Jeff Abbott
The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson
Great list, B! Good to see you! Fun to see Abbot back with a new book. I've missed his work.
And thank you on both. The family stuff is stable for now, and the awards...the honor is in the nomination!
Jeff’s book is great so far! I think you might like The Bog Queen. Dual timelines. History, archaeology, mystery, feminism.
Sending myself a sample!
Congrats on the Falchion nomination! A day by the ocean is always a good thing! I’m glad you had that day and hope the stressful events stop coming your away for awhile. The Correspondent was incredible! Not sure how anyone could get through the end of that book without sobbing.
Hi Audra,
I've heard a lot of people have listened to it. I have such a strong voice for Sybil in my head I don't know that I would have had the same experience if I'd listened. Just fantastic work.
It was a lovely afternoon. The second I get a draft done I'm heading back. Reboot for edits!
Yes, Sybil's voice coming through the writing is so strong. Between the character's voice and the way the book is written, I definitely think it is a book that should be read rather than listened to! I generally prefer reading anyway, but this one definitely should be read!
Sorry that your time at the beach was cut short, but happy you got at least some time there! Good to hear that Dungeon Crawler Carl is good - it's been on my list for a while, but I keep stalling on it. Have a great weekend!
It's really fun to listen to. More like a movie. I admit, this morning I was sitting at a red light that had turned green, giggling at it, until the person behind me leaned on their horn.
It was a good few days while it lasted!
I'm glad you got at least 1 week in at the beach! I know our FL trip this past February was just what the hubby and I needed.
We had grandkids again all this past week. We had multiple days with 3 to 4 of them (ages 6 to 12), and we had 1 day with all 3 of my husband's sons, their wife's and 7 of the 9 grandkids! Big deal for us as 2 sons live out of state and the oldest grandsons have moved out and gotten jobs, etc...we just dropped the youngest 2 at their other grandma in Kansas City. We will be recovering for the next couple of days!
Best reads of the last month:
THE SOMEDAY GARDEN by Ashley Poston. I love her books and their little magical elements.
MIRANDA IN RETROGRADE by Lauren Lane. New to me author and I loved it!
WHISPER CREEK by Allison Brennan. Very suspenseful.
I'm late to the party on this one...I'm halfway through YESTERYEAR by Caro Claire Burke. Wow...I can't wait to see how this ends!!
Yay for the grandkids! And for having the whole family together. Remember the days when no one really left, and everyone was within an hour’s drive? I love our freedom to go anywhere and do anything, but wow, family really is everything.
Agree on Allison’s book. The others are new to me - thank you!
I loved Yesteryear, but I read it opening week, after just meeting Caro, and the whole conversation abotu it was yet to come. It certainly has gotten people talking. And that is huge these days, right? Can’t wait to hear what you think!
I hear you about staring into the waves. This year has been by far the most difficult year of my life, and I’ve written very little in terms of fiction. I’ve written here on Substack, but haven’t been able to work on a novel beyond responding to a copyedit. Nature helps.
Okay but a question: 25k words in a month! That’s amazing! How? And do you do these writing bursts for all of your books?
Also, I'm sorry you're struggling. It's been a bruiser for too many of us.
thank you, and right back at you
It really does help reset the mind, doesn’t it?
As for the word counts, yes, I do have these bursts forward. Especially toward the end. The first 25k takes me months. The last 75K takes me weeks. I get to a point where I feel like I’m slacking if I don’t write 2-3k a day toward the end. Whereas starting, even 500 feels like a triumph.
That’s so impressive. I’m really fast with the first 10,000 words and painfully slow with the rest!
Happy for your beach reset. It’s so hard to shut everything off sometimes. I’m halfway through summer break. The humidity has been really awful for my achy bum knee, so trying to concentrate has been a little hard. But I’ve read two really good books this month Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney and I finally got to The Book Will Bury My by Ashley Winstead. I think I’m going to start a fantasy next. Either The Verdant Cage by Jess Lourey or Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry.
Erin I love both of those books. Ashley is incredible, and we all know I am a Feeney devotee. I hope your knee improves - I’m finally to the point where I feel like it’s truly healing and I can walk like a normal person again! Can you do some PT for it?
I need to look into pt. It’s crazy because it can go weeks without aching or hurting at all. And then randomly it’s achy. 🤷♀️🤦♀️
Do. It’s no fun feeling achy and hurt all the time!!!
The beach is one of my resets too, very sorry yours was cut short. When I find the waves are not available to me, I go to the opposite realm of fire. And even if it's too hot for an outdoor fire, now you always have one on the tv. Even if it's not for writing, just to think over the last week or what happened and clear my head. Try to enjoy the rest of your sabbatical!
I LOVE me some ASMR rooms - I like the ones with the thunderstorm and crackling fire. It takes my brain away from the critical voice.
I’m sorry your sabbatical was cut short, but I’m glad you were able to increase your word count, which is something I need to do but don’t know how! I loved The Correspondent and I read the Ron Charles piece about Dua Lipa’s library, which is absolutely amazing!
I think we all need a banned books library. I have quite a few on my shelves! 😈
Word count increases - literally adding to the story every day. Even 200 words counts!
Thank you!