Friday Reads 3.13.26
Getting a little squirrely...
It’s Friday again, my friends, and we have squirrels in our attic.
Apparently, these are well-traveled squirrels. They move from house to house. They are not always in residence, but they are right now. It sounds like… well, you know. They’re up there making babies like caterwauling banshees.
The trapper came out today to take a look. There are two holes—one on either side of the house. Large enough for a very fat squirrel. I’m just hoping the raccoons who’ve been feasting on the birdseed (another challenge to be overcome) haven’t decided to move in, too. We don’t need rats with good PR and trash bandits as upstairs neighbors. (That’s Mr. E’s nickname for the squirrels, not mine. I think they’re adorable.) We will board up the holes when we’re pretty sure they are in absentia, but put humane traps just in case. They are then released in the local wildlife refuge.
I have mixed emotions about this. I HATE separating generational families, which this would surely do. But we also can’t have squirrels doing you know what above our heads at all hours of the day and night. It’s a wee bit distracting.
It’s been a long week of proofreading here, trying to fix a pesky timeline issue. The problem is, you make one tiny change and poof, it all falls apart. I’m telling you, why I ever attempt writer math is a question for the ages.
I finished reading a couple of great galleys, and am still reading THE ASHES AND THE STAR CURSED KING. But it’s really been all steam ahead on the proofread.
Two good friends have new books out this week - Lisa Unger with SERVED HIM RIGHT, and Nick Petrie with THE DARK TIME. HIGHLY recommend both!
I do have some exciting news… It’s time for the galleys of ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS and 14, the first two books of the Taylor Jackson series!!! They are available on Netgalley—fingers crossed for you!!!
(I think I messed up last night, sending the email to my paid subscribers, who get first dibs on these fiction exclusives, so forgive me if I screwed up. It’s been a long week.) (Yes, paid subscribers, your link is in your email.) (Yes, paid subscribers get exclusives!) (Yes, if you upgrade today I’ll happily send you a private link!)
With that, I leave the floor open. How was your week? What are you reading this weekend?
Good luck with the squirrels. Mom loves watching the squirrels in the trees right outside her window. I got a great pic of one once and framed it for her.
Patrons have been extra needy this week between Mercury’s retrograde and our transition from one calendar event program to another.
This week’s reading:
The Bone Thief by Vanessa Lillie
Crime Ink: Iconic ed. by John Copenhaver
The Forget-Me-Not Library by Heather Webber
Teenage Girls Can Be Demons by Hailey Piper
Great post. Reminded me of our raccoon experience when we lived in Colorado. Mama had babies in our chimney. We had stopped using our fireplaces (for a few reasons) and, somehow, she found a way in. We didn't know until the babies had grown and they were gone...when their "larder" started rotting. NOT a pretty picture, cleaning it out. We made sure to close all possible access. We had a similar problem with squirrels getting in under the eaves. Nothing like scampering feet overhead all day and night. Destructive critters! Good luck getting the problem under control!