Goodbye September

September kind of...didn't happen. Like, the beginning of it seems so far away. As does the middle. But it doesn't feel like September anymore. And August was years ago. But it still doesn't feel right that its October now....if any of that makes any sense...

Just like 2019, I wanted to make some resolutions and (try to) stick to them. As a reminder, here were my updated resolutions.


2020 Resolutions:

     (1) Write [almost] every day

     (2) Don't stop reading

     (3) Complete something (e.g. a manuscript)

     (4) Share love of books/writing
     (5) Be kinder to myself

(1) Not every day. Not every other day. Probably not even half of the days. But some day, yeah, I succeeded in writing/brainstorming/editing/planning/plotting by Captain Hook piece. Mostly map making and more just outlining stuff (not really outlining but thinking about outlining). I did re-read and edit my one completed manuscript again. So there's that.

(2) Books read this month: 7. (Still have those three half started books...And a pile of I'll-Start-This-Tomorrow's).

(3) Two Moves Ahead research for query letter-ing, agents/agencies, final (probably) read thru and editing complete. Though no one has ever gotten back to me about reading/editing/answering questions yet (or ever), so I might call people out (as a way to procrastinate actually querying)...

(4) Posts this month (including this one): 13.

(5) Same as last month: Some days feel really good, try really hard, seeing a difference. Then I fall off the wagon one day and gain everything back and feel like crap. Yup. Fun stuff here all around.

Anyone still holding onto their resolutions?

Any exciting October reads?
Anything I should check out?

#newyearsresolutions #goodbyeseptember #hellooctober #hello2020 #keeplearning #writeeveryday #dontstopreading #completesomething #getprofessional #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Writing/Editing Update

I love letting creative work set, and even more, I love coming back to it after it sets. 

You see each and every moment of character growth and witty dialogue and fluffy moments. You see how fucking great you are at writing, at creating worlds, at developing your characters. You laugh and smile and cry at your own work. It strengthens your ego. Also, you see each and every mistake and section that needs reworked/deleted (stuff you didn't see before--stuff you can fix now that you see it).

The thing I absolutely hate about coming back to creative work after it sets? You see each and every mistake and section that needs reworked/deleted (stuff you didn't see before--stuff you really should have seen/fixed the last time through). And that just makes you feel like shit. Makes your writing feel like crap. Makes you second guess almost every decision you ever made, in the manuscript and in real life.

It's a very hard see-saw-ing of events and emotions. Some might call it fun. Some might call it part of the process. Some might call it a need for a strong cup of cocoa and an early turn for your bed.

But I had to reread my manuscript Two Moves Ahead one more time before I start sending it out to agents, hoping one of them will want to pick it up/represent me. 
Mostly because a few of the forums I found on different agency websites asked for my favorite line... Like, make me pick a dozen words out of the 100,000+ document I birthed from nothingness? Sure. Absolutely no problem. (help. me.).

[[I'm guessing there's still no one who wants to help me read-through it and answer some questions for me? Still crickets on that one? Cool, thanks, y'all.]]

I think my headache is coming back. At least the blurry-from-reading-too-much-probably-too-fast eyes finally calmed down.

#writingproblems #editingproblems #writer #editing #querying #queryletters #headaches #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Bookish and the Beast

Ashley Poston never fails to amaze me. Her books are just fucking amazing. She keeps retelling classic fairy tales and kicking ass. Like, all of the small details that completely MAKE the book (even adding subtle-not-so-subtle hints at classic Disney tropes).

This time around, Ashley retold Beauty and the Beast in her latest book "Bookish and the Beast." And OH the angst is strong in this one. The witty back and forth fighting between Rosie and Vance? Like, yes. Perfect. 

["Rosie Thorne is feeling stuck—on her college application essays, in her small town, and on that mysterious General Sond cosplayer she met at ExcelsiCon. Most of all, she’s stuck in her grief over her mother’s death. Her only solace was her late mother’s library of rare Starfield novels, but even that disappeared when they sold it to pay off hospital bills.

On the other hand, Vance Reigns has been Hollywood royalty for as long as he can remember—with all the privilege and scrutiny that entails. When a tabloid scandal catches up to him, he's forced to hide out somewhere the paparazzi would never expect to find him: Small Town USA. At least there’s a library in the house. Too bad he doesn’t read.

When Rosie and Vance’s paths collide and a rare book is accidentally destroyed, Rosie finds herself working to repay the debt. And while most Starfield superfans would jump at the chance to work in close proximity to the Vance Reigns, Rosie has discovered something about Vance: he’s a jerk, and she can’t stand him. The feeling is mutual.

But as Vance and Rosie begrudgingly get to know each other, their careful masks come off—and they may just find that there’s more risk in shutting each other out than in opening their hearts."]

I read this in three hours. Read myself into a head ache. Came out of my book coma realizing that I was starving and had skipped dinner. Opps. :/ 

#bookishandthebeast #ashleyposton #onceuponacon #onceuponaconseries #geekerella #theprincessandthefangirl #cinderellaretelling #beautyandthebeastretelling #cinderella #beautyandthebeast #princeandthepauperretelling #princeandthepauper #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Enola Holmes: The Movie

Enola Holmes: The Movie

Like any book to movie adaptation, the book was better. But only marginally so. 

Like honestly, this movie was fucking amazing. Granted, it had aspects of book two (and possible book three--they all blurred together because I read them so quickly), and the order of events was a little mixed up, and there was a few added scenes. But honestly, it was really, really great.

But the historical aspects all looked accurate to me. The set designs were amazing. The costume designs were even better. It was cute and powerful. The right mix of adolescence/coming-of-age and empowering/feminism.

If you want to nit-pic details, the amazingly, wonderful, deaf landlady wasn't in it. The sleazy clothing shop owner wasn't in it. Watson wasn't in it. Enola's housing situation was all messed up. Enola didn't talk about or do nearly as many cyphers (or disguises for that matter).

And they added a subtle-not-so-subtle romance plot. Which, when it first started to develop, I hated it. It ruined the whole Enola/Alone thing. It goes against the whole feminist message that you don't need a man to complete you (and that a woman in that age didn't need a man period for her to be strong/smart/successful). But honestly, it was really good. They kept it small and open for more in additional movies. And Enola was a BAD ASS and the hero between the two (she saved his life on multiple occasions).

I'd watch it again. I watched it last night, but I almost watched it again today. And I want more. Like a lot more. Like all of them. Today. Or preferably yesterday. 

#enolaholmes #enolaholmesthemovie #thecaseofthemissingmarques #nancyspringer #sherlockholmesretelling #sherlockholmes #authorconandoyle #suffragettes #feminists #books #bookphotography #bookstagram #ilovebooks

Shelfie Sunday

I've never done a Shelfie Sunday before....probably late in the game...doing it anyway...Happy Sunday, y'all.

#shelfiesunday #happysunday #bookshelfs #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks 

Writing Rant

Mini Writing Rant (which turned longer than I excepted):

How does one write again? Like... I... It just... I don't... It seems like my fingers forgot how to do it. Or my brain. Or something.

Like I have things planned to write. I have characters (mostly) fleshed out. I have plot. I have themes. I have motifs. I have conflict and hopes and dreams and nightmares and pirate ships. But I just...I can't...do it. Like short of forcing myself to sit down and do it (and as I type this, I realize this is probably the solution), I don't know what to do.

Enjoy some writers' problems memes while I emotionally suffer.

And onto some positives, some things I did manage to do lately:

(1) Six blog/bookstagram posts in the past two days. Go me. :)

(2) Today, I made a full-fledged explanation on how the writing/editing/publishing process works for my parents. Trying to help them understand what I do and why it seems to take forever. Five pages. Five. Single spaced. It made me feel powerful...and a little crazy. Like I do this, I know this, I survived this. Hopefully it helps. :/

(3) Also wrote out a query letter draft. Which made me feel like this thing is real. But also like I'm so not ready for this. .... I mean I'm not. I still haven't done any research on what agents and/or editors I want to send my query/sample to. I have a list of ideas (based off of favorite authors/favorite books), but no actual research has been done yet. Back to the positive: I wrote a query letter today. :)

What did you get accomplished this weekend?

#writingrants #writersproblems #writingprocess #editingproblems #editingprocess #publishingproblems #publishingprocess #queryletter #queryproblems #readerproblems #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Making a Play

And the last Abbi Glines book that I had in my cue: "Making a Play"

["Ryker Lee is finally enjoying his senior year—he has great friends, hangs out with hot girls, and is on track to get a football scholarship that will set him up for college. Despite this, a small part of him wonders if there’s more to life than parties and meaningless hookups—and if football even means as much to him as it does to his fellow teammates. And when he meets the new girl at school, his world totally changes…

Aurora McClay is new to Lawton. She’s grateful that her twin brother, Hunter, is star of the football team and can help her adjust to her new school, but she’s not grateful at how overprotective he is over every person she meets. Just because she is deaf does not mean people have to treat her differently. When she meets Ryker Lee, the two of them spark an instant and intense chemistry, one that proves to be controversial not only because of Ryker’s reputation as a player, but also because of Aurora and Hunter’s father’s bigoted views about who Aurora can and can’t date.

Aurora and Ryker know in their hearts that they are meant for each other. But can their relationship endure the turmoil of rumors and prejudice?"]

This one was, on the surface, much less problematic than the other two Abbi Glines's books I read recently. It tackled racism and ablism. On the surface. Under neath it all, it kind of...didn't. I had zero problems with the falling in love within a week thing (my parents fell in love that fast--engaged within 3 months, married within a year), but I know others did. 

I had problems with how there was so much racism and then it suddenly vanished. Aurora's father didn't want them dating because Ryker is black. Okay, I get it; they're in the South where racism is still strong (well, interracial dating is still "unseemly" anywhere, but you get what I mean). But (major ass spoilers ahead (I need to get this venting out)) all of a sudden, he helps their school wins states and the race thing isn't an issue anymore.

I also had problems with issues of consent. Again, coming from Aurora's father. Major asshole, really. He didn't change. Everyone changed to fit him (again, major spoiler--more even more coming). You except the asshole to change near the end of the story, or, in an even better world, the protagonists being utterly free of the toxic person in their life. Aurora said that she didn't want a cochlear implant. That it might not work for her, that all of the risks wouldn't be worth it, that she didn't need it really. Straight up said she didn't want it, that she wouldn't change her mind. Then, all of a sudden, at the end of the book, she reveals that she got one. Granted, she could have changed her mind all on her own, did more research, saw another doctor, etc. But she comes out and says that she did it mostly because it would make her father happy and less likely to tear her and Ryker apart due to his skin color. Like...no.

MAJOR TRIGGER WARNINGS: racism, suicide attempt, toxic relationships, domestic abuse, possible drug abuse, issues of consent, all under the guise of Southern Hospitality and romance (again, as if romance can sure things like major racism)

#makingaplay #abbiglines #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Best I Ever Had

 Another Abbi Glines book (I have a few to catch up on): "The Best I Ever Had"

["Summer had returned to the coastal town of Sea Breeze, Alabama. The nightlife lit up with scantily clad sun-kissed bodies, live music, the smell of freshly cooked seafood.

Taking it all in he wondered if coming back had been the best thing. He wasn’t the same man who had driven out of town a year ago on the motorcycle he’d spontaneously bought after his best friend’s wedding. From the messy blond curls he’d let grow out to the tattoos now covering his arms, part of his chest and even the side of his neck, it all represented a part of his journey.

Eli Hardy was back, but he didn’t plan on staying for long."]

I think the thing that annoyed me about this one was how perfect everyone is. Like, in all of her books, every character is skinny and beautiful and sexy and slightly broken (but in a delicately imperfect way). Like, every single one of her characters. Like the male gaze in this one was...too much. She tried to destroy the Bad Boy trope in this book (at least I think that was her plan), but she turned it a little toxic. I just...I had a lot of problems with this one. And a lot of unsolved emotional trauma that was suddenly "cured" by love. Like okay, major depressive disorder just doesn't go away (neither does anxiety disorder--but alright).

#thebestieverhad #abbiglines #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Sweet Little Bitch

Abbi Glines at one point used to be my all time favorite author. And to this day, her books never cease to leave me feeling satisfied (cue Hamilton soundtrack).

["Fiona
I had never asked for a break. It had been a small request for space so I could think. Just some time to reflect and search myself. Loving Marty had never been the problem. It was the word marriage that haunted me.

In the end, none of it mattered.

Marty proved to be exactly what I feared. Unfaithful. And he’d fooled me, not once, but twice.

There sure as hell wouldn’t be a third time.


Marty
Three long years and the sight of her still feels like electricity jolting me awake from a sleep I didn’t realize I was in. Even with plenty of time to mentally prepare for this, being near Fiona reminded me what I’d never managed to find in another woman.

Even if she was crazy as hell. A mixture of hot, cold, funny, brutal all wrapped into a fucking gorgeous package.

When I left town, I was getting away from any memories of her. Protecting myself the only way I could.

But my twin brother and her half-sister were tying the knot. Unlike us, Shay and Mack could claw each other’s eyes out one minute and be madly in love the next.

Making it through this wedding weekend was all Mack asked of me. I could do it. I had to.

Even if it took all the whiskey in Savannah.

Fiona wouldn’t break me.

Not again. "]

Sad to say though (back to the Hamilton reference) I was left wanting more. Yes, it was good. But I wanted more. I wasn't 100% satisfied. The story line was a tad confusing (this book is part of a linked manuscript series and too much time passed between publications/me reading her books that I got very confused at several moments). The ending was a tad out of no where (happy ending sure, but I needed a little more than what we got). I'm just...I was over some of the other characters already and the city and the connected storylines. Several GoodReads reviewers agreed with me that, while her writing is still very good (still has tons of errors but still very good), she needs to move on to another set of characters/another city/another anything.

I would still recommend that you read this book. As a reader, and as a writer, you get something out of even the books that frustrate you (no more rose-colored glasses for me with Abbi). You learn more writing techniques (even if its what not to do). You gain more character insight/inspiration. You might get a spark of something out of it even if you were left feeling a little lonelier than when you started.

#sweetlittlebitch #abbiglines #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Cinder & Ella

Yet another wonderfully unique retelling. This time? Cinderella.

Kelly Oram's "Cinder & Ella" to be exact.

I happened to watch Disney's original, animated movie (plus its two sequels) as well as the modern live-action while reading this kindle edition. To set the mood.

["It’s been almost a year since eighteen-year-old Ella Rodriguez was in a car accident that left her crippled, scarred, and without a mother. After a very difficult recovery, she’s been uprooted across the country and forced into the custody of a father that abandoned her when she was a young child. If Ella wants to escape her father’s home and her awful new stepfamily, she must convince her doctors that she’s capable, both physically and emotionally, of living on her own. The problem is, she’s not ready yet. The only way she can think of to start healing is by reconnecting with the one person left in the world who’s ever meant anything to her—her anonymous Internet best friend, Cinder.

Hollywood sensation Brian Oliver has a reputation for being trouble. There’s major buzz around his performance in his upcoming film The Druid Prince, but his management team says he won’t make the transition from teen heartthrob to serious A-list actor unless he can prove he’s left his wild days behind and become a mature adult. In order to douse the flames on Brian’s bad-boy reputation, his management stages a fake engagement for him to his co-star Kaylee. Brian isn’t thrilled with the arrangement—or his fake fiancée—but decides he’ll suffer through it if it means he’ll get an Oscar nomination. Then a surprise email from an old Internet friend changes everything."]

What's your favorite retelling (fairy tale or otherwise)??

Also, did you know that Kindle has a toooon of free (free with Prime) books you can lend? You can "borrow" ten books at a time. Kind of like a library. Read them at your own pace. Make highlights, add notes, etc. When you're done, you can return it and borrow another. I currently have 10 in my library that I need to get to. They have a bunch of new books as well as a crap ton of classics (like Sherlock Holmes or Agatha Christie). Off to do that now (or as soon as I finish writing/publishing all of the back log of bookstagram posts I have collected over the past two weeks).

#cinderandella #kellyoram #cinderella #cinderellaretelling #fairytales #fairytaleretellings #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Enola Holmes: The Case of the Gypsy Good-Bye

THE FINAL ENOLA HOLMES BOOK. I made it. Fucking finally. Six books. Less than 5 day. Go me (yes, I am aware that I have obsessive reading-related problems, thank you).

["In the series conclusion, Enola searches for missing Lady Blanchefleur while her brother Sherlock seeks her, with a message from their long-lost mother that only Enola can decipher. Sherlock and brother Mycroft follow Enola into London's dark underbelly to solve a triple mystery. Where is their mother, Lady Blanchefleur, and their connection?"]

And honestly, the transformation of these characters. Enola? Sherlock? Mycroft? Their mother? Talk about satisfying. I mean, the only kind of satisfying you can get from reading an entire series, learning the characters, caring about the things they care about and what they need/want.

Like the last paragraph (sorry if it spoils anything--I mean it does/doesn't--deal with it):

["'Enola.' Sherlock addressed me with as much emotion as one was ever likely to perceive in him. 'My cherished sister, I beg of you, be whatever you like. Selfishly, I have become quite addicted to you, your flair--the zest of never knowing--truly, I cannot wait to see what on Earth you will do next.'"]

Bring on the movie y'all!

#enolaholmes #thecaseofthegypsygoodbye #nancyspringer #sherlockholmesretelling #sherlockholmes #authorconandoyle #suffragettes #feminists #books #bookphotography #bookstagram #ilovebooks

Enola Holmes: The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline

Book 5 of 6: The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline

["Enola's landlady, Mrs. Tupper, is the closest thing Enola has to family these days, besides her occasional run-ins with her brother Sherlock. Even though Mrs. Tupper is nearly deaf and can barely cook, she's an endearing presence as Enola longs for her absent mother. So imagine her horror when Enola comes home to find Mrs. Tupper kidnapped! Who would take her, and why? And what does Florence Nightingale have to do with it?"]

How best to add even more feminist/suffragette viewpoints (and to further influence young readers--and Sherlock Holmes--in gender equality--as well as inequality) than to add one of the most famous female minds of all time? Florence Nightingale. 

I mean seriously. This book as a whole is magnificent. But the epilogue!? I wish I could gush and gush about it, but gushing and gushing about it (about how fucking amazing and transformative it was--Florence Nightingale teaching Sherlock Holmes about gender inequality in the Victorian Era (I sound like I'm describing some weird fanfic, but this is a real book, people!)) might/will spoil the plot. So do yourself a favor and read it. Like tomorrow/today/yesterday.

#enolaholmes #thecaseofthecrypticcrinoline #nancyspringer #sherlockholmesretelling #sherlockholmes #authorconandoyle #suffragettes #feminists #books #bookphotography #bookstagram #ilovebooks