Goodbye January

January felt like it took fucking forever. It feels as if it should be almost March, not almost February. Thanks for that January.

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) I think I wrote 99% of the days in January. Mostly planning, mostly dialogue-based scenes (but writing nonetheless).

(2) Books read this month: 6

(3) Two Moves Ahead query-waiting. Still waiting....

(4) Posts this month (including this one and the next two): 5.

(5) I exercised for like 5ish days. I'm trying. Getting into a rhythm of sorts. I'm also trying to get back into the habit of a skin-care routine (which has stuck much better than exercising). Eating better depends on the day (and the PMS-induced cravings that are hitting). Trying to have a slightly better expectations for myself next month (nothing extraordinary, trying to keep my goals lower so I can achieve them, and just increase them bit by bit).

Anyone still holding onto their resolutions?

Any exciting February reads?
Anything I should check out?

#newyearsresolutions #goodbyejanuary #hellofebruary #goodbye2020 #hello2021 #keeplearning #writeeveryday #dontstopreading #completesomething #getprofessional #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Seriously, Cinderella Is So Annoying

I accidentally stumbled upon "Seriously, Cinderella Is So Annoying" ("The Story of Cinderella as Told by The Wicked Stepmother") by Trisha Speed Shaskan (illustrated by Gerald Guerlais) while randomly browsing through my Amazon Kindle app for free books to read (ignoring the growing pile of TBR and half-reads in my room).

This book is a cute little retelling of Cinderella, as told by her "wicked" stepmother. Her perspective of the entire fairytale. And her not-so-wickedness. 

"Seriously, Cinderella Is So Annoying" is just a single edition in a series of reimagined fairytales that you need to check out (I will be soon as well).

#seriouslycinderellaissoannoying #thestoryofcinderella #astoldbythewickedstepmother #trishaspeedshaskan #geraldguerlais #books #childrensbooks #fairytales #cinderella #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Shel Silverstein

When you need a break...
When you need a little encouragement...
When you need a laugh...

A children's book can make everything...easier.
And a children's book by Shel Silverstein, the master of children's poetry and illustrations can make it fun.

Also, I didn't know that he had died in 1999. The only thing that dates this poetry collections is the rare reference to landlines and VCRs; otherwise, these poems are classic and stand the test of time.

#shelsilverstein #fallingup #wherethesidewalkends #alightintheattic #childrenspoetry #poetry #books #bookphotography #bookstagram #ilovebooks

Truly Madly Royally

"Truly, Madly, Royally" by Debbie Rigaud was a very cute, very easy read. I've been in a reading slump all month (partially due to high expectations, partially due to a low depression-related slump), but this book was just the right amount of fluff and non-complicated-ness and royalty.

["Fiercely independent and smart, Zora Emerson wants to change the world. She's excited to be attending a prestigious summer program, even if she feels out of place among her privileged, mostly white classmates. 
So she's definitely not expecting to feel a connection to Owen, who's an actual prince of an island off the coast of England. But Owen is funny, charming...and undeniably cute. Zora can't ignore the chemistry between them. 
When Owen invites Zora to be his date at his big brother's big royal wedding, Zora is suddenly thrust into the spotlight, along with her family and friends. Everyone is talking about her, in real life and online, and while Owen is used to the scrutiny, Zora's not sure it's something she can live with. 
Can she maintain her sense of self while moving between two very different worlds? And can her feelings for Owen survive and thrive in the midst of the crazy?"]

POC Zora was an Icon. She was fierce and independent and stood up for those who couldn't, all the while pioneering in her community and trying to make the world brighter/better. 

The princely aspect helped to inspire me a bit with my current WIP (queer cinderella) with the formal-talk and the accents and the duties (and the castles).

Any other books to help me out of this reading slump?
Any other books that might inspire some princely /slash/ royal-ness??

#trulymadlyroyally #debbierigaud #readingslump #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Here The Whole Time

Vitor Martins's novel "Here The Whole Time" explores some ideas/struggles that every teen (every person) goes through: body image issues, questioning first loves, figuring oneself out.

["Felipe gets it -- he's fat. Not chubby. Not big-boned. Fat. And he doesn't need anyone to remind him, which is, of course, what everyone does. That's why he's been waiting for this moment ever since the school year began: school break. Finally, he'll be able to spend some time far away from school and the classmates who tease him incessantly. His plans include catching up on his favorite TV shows, finishing his to-be-read pile, and watching YouTube tutorials on skills he'll never actually put into practice.

But things get a little out of hand when Felipe's mom informs him that Caio, the neighbor kid from apartment 57, will be spending the next 15 days with them while his parents are on vacation. Felipe is distraught because A) he's had a crush on Caio since, well, forever, and B) Felipe has a list of body image insecurities and absolutely NO idea how he's going to entertain his neighbor for two full weeks.

Suddenly, the days ahead of him that once promised rest and relaxation (not to mention some epic Netflix bingeing) end up bringing a whirlwind of feelings, forcing Felipe to dive head-first into every unresolved issue he has had with himself -- but maybe, just maybe, he'll manage to win over Caio, too."] 

The book is body positive, in the way that the main character is fat (not in the totally embracing the way he is way that Fat Amy does--but in a I'm still figuring out kind of way). Felipe knows he's fat, and he doesn't care (not all the time at least) but he knows everyone else in society cares. Through the book, through finding first love and first kisses, Felipe also discovers that his body is beautiful, just the way it is (and that being skinny isn't always "beautiful" either).

Trigger Warnings: bullying, fat-shaming, body image issues, homophobia, etc

#herethewholetime #vitormartins #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks