Kim Hooper's Blog, page 25

Weekly Roundup: October 23

Quote:
“I would beg to disagree, but begging disagrees with me” –Fiona Apple (this line from her latest album keeps going through my head as I run into political disagreements)

What I’m reading:
A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler

Some good essays/articles:
“The Problem with Vegetarianism” — read this; it’s not what you think
“Why did hundreds of thousands of women drop out of the work force?” — long, heavy sigh
“Parenting was never meant to be this isolating” — another sigh
“Mothers are the ‘shock absorbers’ of our society” — yep

What I’m listening to:
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

What I’m watching:
“Catastrophe” (Amazon Prime)–finished Season 1; cute
“The Way I See It” (MSNBC) — documentary about Whitehouse photographer Pete Souza; I cried multiple times

Writing news:

All the Acorns on the Forest Floor is OUT!All the Love: Healing Your Heart and Finding Meaning After Pregnancy Loss will be out on March 23. We are super active on Twitter and Instagram so follow us there (@allthelovetalk)People Who Knew Me will be re-released on May 12 (new cover reveal coming soon!)My next novel has a release date–June 15! I just saw the final cover and I love it. Will share soon

What I’m talking about:

Jeffrey Toobin masturbating on a Zoom call (read )–COME ON, DUDEAmy Coney Barrett and why Trump is so obsessed with getting her on the Supreme Court (this article might be on to something)Pandemic mental health–a recent study showed that depression rates spiked 3x higher during the pandemic, and the CDC says 40% of American adults reported problems with anxiety, depression, or substance abuse in late JuneFeeling disillusioned with my country. Even if Biden wins, it is so upsetting to see the civil unrest. So many of us are so far apart on many issues

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Transporting pets to New Zealand.” Let’s just say I have a contingency plan.

What I’m grateful for:
The reader love for All the Acorns on the Forest Floor. I do read the reviews, and I’m so touched that people are connecting with this book.

The post Weekly Roundup: October 23 appeared first on Fiction Writing Blog.

Weekly Roundup: October 16

Quote of the week:
“Everyone is stuck in their lives, thinking about what people are thinking about them, when actually nobody is thinking about them. Only you are thinking about yourself, usually. You and your mother.” — Janice Y.K. Lee, The Expatriates

What I’m reading:
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

What I’m listening to:
Hollywood Park: A Memoir — Mikel Jollett
Everyone’s Happy — Rufi Thorpe (short story; Audible original)

What I’m watching:
“Intervention” (A&E)–binged a bunch of episodes from the latest season
“Catastrophe” (Amazon Prime)–loving it

Writing news:

All the Acorns on the Forest Floor will be officially released ON TUESDAY!All the Love: Healing Your Heart and Finding Meaning After Pregnancy Loss will be out on March 23. We are super active on Twitter and Instagram so follow us there (@allthelovetalk)People Who Knew Me will be re-released on May 12 (new cover reveal coming soon!)My next novel has a release date–June 15! I just saw the final cover and I love it. Will share soon

What I’m talking about:

Pandemic grief (read here) and pandemic meltdowns (read here)This Instyle article that is quite the talk of the town where I live. A quote: “We are truly in a crisis of conscience right now in wellness. We must not allow yoga to be used as a tool for hatred, bigotry, and division, or as a vehicle for the spreading of misinformation and destruction. Our duty in the wellness community, and beyond, is to believe in science — as yoga itself is a science of the mind — and combat these outlandish conspiracy theories with legitimate facts and peer-reviewed research”The baseball World Series that I keep forgetting is happening–Go Dodgers!

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Apocalypse predictions.” I feel like with each week I’m giving you clues to my novel-in-progress (and/or my mental state).

What I’m grateful for:
All the years I got with my grandmother. She passed away on October 3, which was especially heartbreaking because I hadn’t been able to visit her since the pandemic began in March. My daughter and I were visiting her weekly before COVID. They had a special bond, and I’m so grateful they were able to have time together. We are celebrating my grandma’s life on Monday. I’m looking forward to the time with family.

The post Weekly Roundup: October 16 appeared first on Fiction Writing Blog.

Weekly Roundup: October 9

Quote of the week:
“The American people have had to sacrifice far too much because of the incompetence of this administration.” –Kamala Harris

What I’m reading:
The Expatriates by Janice Y.K. Lee

What I’m listening to:
Hollywood Park: A Memoir — Mikel Jollett

What I’m watching:
“A Wilderness of Error” (Hulu) — Watched this whole series; still not sure what to think about the case

Writing news:

All the Acorns on the Forest Floor will be officially released in 11 days (on 10/20)All the Love: Healing Your Heart and Finding Meaning After Pregnancy Loss will be out on March 23. We are super active on Twitter and Instagram so follow us there (@allthelovetalk)People Who Knew Me will be re-released on May 12 (new cover reveal coming soon!)

What I’m talking about:

The Vice Presidential debate. You guys, THE FLY! THE FLY!Trump’s use of Regeneron to treat COVID-19. Regeneron was developed using cells from an aborted fetus. If you’re pro-life, are you OK with this? (read here)Trump’s complete dismissal of COVID-19 as being a big deal. How invalidating of the experiences of people who have had it or watched their loved ones die from itCompanies offering parental leave during the pandemic (and how working moms are afraid to use it). A good quote: “Companies like to talk a big game about supporting mothers and families, but in the U.S. we still expect workers to be on 24/7” (from here) How parents are drinking and using marijuana more than ever (read here)

Weirdest thing I googled this week:

Alien invasion. No, I haven’t officially lost it. A character I’m writing is interested in it.

What I’m grateful for:

Neighbors who combine their enthusiasm for Halloween with their enthusiasm for Biden/Harris. My daughter was also a fan.

The post Weekly Roundup: October 9 appeared first on Fiction Writing Blog.

Weekly Roundup: October 2

Quote of the week:
“Shut up, man” — Joe Biden 

What I’m reading:
Same books as last week (been a slow reading week):
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

What I’m listening to:
Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker

What I’m watching:
“Unwell” (Netflix) — I would like to see an entire film on the essential oil cult family, please
“American Murder: The Family Next Door” (Netflix) — I should really stop watching these disturbing true crime things (I won’t, but I should)

Writing news:

All the Acorns on the Forest Floor will be officially released on October 20 (I just got my final copies and they are gorgeous)All the Love: Healing Your Heart and Finding Meaning After Pregnancy Loss will be out on March 23. We are super active on 
Twitter and Instagram so follow us there (@allthelovetalk)People Who Knew Me will be re-released on May 12 (new cover reveal coming soon!)



Final copies!

What I’m talking about:

Trump testing positive for COVID-19. Hey, karma, heyThe presidential debate that made the United States of America look like a total shitshow (Merriam-Webster clarified on Twitter that “shitshow” is one word)How women worldwide are 3x more likely than men to report mental health impact from COVID-19 (read here). Good quote: “We’re seeing many of the same challenges and many of the same factors for women in high-income countries and in middle-income countries that we’re seeing in very poor places. The fact that there is so much commonality really tells us there’s something critical there about the systems and the way they are not responding”France’s decision to extend paternity leave (read here). Another good quote: “When a baby arrives in the world, there is no reason it should be just the mother who takes care of it” (President Macron)

Weirdest thing I googled this week:

End-Permian Extinction. Also known as “the Great Dying” because 96% of all marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species went extinct. This is related to a new book I’m writing, FYI.

What I’m grateful for:

THREE YEARS with my daughter. She turns 3 on Sunday and I am so thankful to be her mom. Motherhood is exhausting and humbling and hard, but it’s so rewarding. Everyone says that and I wish I could think of more unique words, but it’s Friday and my brain is fried from my day job and I need a beer. I’m also grateful for beer.

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Weekly Roundup: September 25

Quote of the Week:
“Alone is a feeling you can get used to, and it’s hard to believe in a better alternative.” — Akwaeke Emezi, The Death of Vivek Oji

What I’m reading:
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

What I’m listening to:
That’s Mental: Painfully Funny Things That Drive Me Crazy About Being Mentally Ill by Amanda Rosenberg

What I’m watching:
“Love Fraud” (Showtime) — the end of the last episode was…WHOA
“The Social Dilemma” (Netflix) — very thought-provoking (and a little scary)
“My Octopus Teacher” (Netflix) — yes, I am one of the people who cried during this
“All-In: The Fight for Democracy” (Amazon Prime) — eye-opening (and more-than-a-little scary)
“RBG” (Amazon Prime) — Ruth Bader Ginsburg was awesome. The end.

Writing news:

My newest essay is now up on Scary Mommy: “My Against-the-Odds Pregnancy Losses Impacted the Way I Think About Luck”All the Acorns on the Forest Floor will be officially released on October 20All the Love: Healing Your Heart and Finding Meaning After Pregnancy Loss will be out on March 23. Follow us @allthelovetalk on Twitter and InstagramPeople Who Knew Me will be re-released on May 12 (new cover reveal coming soon!)

What I’m talking about:

The police shooting of a homeless Black man 10 minutes from where I live. He was confronted for jaywalking and killed a few minutes later. Apparently there is an investigation underway, but I don’t know if the public will ever know the full story (read here)The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg ( is great). I feel bad that my first thought upon hearing of her death was, “Oh crap.” That’s not the nicest way to honor someone. So I’ll say here: Thank you, Justice Ginsburg, for everythingThe failure of the justice system for Breonna Taylor (read here). I have to admit, the world is very depressing right nowHow personal changes in the face of climate change are great, but we need larger policy changes (SO GO VOTE!) (read here)The 2020 National Book Awards Longlists. I haven’t read all the books yet, but I would love to see The Vanishing Half win

Weirdest thing I googled this week: 

This is a new category that I had to add because, as a writer, I google very weird things. This week’s winner: “Who invented the kitchen whisk?” This one wasn’t related to research for a novel. I happened to be using a whisk and marveling at its abilities, which made me wonder if there was some whisk-creating family still earning royalties on every whisk purchase. I think the answer is no. According to Wikipedia, the wire whisk was invented sometime before 1841, but it gained popularity in the 1960s when Julia Child used it in a televised appearance.

What I’m grateful for:

My kid. She’s awesome. She turns 3 on October 4 and, at the risk of sounding like every patient who ever existed, I CANNOT BELIEVE IT. She has become so funny. The other night, as I started singing a lullaby to her, she said, “That’s enough, Mom.” She very often says, “Mom, you’re so annoying.” Whoever invented the term “threenager” wasn’t kidding.

I could say “my kid” for every one of these “What I’m grateful for” posts. I’ve been trying to be more creative than that because my gratitude for my daughter feels like such a given. But, today, I just had to say it. I’m so, so, so lucky.

This photo sums up her personality.

The post Weekly Roundup: September 25 appeared first on Fiction Writing Blog.

Weekly Roundup: September 18

Quote of the Week:
“You needn’t berate yourself for failing to do it all, since doing it all is structurally impossible. The only viable solution is to make a shift: from a life spent trying not to neglect anything, to one spent proactively and consciously choosing what to neglect, in favour of what matters most.” — Oliver Burkeman’s last column, “The 8 secrets to a (fairly) fulfilled life”

What I’m reading:
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

What I’m listening to:
Far From the Tree by Robin Benway

What I’m watching:
“Love Fraud” (Showtime) — one episode left; highly recommend
“Unpregnant” (HBO Max) — cute movie that sheds light on the serious topic of women having to go out of state for abortions
“Challenger: The Final Flight” (Netflix) — I was only 6 when Challenger exploded, but it’s one of those things that stays in the collective psyche

Writing news:

All the Acorns on the Forest Floor was sort of released on Tuesday. My book was affected by some #pandemicpublishing snafus (read here), so the audiobook is available, but the hard copies won’t be available until October 20All the Love: Healing Your Heart and Finding Meaning After Pregnancy Loss will be out on March 23 (I think?). Follow us @allthelovetalk on Twitter and InstagramI have a new essay going live on Scary Mommy next week

What I’m talking about:

The impassioned Trump flag brigade. They are out in full force where I live (read here)How I now wear my mask for two reasons–COVID-19 and bad air quality from wildfires. In all seriousness, these fires are devastating. THIS IS CLIMATE CHANGE, peopleThe difficulties California is facing (read here)The alleged mass hysterectomies being performed at an ICE detention center (read here). Um, this is horrifyingHow the pandemic is a mental health crisis for parents (read here)How “the system” was not designed for working moms (read here)

What I’m grateful for:
Friendship. On Tuesday, when my book was supposed to release, my good friend sent me beautiful flowers. Of course, when she sent them, she had no idea what would happen with the book’s release. She also had no idea that I got a flat tire taking my daughter to preschool that morning, among a few other annoying things. Her flowers made my day so much better. 

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All the Acorns on the Forest Floor is out today (kind of)

So, today is supposed to be the big release day for All the Acorns on the Forest Floor but, alas, things don’t always go as planned. The short of it is that the publishing world is a bit chaotic right now. Many books that were supposed to be released in spring got pushed to fall (because of COVID). That means fall books are being pushed too. My publisher and I did not know my book would be part of this situation until TODAY. In fact, I got the news right after getting a flat tire on the way to drop off my daughter at preschool. It’s been a day.

The official “release date” is now October 20, but I’m putting that in quotes because the book IS available as an audiobook TODAY. I haven’t listened myself yet, but I’ve heard the narrator is great. 

Thank you to all the early readers who have been so supportive on social media. And thank you to the early reviewers on Goodreads for your kind words. This book is very close to my heart. I’m so sad about the delay, but if this pandemic has taught me anything, it’s that we must go with the damn flow.

Happy reading (or listening) to everyone!

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Weekly Roundup: September 11

First off, I want to take a moment to acknowledge 9/11. It’s hard to believe it was NINETEEN YEARS ago today. For many of us, it was such a turning point in our lives, and left such an imprint on our psyches, that it will always feel like it “just happened.” I think of the people who lost their lives often, and I think about their loved ones and how they have had to move forward, forever carrying their grief.

Quote of the Week:
“If we make the vulnerable choice to connect with empathy–to be vulnerable, excruciatingly so, in order to access that in me which has suffered as you are now suffering–we bring compassion alive by communicating that bond, so others know they are never alone.” –Sarah Krasnostein, The Trauma Cleaner

What I’m reading:
Tangerine by Christine Magan (finished this one; really enjoyed it)
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
How We Love by Milan and Kay Yerkovich

What I’m listening to:
A Star is Bored by Byron Lane (finished it; loved it)
The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman’s Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and Disaster by Sarah Krasnostein (excellent so far)
Nice White Parents (New York Times podcast)

What I’m watching:
“Class Action Park” (HBO Max) — documentary about a no-rules-all-mayhem amusement park in Jersey…spoiler alert: it gets kind of dark
“Love Fraud” (Showtime) — documentary series about a psycho narcissist who cons several women into marrying him before running off with their money
“How It Really Happened: Siegfried and Roy” (CNN) — I didn’t know this was so shrouded in mystery; pretty interesting

Writing news:

All the Acorns on the Forest Floor comes out ON TUESDAY (9/15)All the Love: Healing Your Heart and Finding Meaning After Pregnancy Loss will be out on March 23. Follow us @allthelovetalk on Twitter and InstagramI just saw the new cover for the People Who Knew Me re-release and I cannot wait to share it

What I’m talking about:

The wildfires on the west coast. People, this is global warming in action. Six of the 20 worst fires in California history have happened THIS YEAR (and we’re not even in the worst of the fire season yet). I just finished Uninhabitable Earth last week and the statistics in that book are (sadly) already outdatedThe Indonesian government’s plan to move its capital before it is completely under water (a climate change response strategy called “managed retreat” that some think needs to begin in US cities)Jesmyn Ward’s beautiful piece in Vanity Fair about the sudden death of her 33-year-old husband during COVID-19How some companies are pushing employees to return to the workplace (great article here)How going back to work, in general, continues to suck for mothers in this country (great article here)How gender reveal parties are stupid (even when they don’t start wildfires)The “Letters from Writers of the Black Literary Community” piece in this month’s Poets & Writers magazine (I found Shanay Bell’s essay particularly moving)Racism in sports (this article in the latest Runner’s World magazine was so eye-opening)The COVID-19 vaccine: Is it really coming as soon as November, or is that buzz an election ploy?

What I’m grateful for:

My family’s new BBQ. We took advantage of a Labor Day sale and finally got a BBQ for our deck. It’s nice to change up the meals a bit (and my daughter is very intrigued by it). Pay no mind to my husband’s face. He loves it.

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Weekly Roundup: September 4

Quote of the Week:
“The pattern of ordinary life, in which so much stays the same from one day to the next, disguises the fragility of its fabric.” –The Dark Mountain Project manifesto

What I’m reading:
The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming by David Wallace-Wells (finished this; not for the faint of heart, but highly recommend)
Tangerine by Christine Magan
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

What I’m listening to:
A Star is Bored by Byron Lane

What I’m watching:
“Love Life” (HBO Max) — finished it, loved it
“I Am A Killer Released” (Netflix) — meh (one episode was enough for me)
“Amy Schumer Learns to Cook” (Food Network) — continues to make me giggle

Writing news:

All the Acorns on the Forest Floor comes out THIS MONTH (9/15)All the Love: Healing Your Heart and Finding Meaning After Pregnancy Loss will be out on March 23. Follow us @allthelovetalk on Twitter and InstagramI just saw the new cover for the People Who Knew Me re-release and I cannot wait to share it

What I’m talking about:

Vertigo. My husband has it and it’s not going away Whether or not Donald Trump will go gently into that good night if he loses the election (I think not)Returning to the workplace (my company is requiring it starting this month and I’m having big feelings)California’s recent landmark decision to require all new trucks and vans to be electric beginning in 2045 (New York Times)The Vatican’s urging of Catholics to divest from fossil fuel companies that perpetuate climate change (CNN)

What I’m grateful for:
A little trip out to Joshua Tree with my sister and her kids. It felt strange to leave home for a few days during this pandemic, but it was also nice. My daughter got to make some good memories with her cousins, and I got some quality sister time.

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Weekly Roundup: August 28

Quote of the Week:
“We are all migrants through time.” –Mohsin Hamid, Exit West

What I’m reading:
The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming by David Wallace-Wells (truly, truly terrifying)

What I’m listening to:
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (finished this week)
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

What I’m watching:
“Love Life” (HBO Max) — still enjoying this one

Writing news:

My website redesign is LIVE!Just a couple weeks until All the Acorns on the Forest Floor comes out All the Love: Healing Your Heart and Finding Meaning After Pregnancy Loss will be out on March 23. Follow us @allthelovetalk on Twitter and InstagramI just started working on edits for novel #5–it releases next summer. Details coming soon!

What I’m talking about:

The terrifying reality of climate change (reading The Uninhabitable Earth is blowing my mind and scaring the shit out of me; you can get a taste of it by reading this New York magazine article by the same author)The shooting of Jacob Blake (WSJ article here). I do not understand how these killings keep happening. It’s abhorrent The American Medical Association’s recommendation that meat and diary be listed as optional in the next iteration of official dietary guidelines (Forks and Knives)

What I’m grateful for:
I got this print for my office a while ago and it’s been making me smile. I’ve been demoralized by a few bastards lately (maybe the fact that several planets are in retrograde is to blame?). Life is too short to feel demoralized by bastards. 

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