Jennifer Crusie's Blog, page 5

This is a Good Book Thursday: The Down to the Wire Edition

The book I’ve been reading most recently is Arresting Anna (yes, we know, awful title) because we are to the point now that we know what has to be fixed to finish it. And I like it. I have no idea if it’s any good or not, I never do at this point, but I’m cheered that we’re this close.

What cheered you up when you read it this week?

Working Wednesday: The Scathingly Brilliant Idea Edition

I’m in the middle of digging out this hellhole of a house–the house is fine but I am a truly terrible housekeeper–and I was trying to figure out whether to put my office in the half of the living room near the kitchen or in the half near the windows, when it hit me.

What if the office wasn’t in the living room?

The living room is where I talk to people, or it was before it descended into madness. The small bedroom is where I live and write and do business and sleep, leaving the big bedroom for guests and yarn and fabric. But I’d rather write in my bedroom even if you’re not supposed to write in bed 24/7. It’s where I write. Therefore, my office stuff should be there, too.

I mean, that’s just brilliant. (Hey, I take my wins where I can get them.)

And then I looked at the logistics, and the bedroom was too small to take a bed AND my writing table. That I love but never write on. Which led me to Scathingly Brilliant Idea #2.

Move back into the big bedroom. I don’t mind yarn and fabric staring at me. And there’s room in there (I think) for the writing table, too. Possibly room for printers and papers and notebooks. I think it’ll all fit.

God, I’m smart.

Of course the amount of work this is going to take is horrendous, but I can do it. Slowly. Very slowly.

What brilliant ideas did you have at work today?

Hey, UMF is in Audio

The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes is out in audio now. Thought you’d want to know.
Yes, I know it originally came out in 2007. Audio takes time. Jeez.
(Is this too pushy? Then, never mind.)

Happiness is Finding Things

I’ve been clearing out my clothes–I have decades of clothes–and I found a dress I’d forgotten I’d had, and it’s a great dress, so it’s like free new clothes. I was going through my shoe organizer and found the bunny slippers I’d forgotten I had, and they’re darling. I was clearing out my kitchen cabinets and found the ramekins I’d bought decades ago for pudding, and they’re really beautiful. I mean, I am not the kind of person that thinks cleaning is happiness, but this part I like.

What made you happy this week?

This is a Good Book Thursday: Gaffney and Maxwell

I’ve been doing rereads, which are boring to read about, so I’ll just say you should read Patricia Gaffney and Cathy Maxwell. I’m having lunch with Gaffney today and Maxwell is driving in to eat with me tomorrow, and these are two of the friends I really cherish, in part because they write such good books. You should read them.

So what did you read this week?

Working Wednesday: I’m Tired

Did you ever get to that place in your life where you look around at the work you have to do and think, “I can’t?”

To be clear, this is not about writing; it’s about my house, my medical stuff, my transportation, my financial management, my freaking laundry. All of it is doable, I’m not in trouble, there’s just so much of it. A lot of it just has to get done once–I did my taxes!–and a lot of it just has to be figured out once, but the problem is, there’s a lot of it now, all at once. Everything all at once. So that’s my insight on working this week. I’m against it but I’m gonna do it.

What are you working on?

Happiness is Popsicles

I am currently consumed by consuming popsicles (yes, they’re sugar-free). There are two different 3-flavor varieties at my supermarket, and I’m scarfing down both at a rapid rate. Once the temperature drops, I’ll go back to sugar-free hot chocolate, but for right now, it’s frozen flavored ice 24/7.

What’s making you happy this week?

Argh Author: Gin Jones’ “A Delusion of Death: (Helen Binney Mysteries novella)

Our own Gin Jones has a novella out now, “A Delusion of Death,” part of the Helen Binney Mysteries.

In this homage to Rear Window, Helen Binney breaks her wrist, and is unable to use her cane-wielding hand, effectively rendering her wheelchair-bound. With her husband out of town for a few days, she checks herself into the Wharton B&B where she hopes to sleep through the discomfort and increased disability. But in the middle of the first night, still drowsy and under the influence of painkillers, she witnesses a woman injuring her ankle during a scuffle with another guest, and the two of them heading for the hospital.

Helen’s friends think it was a dream or possibly a hallucination due to the pain meds, and she’s initially inclined to agree with them. But what if it had really happened? Where was the couple now? And how can Helen convince anyone to take her seriously when after just one glance at the brand new splint on her wrist, they all assume she’s on mind-altering painkillers?

Helen is determined to get answers, despite having to investigate with one hand tied behind her back, almost literally. If push comes to shove, she can’t even stand solidly on her own two feet. But it’s becoming more and more clear that she did indeed witness something nefarious, but with no way to prove it, and she’s starting to wish it had all been just a DELUSION OF DEATH.

Amazon only (and it’s in Kindle Unlimited)

This is a Good Book Thursday: The Wednesday Edition

I have been reading Colin Watson–mid 20th c. mystery fiction–until I decided to give my brain a break and watch TV, something I rarely do, and thought to try just a single episode of Wednesday. It’s now my favorite TV show.

So what did you read (or watch) this week?

Working Wednesday: Supporting Animals

We’re sloooowly finishing the first book in the new series (still no title) and Bob has said no flamingos and no llamas. So I am creatively stifled. And then he said something else that gave me a wonderful idea.

Zombies.

He’s gonna love it.

What did you work on this week?