Kate Willis's Blog, page 25

my favorite fiction with Jewish characters

It’s frustrating to look for Jewish fiction. The options are either Old Testament retellings, Holocaust stories often centering non-Jews instead, or cynical contemporary stories with themes I don’t prefer. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed many WWII books, but until recently it’s felt like Jewish fiction has been all about struggle, struggle, struggle. In honor...Continue reading »

last, now, next reads

Yesterday, I finished reading Cog by Greg Van Eekhout, one of the books I featured in my book haul. It was really cute, clever, and important, and I’m glad I read it. ❤ (Also it takes place in Arizona at least partially and there’s a character with a Jewish last name. *heart eyes* ) I’m...Continue reading »

an exciting update for A Dream of Home

Get ready, get set, get signed up for my newsletter (if you aren’t already) because… “A Dream of Home” is releasing to newsletter subscribers July 15th! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!! About the Book: Ripped from the only planet she’s ever known, Tova must fight for her and her unborn daughter’s survival through space travel, forced labor, and everyone...Continue reading »

my recent book haul <3

Our used bookstore had a Star Wars Day deal going last weekend, so I snagged a few books. 😉 I jokingly asked J to pose with my stack and he obliged, so that’s the picture you’re getting. XD First up we have Uglies by Scott Westerfield, a book I’ve been looking to buy for forrrreeeeever....Continue reading »

off the top of your head book tag

I stole this tag from JessetheReader’s YouTube channel (you can view his video here) because it looked like so much fun. 😉 The goal of this tag is to share the first answer that pops into your mind, so this will be rather rapid-fire. 😉 What was your favorite picture book as a child? Goodnight...Continue reading »

eight boxes

It took eight boxes to pack up our bookshelves for the upcoming trip across the complex to our new apartment. That’s not counting the number in our storage closet or the books we’re currently reading that will have to be packed, eventually. Or the five I just brought home from a really good sale at...Continue reading »

the plot points comfort me

I’m a reader with anxiety, and sometimes books make me too on-edge to read them. *sad face* But if they’re well-plotted and follow a three-act structure… well, it helps me push through my anxiety. I know that if something bad happens, soon something good will happen, and vice versa. I know the plot points well...Continue reading »

so, your work is being beta-read

I’ve written a few blog posts on beta-reading now. There were two with tips on how to be a beta-reader (here and here), a love letter to beta-reading itself linked here, and, most recently, an appreciation of my own beta-reading teams here. But what I haven’t written is something about the other side of things–being...Continue reading »

A Dream of Home’s opening scene

I was looking through my archives to update my Projects page, and I realized I hadn’t shared an excerpt of my Jewish sci-fi novella with you all yet. *stares in shock* It’s time to fix that… The first time I was called an “Ashkie” was on the refugee ship taking me away from the only...Continue reading »

my favorite books for the first quarter

I’ve read 39 (!!) books so far this year, but only a handful have landed on my Goodreads “favorites” shelf. This honor is bestowed upon the best of the best, the cutest of the cute, the helpfulest of helpfulness. Or the ones that stick with me the most in their entertainment and encouragement. 😉 January...Continue reading »