Kate Willis's Blog, page 59
May 5, 2020
My Hodge-Podge Series
Today’s blog post is a video about my copies of The Mysterious Benedict Society series by Trenton Lee Stewart. I had fun telling the stories behind how I collected them. 
April 29, 2020
Book Review: Quiet Power
“Susan Cain sparked a worldwide conversation when she published Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. With her inspiring book, she permanently changed the way we see introverts and the way introverts see themselves.
The original book focused on the workplace, and Susan realized that a version for and about kids was also badly needed. This book is all about kids’ world—school, extracurriculars, family life, and friendship. You’ll read about actual kids who have tackled the challenges of not being extroverted and who have made a mark in their own quiet way. You’ll hear Susan Cain’s own story, and you’ll be able to make use of the tips at the end of each chapter. There’s even a guide at the end of the book for parents and teachers.
This insightful, accessible, and empowering book, illustrated with amusing comic-style art, will be eye-opening to extroverts and introverts alike.” (from Goodreads)
I’m an introvert. 86% on the MBTI scale, if anyone is asking.
I struggle to want to go to social events, struggle to enjoy them long while I’m there, and am so bad at introductions I generally avoid them. I’m better at imaginary, practice conversations than real ones. I’ve grown to accept and (mostly) love this aspect of my personality, but I’ve been through times where I felt undervalued in this world and had the social skills of a baby alien.
The arts and some of the lovely and admirable people I’ve met through them have helped. The cutesy memes and entirely loveable, nerdy fictional characters have too. My parents’ support and my siblings eventually understanding that I don’t hate people just too many for too long have been a key. And the world’s most understanding and friendly extrovert and an inquisitive, thoughtful introvert adopted me as their friend for some inexplicable reason, and I’m so grateful.
But I still needed every word of this book, and I’m so glad to have read it. It gave me tips for navigating this world built for extroverts, and it reminded me again of things I’ve learned by trial and error and about why they’re important. I’ve been feeling a little extra stressed/depressed lately and had a few lightbulb moments while reading, especially in sections about self-care. (I should probably get back into journaling…)
But most importantly, this book is a scientifically-based (but not boring–there are comics and interesting stories
April 27, 2020
Formatting Time!
Today I’ve been formatting the Sincerely, Jem paperback edition! 
It’s my first time every formatting a paperback, and I gotta say people who do this regularly are NINJAS. I called in my sister Perry for back-up, and she found me the right fonts (and helped install them XD ), helped me fix some weird formatting, and taught me some really cool tips to make it faster. Thanks, Perry!
(Next time should be easier, right?
April 24, 2020
A Joy and an Inspiration
This is the story of a song, how I grew to love it, and how much it will always mean to me.
Christmas 2017 my family and I were gathered together to watch a livestream of one of our favorite Christmas concerts. They had a special guest that year, and his original songs and musical style caught our attention.
I fell down the rabbit hole of looking for more of his music. At that time he mostly played in other people’s bands, so there wasn’t a ton, but I ran across a video of him performing his song “Joy”. The chorus (the only words I could decode in the lovely jumble of instruments) caught my attention…
“I just want to bring a little joy // make a happy noise. // I can’t hold the weight of the world, but I can carry a tune. // To rejoice in the rain, smile in the face of pain. // Oh! Life’s no easy game, but I choose // to bring a little joy…”
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A few months later, I discovered the song again through a free download he was offering. I listened to it obsessively while editing my novel Kiera. The message of using our art to ease and brighten this world was something I desperately needed to be reminded of, and it sort of became my anthem.
September 2018, this artist released his first full-length album and did quite a few Facebook livestream concerts in celebration and promotion. One time I requested “Joy” and he performed it with just vocals and bass, and I heard the (tweaked) verses even better this time, and the message sank even deeper into me. If the first recording was a rowdy celebration of community and art, this version was one person espousing the same message, very much like my own secluded experience of editing.
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He’s produced many more favorites, and I still watch his livestreams (usually while working in the kitchen for some reason…). His crazy, growing fanbase have been eagerly waiting for more “official” music, and this month he delivered.
“Joy” by Scott Mulvahill. Studio produced with different instrumentation and some very fun musical moments added. Full of heart and creativity.
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Then last week, he debuted the collaborative music video that showed the heart (and hilarious happiness) of the song. My favorite parts are the harmonica, the little kids jamming, and the chalk piano.
April 22, 2020
Book Review: Gestern
“Andi Lloyd is more comfortable than most with interstellar travel, but she’s not prepared for the perils and peculiarities of a world she has all but forgotten—the planet Earth. As the Surveyor undergoes repairs, her brother August receives a message with news that will send both of them across the world to a place he never wanted to visit again.
Neither of them are prepared to be thrust into a world of political intrigue amid the tangled forests and crumbling ruins of Austria. They aren’t prepared to encounter wild animals and endure cross-country hikes. And they definitely aren’t prepared to face it all alone.
But despite the dangers they must press on into the unknown to find a way to save Andi’s life, to decide the fate of Earth itself—and to rescue a lonely girl who just happens to be their little sister.” (from Goodreads)
Me, reading the synopsis: Hmmm… will this translate okay from set in space to set on Earth?
Me, reading the actual book: Ha, ha, Kate! You worry too much.
I really loved that this book picked up almost directly where the previous one stopped. Seeing how the fallout from the “reversal zone” affected the characters was cool. Andi’s reluctance to trust Crash again mixed with her deep love for him is so real and subtle. I also have some wonderings about how Almira is acting and some hopeful guesses.
April 17, 2020
The Stationery Tag
I was tagged by Bekah from Bekah’s Books, and I’m excited to get to nerd out about books and stationery for a bit with you all.
April 15, 2020
Book Review: The Silence Between Us
“Deaf teen Maya moves across the country and must attend a hearing school for the first time. As if that wasn’t hard enough, she also has to adjust to the hearing culture, which she finds frustrating—and also surprising when some classmates, including Beau Watson, take time to learn ASL. As Maya looks past graduation and focuses on her future dreams, nothing, not even an unexpected romance, will derail her pursuits. But when people in her life—deaf and hearing alike—ask her to question parts of her deaf identity, Maya stands proudly, never giving in to the idea that her deafness is a disadvantage.” (from Goodreads)
This author’s first book In 27 Days blew me away, no joke, and even though this is an entirely different genre, I was expecting great things. She absolutely delivered. It’s unlike anything else I’ve read before, and I loved it.
The main character Maia was pretty cool. Some other reviewers have found her annoying, but I didn’t get that off her. The author did an amazing job helping me understand the reasons behind how she thought and acted or at least want to understand. I think the fact that this is an OwnVoices book has a lot to do with that.
April 9, 2020
Writing Again, YAY
It’s that time of year again!
I signed up to write some short stories exploring genres I don’t get to write often–sci-fi and dystopian–and brainstormed up some ideas.
I have four possible projects to work on…
A young girl who lives on a space station is waiting for the mail to come at Christmastime.Rework of an old story where people are being arrested under mysterious circumstances and lied to about why they are being held. I love some of what I had going, but the ending was unsatisfactory.Four+ characters receive mysterious, personalized invitations to the old-fashioned carousel at the park. (I have this one planned and partially written from an old writing class. The teacher did not like my execution of it…)Dystopian girl who has some unique challenges in life takes a robotics internship to up her grade.
I finally got in the groove for writing yesterday (a little late, right?! XD 
April 7, 2020
Meet My OTPs
The best books and movies are ones I think about days (or months, looking at you, Avengers: Endgame) afterward. Usually it’s noticing something new about the themes, a line of dialogue, or something as simple as a costume choice. Some of this is due to the communities I run in (nerdy Facebook groups, nerdy Goodreads friends, nerdy, nerdy lovely family), but it also has to do with how deeply I enjoy stories. I am a writer after all.
April 3, 2020
Plate Update: It’s Been Crazy and Good
I can barely believe we’re already three months into this year and three days into April. And yet, it can almost feel like it’s been three years since Christmas and New Years’ just because of how full and crazy this year has been already.
