Friday Reads & Links
It’s Friday, friends, and you know what that means… let’s talk about what we’re reading!
But first… I FINISHED THE BOOK! Finished it, revised it, polished it, took comments from my trusted Alpha readers, revised it again, polished it again, and sent it in! It’s always such a terrifying and bittersweet moment when the book leaves my hands and goes to the editor. The first step in making things real. From it being my book, to becoming yours.
Now that I’ve met this deadline, my last quarter of 2023 is shaping up nicely. I’m working on book the 29th again. Yes, I went out of order. 29 was drafted, it’s the 4th Joss Walker title, but I had to put it on hold to finish A VERY BAD THING in time for my new deadline. So it’s back to THE PROPHECY OF WIND, which has to go to the copyeditor by Sept 9. Then outlining a short story for another anthology, a Christmas themed one this time, and then outline book 5 of the Jayne Thorne series and of course, get cracking on the the next JT title! I want to be working on 40 Scenes for that book by November 1.
A very full schedule, for sure. But the days of juggling an gazillion projects are slowing, and I am settling into new routines and new schedules, which makes me a very happy girl.
So, to the books. After I finished Lisa Jewell’s unsettling new book (and I say that as the greatest compliment!), I needed to jump genres to clear my head.
THE WINTER DUKE by Claire Eliza Bartlett - a very fun fantasy about a young woman forced to lead before her time, and the magic and mayhem that ensues. You know how much I love stories about women finding their power…
BEYOND THE WAND: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up A Wizard by Tom Felton - You might better know Felton as Draco Malfoy, but by all accounts, he couldn’t be more Malfoy’s opposite. Lovely and a fun inside look into a cultural phenomenon.
And I’ve started a galley of a book I’ve been dying to read, THE OTHER VALLEY, by Scott Alexander Howard. I saw the PM announcement of this title, and the editor, Loan Lee, is remarkably talented, I’ve enjoyed many of her authors, so I reached out and begged…and holy smokes!
Here’s the rest:
When life imitates art—and it really gives you the sequel to your novel. I can easily see Park doing this, can’t you?
This was your grandmother’s Instagram - The Preppy Handbook lives!
A fun round of of writing stacks and advice from Create Me Free.
Cal Newport has a new piece in the New Yorker about the ongoing culture wars between the socials.
I absolutely loved the book Red, White, and Royal Blue, and the movie adaptation was incredibly faithful and so sweet. Really great!
So how about you? What are you reading this weekend?
