Friday Reads 1.26.24
It’s Friday, and you know what that means. Let’s talk about what we’re reading!
It’s been a good reading week. I’ve rejiggered my days to start with breakfast and a book, and there’s been something so wonderful about allowing myself to get lost in story before I start creating my own. Research or pleasure, it doesn’t matter. I feel less stressed, and I’ve gotten a lot more reading done, which is one of my goals for the year. I’ve also started writing the new book, so this calm heading into my peak creative hours, 1 pm - 5 pm, is helping with the momentum I need. I’m not much of a morning person. While I can create first thing if I need to (and do it when I’m further along in the story), in these early weeks, my focus is better in the afternoon.
I‘m almost done with THE HEIRESS by Rachel Hawkins, and the opening epigraph is taken from an article in Outside Magazine that talks about people going missing in the woods and uses the same Lord Byron poem I mentioned last week as the epigraph for my new book. The zeitgeist is such a fun place sometimes! These books couldn’t be more different, but we’ve clearly all hit upon a universal theme—isolation. Wonder why??
I wrapped up Lauren Thoman’s sophomore effort, YOU SHOULDN’T BE HERE, and it was clever and fun.
Also, read a short novella by debut author A.J. Whitney called SOVEREIGN. I love debuts, and I love apocalyptic stories, so this fit the bill.
I spent the weekend with a dear friend’s manuscript. Having a small circle of writers you trust to read your work is so helpful. I was entranced—she didn’t really need my help, so I was able to read and enjoy!
Wolf Hall continues to blow the doors off. I think it’s keeping me creatively inspired.
And before I forget… there’s a cool preorder campaign going on for my most anticipated book this year, Cal Newport’s SLOW PRODUCTIVITY, which will be out March 5. You all know I am a Deep Work fan, and I’m really looking forward to SP. Don’t know who Cal Newport is? Well, let me introduce you…
Lastly, for those of you doing the 22 Steps, Step Five: 40 Scenes, will be out Sunday!
That’s it from me this week. How about you? What’s on your reading plate this weekend?
