Friday Reads 3.1.24

It’s Friday, and you know what that means. Grab a cuppa, and let’s talk about what we’re reading!

It’s the first of March…I can’t believe it, can you? This year is streaking past already. I want to extend a big welcome to all the new folks who’ve recently ventured into this creative pasture. The grass is green and, hopefully, filling. Don’t hesitate to introduce yourself to the crew here in the comments or on the official Get to Know You post…

It’s been a very good week. I have excellent news: The International Thriller Writers have nominated IT’S ONE OF US for Best Hardcover, and in a shocking double-header, These Cold Strangers also got a nod for Best Short Story. The Thriller Awards are the highlight of the annual ITW conference in New York, and I’m thrilled to be nominated—and able to attend. What an amazing honor bestowed upon me by my peers. I’ve been a judge for several awards over the years, and it’s a difficult job. My deepest gratitude to all involved, and major congratulations to my fellow nominees! I mean, breathless over here. These categories are *stacked* with amazing talent. 🤯

It also gave me a midway break on my social media sabbatical to pop in and say thanks to everyone. I’ve been missing some folks badly, so it was nice to have a brief catch-up. It was a wild morning. My texts blew up, and my mom was in surgery, so I flipped for a moment. Then, I flipped again when I saw the news. (Mom’s doing great; a trapped nerve in her elbow is now released. Poor thing.)

After that lovely mid-week interlude, it was back to work (and books). I’d hoped to have a quick 22 Steps series update this weekend, but having (happily) lost most of Wednesday, I fell behind on ye old word count. Instead of Step Seven, I thought I might tackle our frenemy, Resistance, so tune in on Sunday for a look at this unique creative derailment.

I maybe have a few too many books going at once. I was heading to the kitchen for a cuppa, and realized there was an open book on almost every surface. My desk, the side table, the kitchen table, the kitchen counter, the couch. There are just so many amazing books to read right now! Here are a few I’m totally digging:

Scott Alexander Howard’s brilliant debut, THE OTHER VALLEY, is out this week! I’ve been babbling to anyone who will listen what a remarkable book this is. If you liked NEVER LET ME GO, you will love this intellectually stimulating dystopian. It’s a beautiful concept and very much an elegy on grief as well.

I’m nearly done with THE STRANGER AT THE WEDDING by A.E. Gauntlett. What a book! Suspense with dread creeping around every vignette…

I was approved for an early look at Jesse Q. Sutanto’s YOU WILL NEVER BE ME (great title) and I am here for it. Especially after watching her live-write her last novel, I’m super curious about her thrillers!

I read Rick Rubin’s THE CREATIVE ACT: A Way of Being, a few months back, and I wanted some breakfast inspiration, so listened to the Blinkist of the book. Its koan-level snippets on creative thought are wonderful. I love the creative metaphor of the peach tree. In short: The tree puts out fruit every summer. It doesn’t *try* to produce peaches; it just does. That’s one of the best ways to think about your own creativity. You’re a writer. Why are you *trying* to write? Just write. Also, the print book is super cool—devoid of a book jacket, the title and image are printed directly on the light gray cloth. Perfectly minimalist.

I mentioned Blinkist… not a sponsor, just a fan. I love it for non-fiction. If you’ve never tried it, it summarizes books and gives you the drilled-down essence. I have gone on to buy many of the books I’ve listened to — they’re all very short, so you can get through one during a workout, or a drive to PT, and it makes you smarter. Smarter is good.

I’m gaining again on the WOLF HALL slow read, thank goodness. Though my weekends are about to be subsumed with magic (a.k .a. the revision of Jayne Thorne, CIA Librarian #5), so I might fall behind again.

Speaking of magic… Over the past few weeks, there have been oodles of articles on Sarah J. Maas, celebrating the release of HOUSE OF FLAME AND SHADOW. As you all know, I am a huge fan, and I’ve been struck by how… okay, let’s not dance around it… snide some of the articles have been. The compliments are couched in language that makes it clear that yes, she’s a phenom, but the whole idea of romantasy is . I think that does her a real disservice and is insulting to her fans, to boot. God forbid a beautiful, intelligent young woman writes three epic fantasy series that bring millions of fans to the genre. (where’s my sarcasm emoji?) I feel like anything that gets folks reading is valuable to the publishing world, and if it’s making both the author and publisher money? All the better. Vox at least had a nicer tone. I am waiting for my next vacation to read the new series, starting with HOUSE OF EARTH AND BLOOD. I need a beach and some waves for a total escape. But my dad’s halfway through the third and says it’s all great!

We watched Einstein and the Bomb on Netflix this week, and I was struck by the snippets of his 1933 speech at Royal Albert Hall, so I found a copy and read the whole thing. It’s scary how prescient he was. What they skipped over in the film was his idea for deep work, to take brilliant young minds to the lonely shore or isolated countryside and let them think deep thoughts. I think this is an excellent idea.

I sent it immediately to our friend Cal, who, by the way, has a new book out Tuesday called Slow Productivity. Expect a dissertation on it next week 😂

Yes, I am reading all over the place right now. I’m firmly convinced it exercises all parts of the brain, and as such, is good for writing.

And on the writing front:

I’m cooking along on #HLN. The story is fully outlined, and I’m laying down words. The constraints of the outline don’t seem to be keeping me from getting creative with the storytelling. Ergo, the experiment is declared a success. And the first draft of the new Jayne Thorne novel is now in my queue for edits. Things are getting busy again, so I’m really buckling down.

That’s it from me. How about you? Good week? What are you reading this weekend?

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