Friday Reads 7.26.24
Happy Friday—are you as relieved as I am to hit the weekend? I’m deep deep deep into the revision of my 2025 standalone, and about to get it wrapped for my first readers to take a pass. Then it’s getting submitted—early, I might add (she says, smugly.) Merely three weeks ago I was stressing my brains out that Aigist was approaching and I wasn’t yet done, but suddenly, the book revealed itself and the story flowed out of me.
I like being early because just in case my team isn’t as wild about it as I am, we have time to get it fixed. It’s holding together so far, though. Fingers crossed that stays true. it’s funny how the momentum builds to a crescendo, both in the story and in the writing process.
I’ve needed some good escapes in the evening. Lots of TV watching and reading before bed. I’m so close to being able to read some of the huge stack of books waiting for me.
What keeps you from reading? Anything? I admit I have really fallen behind, simply because I just can’t let any other voices in at the moment.
But! I have an early copy of Abbott Kahler's fascinating new book, Eden Undone: A True Story of Sex, Murder, and Utopia at the Dawn of World War II. It’s the true story of a group of exiles looking to form a new utopia on the Galapagos Island—and of course, things go dreadfully wrong. I was sucked in from the first page and can’t recommend this highly enough!
I also snagged a copy of Kristy Woodson Harvey’s A HAPPIER LIFE. Kristy is such a favorite of mine, just lovely, heartfelt work.
We’ve also been watching the absolutely adorable adaptation of MY LADY JANE, which is a lot of fun. Imagine if Lady Jayne Grey hadn’t been executed after 9 days, and there was a whole species called Ethians who shift into animals at a moment’s notice, and are, of course, feared and loathed. Shifter romance, arranged marriages, alternate history, good themes of acceptance and unity, true love, and the acting/narration is so over-the-top fun and delicious. Really great.
Speaking of great TV… I am also absolutely in love with House of Dragons. Are you watching? The opening credits are magnificent, plus…dragons! I love how the characters are wrestling with the morality of war.
Also got this post and running… I’m so excited to move to the next stage of writing this new book!
And some awesome news: our short story collection from Amazon Publishing, WE COULD BE HEROES, has been nominated for a Silver Falchion from the fine folks at Killer Nashville! The collection features Lisa Scottoline, Lisa Unger, Janelle Brown, Victor Methos, and yours truly. They’re all great stories, and mine, THESE COLD STRANGERS, is on sale this week for just .99!
So tell me, how are you faring this lovely Friday? I’d love to hear what you’re reading this weekend! Any recommendations?
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