Friday Reads 3.21.25
Happy Friday, friends. I hope you had a great week! Today, I am doing something I swear never to do. I am outlining my new book. It’s not going to be a super strict outline, more of a set of guardrails. I’m a ways into the story now, and the structure is acting up, so I want to see how best to align it with what I’m trying to do story wise.
When I started in January, everything was quiet, and I made real progress, and then we lost the entire month of February. When I was finally able to sit back down to write again, the story had morphed on me. (I might not have been writing but I was certainly thinking!) Another character POV needs to come in, and that’s changing my original plan. So yesterday and today, it’s been me, saving the cat and applying those beats to the story to make sure they line up with my vision.
Also, baseball is back, and we’re at the start of NCAA March Madness, which means lots of background noise, so outlining and planning are good tasks. It’s chilly as heck here, so I’m in front of the fire with the cat, clawing my way into the day. I’ve been reading in the morning after I get up, pieces of stories to inspire and get the juices flowing, and it sets a nice, calm tone for the day ahead. It’s also helping me get through this ridiculous TBR pile…
I’m still reading CHANGE YOUR DIET, CHANGE YOUR MIND: A Powerful Plan to Improve Mood, Overcome Anxiety, and Protect Memory for a Lifetime of Optimal Mental Health, by Dr. Georgia Ede. It’s going to take me a minute to sort through it all. But talk about fascinating. The basic gist is many mental illnesses are not psychiatric in nature, but metabolic. Having seen the amazing effects of a KETO diet on my mood and anxiety, I am all in on this theory.
The amazing Tess Gerritsen has her second book in the Martini Club out this week, THE SUMMER GUESTS. I absolutely adored the first one, and can’t wait to dive into book two.
Suzanne Collins has a new entry in the Hunger Games world, SUNRISE ON THE REAPING. It’s Haymitch’s story and I am very interested in reading it.
I read a short story from Greer Hendricks called THE SUBLET that gave me some Rosemary’s Baby vibes. But not scary, so yay!
And if you want more short and sweets, you can read a sneak peek of Emily Carpenter’s GOTHICTOWN… more on it next week.
Libby served me THE HIDDEN LIFE OF TREES which I’ve been wanting to read for ages!
I’m deep into LET’S MAKE A SCENE by Laura Wood, which is a very fun rom-com that apparently has a companion novel I’m going to have to read next.
Patti Callahan Henry is out on tour for THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND, so definitely hook up with her if you have a chance.
Lastly, we finished Paradise, and my gosh do I have thoughts. I highly recommend watching, and then when there is an all clear, we can talk, because I don’t want to spoil anything. I can’t decide if I feel tricked or if I’m in utter awe. It was worth every minute though, regardless.
That’s it from me. What are you up to this weekend? Any good book recommendations? I’d love to hear what you’re up to!
