Weekly Roundup: September 19, 2025
This roundup has not been very weekly lately, but that’s okay. I’ve been really busy juggling some work projects. And, frankly, I’ve been too upset about what’s going on in the world to want to write my little roundup. Tensions are so high and witnessing the division (and downright venom) online is just…too much. I’m worried about our world. It’s a hard time to be a sensitive human being. That said, here’s my little roundup, an attempt at normalcy.
Quote of the week:
“Love doesn’t just sit there,
like a stone,
it has to be made, like bread;
re-made all the time,
made new.”
—Ursula K. Le Guin
What I’m reading:
The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong. I’m really enjoying it. It’s one of those books that reminds you we’re all human and just looking for connection in this crazy world.
What I’m listening to:
A Novel Obsession by Caitlin Barasch. After a string of heavy nonfiction books on audio, I went for a fiction book that sounded fun. It’s about a wannabe author who becomes obsessed with her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend.
What I’m watching:
I saw The Conjuring: Last Rites in the theater last weekend. Not my favorite of the franchise, but still held my attention. I’m keeping up with The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox on Hulu. Wow, she went through A LOT.
Writing news:
I’m making slow progress on a new novel. It’s in the very early stages. I just got the final cover art for my 2026 novel, MOTHER IS A VERB, which releases on February 17! I’ll do a little cover reveal next week. I’m loving it.
Interesting things I learned recently:
Nunchi is a Korean term for the deep social intelligence of reading between the lines—tuning into other people’s moods, body language, and unspoken cues to respond with sensitivityThe average person blinks 14 to 17 times per minuteIn 1983, 50 companies controlled 90% of the U.S. media market. That number is now down to 5If we held a moment of silence for every child lost to gun violence since Columbine, we would spend over 30 hours in silenceA 20-year study out of Norway found that women who cleaned their homes often, or worked as cleaners, had a decline in lung function comparable to smoking TWENTY cigarettes a dayThe reading skills of American high school seniors are the worst they have been in three decades, according to federal dataThe 5 countries with the highest use of antidepressants are: Iceland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Denmark, and Sweden. RFK Jr blames shootings on antidepressant use in the U.S. but seems these countries with higher usage rates don’t have issues with shootings. IT’S THE GUNS Eustress is defined as a moderate or normal psychological stress, interpreted as being beneficial (in other words, some stress is GOOD for us)What I’m grateful for:
Real-life, in-person community. I’m more and more convinced that the online world is toxic. Going to my neighborhood book club, doing a dog walk with a friend, and having long conversations with my guy have lifted my spirits this week. My daughter and I are going to a birthday party tonight where I’ll get to see lots of people I haven’t seen in a while, so I’m sure that will be uplifting tooRunning, reading, and pets—all great stress relieversSecond grade going great so far! My daughter seems so happy, and that makes me so happyA few snapshots:
From top to bottom: This photo of my dog represents my mood for the past several days; beautiful September days—my favorite running season; waking up to a glorious day.
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