Howdy! Here are three thoughts:
What am I working on?
Last week and this week I’ve spent time outlining what I perceive will be my next book, based on the first short story in my recent collection: The Benevolent Bartender. My initial thinking is that this will be a supernatural historical fiction. I’m also focusing on giving it a strong romance because I want to write something that will appeal to a large audience. I also have an idea to include a cocktail recipe on every page. I’m no salesperson, but this seems like a confusing product. Still trying to figure out what I’ll do with it. As usual, I’d like to write this faster than is possible for me to do so.
I am also holding small anxiety about finishing Resistance, Hotonoma, and putting out some form of #content more reliably and consistently than I did this year.
What am I reading?
We lost power yesterday so I finished one of Brandon Sanderson’s secret projects/ kickstarter projects: The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook For Surviving Medieval England. I loved it! The book is short and sweet, quick and easy to read. Sanderson calls this a “White Room” story, meaning when the book starts, the main character is unsure of who and where they are, slowly discovering along the way. (Project Hail Mary is similar, and kicks so much ass. I loved that book) The humor in Frugal Wizard was nerdy but it was light fare; an interesting story and engaging characters.
Side note: this is the first year I have completed my goal of reading 12 books in a year! (Not even including the two I wrote! which I read many times…) For some, this is a lot of books! But I also know people that finished this goal by the spring. For me, it feels like an accomplishment. I probably won’t hold myself to this goal in the future. I stuck to smaller books this year where I historically enjoy epic fantasy tomes.
What would I recommend?
The cookie dough recipe on Nestle/ Toll House chocolate chips! I’m trying my hardest to lose weight this holiday season and not turn into a large winter blob. HOWEVA, sometimes you need some cookies. I made a batch last week and a fresh, soft, hot cookie or two after dinner has really improved morale around the house. They’re just so good. Do they wipe out my exercising by themselves? Maybe. Are they worth working out to enjoy? Definitely.
<3 Happy winter & holidays & New Years
Z