Hello April!
I know we are almost done with April and I am barely writing this update. Since my last update in March, I read 3 books!
What I’ve read since March
My daughter read Wishtree by Katherine Applegate in class and recommended it to me. It’s a short read, meant to be for grade-schoolers but very good. The story has a lesson about compassion and what makes us all different is what also makes us special. We also see how important it is for us to be liked, loved, appreciated, and acknowledged through the characters and the wise old Red Oak tree. You can read my review here if you’d like.
I also read Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhouse. I bought the signed edition when it first came out 2 years ago and never read it till now. This was a really good book based in the pre-Columbian America era. You can read my review here as well.
The last book I read ( just finished), The Tangled Lands by Paolo Bacigalupi and Tobias S. Buckell. At first, I didn’t care too much for it. I couldn’t connect with the first character or the second. This book is a series of short stories, following the lives of different people who live in the tangled lands destroyed by a deadly vine called Bramble. I almost put the book down for good but when the third story showed promise, I kept going. You can read my review here.
Currently Reading
I am reading To Kill a Nation by Denesh De Souza. It is in an interesting read so far, going back in history to provide evidence that the Democrat party is the party of slavery and racism. There are speech excerpts from President Lincoln and his Democrat opponents. And while we have long associated the south with racism, the northern Democrats were just as guilty for promoting slavery and anti-black sentement. Anyway, there’s a lot to digest here so I imagine this takes me longer than a few months to finish.
I also started reading Behold, A Pale Horse by William Cooper. I bought it about a year ago, put it on the TBR and just now got around to it. So far it is a fascinating read but I haven’t gotten into too much conspiracy theory and secret information just yet. I’m still reading about his life in the military, his classified clearances for information, and the Vietnam war that Cooper fought in.
On Writing
Well, you may already know but I’ve finished writing The Shoes that Charlotte Wore and currently debating if I should continue posting the chapters. Right now it is being sent out to Alpha readers for feedback since I plan to publish this by the end of 2022. As for The Nationalist, I will continue to post this in its entirety and eventually get around to doing a full read-through. I think I need to really do that first, dive into the story and see what it needs to make it better.
Before I start any new writing projects, I want to do what I can for these two manuscripts. I do have several brainstorms taking root in my notebook. These are mostly characters, character arches, and story ideas. I want to continue brainstorming these before I outline and write a new book. So I’m guessing it will be a few months before I start on those but don’t worry, I’ll be sharing those with you here too.
Home Life
School is almost out and I can’t wait for the summer! Despite how crazy the world has gotten, I am looking forward to each day with my family. We have many plans for a fun-packed summer. Next month I plan to attend the Renaissance Pleasure Faire - you know, because I’m a nerd and that’s what nerds do. And I may or may not attend the Anime Expo, still debating because it’s in Los Angeles county and they can’t their mask mandates. Either have them or don’t! So for now, I stay away from everything Los Angeles county. Other than that, how has your April been? Are you ready for summer?