Weekly Check-in #32

Friday, October 31, 2025

 Happy Halloween!! 

 

What I've Been Writing: 

This week, I’ve been listening to a computer-generated voice read Impostors and Thieves out loud to me so that I can catch vocal mistakes...which I'm catching an embarrassing lot of. And I’ve been coming up with more ideas for the second book that’s made me add little Easter Eggs in the first! I&T is at 137,900 words right now!

What I've Been Reading:

I was able to read a little more of Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross this week, and I swear, every line is like poetry. Ross just has a beautiful way with words. This is the kind of writing that lets me know just how crappy a writer I am. So then I have to remind myself that none of my favorite movies ever won Best Picture.  I grew up watching Dirty Dancing, Mannequin, and The Princess Bride on repeat, so it’s still possible that someone will love my stories despite not being pure poetry.  Anyway, back to the book I’m reading; I’m really enjoying it so far. Good story. 

What I've Been Buying:

This week, I acquired six new books to my…collection (you’re supposed to hear me saying that in the Hansel and Gretel witch voice because, you know, Halloween!).  But all weirdness aside...

  • My first 3-D sprayed edge book: From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Got from AcryliPics)
  • Then my June Bookish Box subscription showed up: Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by VE Schaub.
  • The new release: Bonds of Hercules by Jasmine Mas.
  • The newly released special edition of Nightbane by Alex Aster.
  • One of my all-time favorite stories: Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan (and it’s annotated with all kinds of author comments in the margins).
  • Then, finally, Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. I don’t remember much about this book, but I remember really liking it, so I had to get the special edition when I saw it!
And that's been my week!  Until next Friday! Hugs.



Weekly Check-in #31

Friday, October 24, 2025

What I've Been Writing:

Impostors and Thieves - I finished my first read-through after the first reader's feedback.  And I've started a second.  Plus, a second reader has agreed to go through it, too. It's currently 137,037 words long.


What I've Been Reading:

Nothing this week, sorry. 


What I've Been Buying: 

The book box subscription I began in April from The Bookish Box finally started sending out my monthly books this week.  So I received The Courting of Bristol Keets and Behooved from them.  Then I got Thorn Season and The Things Gods Break. (My nine-year-old arranged them for their photo shoot!)




Weekly Check-in #30

Friday, October 17, 2025

 What I've Been Writing:

Imposters and Thieves - We're back with book one of my romantasy duology this week. The first reader has completed it and gotten feedback back to me, so I'm going through those comments and changing and revising before I turn to the next person and beg them to read it. It's at 136,400 words right now.


What I've Been Reading: 

Hey, I finished reading Arcana Academy. Found myself another cliffhanger. But I saw this video of someone sobbing over how much they just loved this standalone romantasy called Wild Reverence, so I've started that one. Haven't gotten past the first chapter yet. 


What I've Been Buying:

This week, I received a signed copy of Lights Out by Navessa Allen.