The Accidental Domestic Goddess

To Read or to Write?

The novel writing is back on track, but now, the only thing I’m reading is my own story.

I mean, obviously it’s good. Amazing even. But I’m rereading and rereading the same scenes and putting to the page scenes that have already played on a loop in my head. I love it, but I miss other people’s stories.

I also really just got back to reading full books after nearly ten years surviving on magazine articles and ingredient lists. I’ve been back at it with a gusto and don’t want to stop, but I want to write my book. Cause it’s fun!

So I got an idea as I was redoing my TBR list in a specific notebook. I’m trying to keep only titles I know I’ll read instead of all the books that sound good. I also decided to organize my list into sections.

The front is reserved for the series’s I keep up with- no matter the genre. Then I gave equal sections to horror, science, history, historical fiction, fantasy, … I like things organized.

So, I’m going to aim for one to two books a month and stick to the novels I’m really dying to reread or try out. One for make believe and a second for information. We’ll see how it goes.

Now I’m off to work on my novel!

End of the Year Roundup

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

Considering how the second half of this year went I’m really happy with how much reading I accomplished. Thirty six books. Most of those were read before August and none in November or December. So, I’m impressed.

I really loved reading the Heartstopper books in order with the novellas. I love the show, but these books are just so wonderful. I love Alice Osman’s style.

I found a new book to add to my ultimate favorites list and inspired a few others to read it. When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill is a masterpiece on many levels. The magical realism was spectacular. Soul inspiring.

It was interesting trying to reread the Everworld series by K. A. Applegate. I’m not sure when I’ll feel motivated to get back to it. They do get really formulaic and repetitive, but I am curious about how the story keeps going.

I gave some graphic series’s a try. Wonder Woman was the only one really worth it. Go figure. Greg Rucka does a great job with her stories and character.

I had a blast rereading some Anita Blake books by Laurell K. Hamilton. It’s wild how differently I see these familiar characters as I’ve gotten older. I love how shocked I am even when I remember what’s coming. I reread five books in the series.

I discovered a new series and character to love in Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass books. Even if A Court of Thorns and Roses was not for me, this other series is and I’m happy.

Even Though I Knew the End by C. L. Polk was perfect in every way. I’m really excited to try more by Polk and already have a book waiting on my shelf.

Ending with What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher and The Retreat by Sarah Pearse was fitting. I found them both as authors at the same time and they both spin fantastic stories that thrill and scare in just the right way.

Honorable mentions to Espresso Shot by Cleo Coyle for a fun, coffee infused murder mystery. Virgin River by Robyn Carr and Bridgerton: The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn were fun, gripping, and comfortable romances. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi was an eye opening historical fiction.

As we ring in a new year still mourning our loss, I am thankful to take stock of the books that got me through and the time where they couldn’t help. I’m venturing deeper into my own novel and am unsure of what I’ll get read outside of that.

Happy New Year and enjoyable reading!

Unexpected Service

The small chapel where we went for Christmas Eve service.

We all knew this Christmas would be different. Each time we do something that he should have been here for makes it more real. It hurts more.

My sister has been going to a grief group for a few months now. (I can’t believe it’s been four and a half months.) The minister who leads it actually serves at a small Lutheran church, not at the church where the group meets. He is very much like the pastors we knew as kids and so my sister decided to try his church. She has been going for a couple months now.

I’m constantly reminded these days of how unique our childhood was. How unusual it was to be raised by a village of friends and family. To find a church family that lived as they spoke and led with genuine love. I may not want to raise my own kids that way, but there are many reasons I mourn the loss of that for them.

I didn’t want to go to the Christmas Eve service. My kids were nervous about the unfamiliar and did not want to go. My husband secretly wanted to be asked to go. He did not grow up in the church and I think he sometimes wishes to have that family time for us. Trouble is, those churches are rare.

So we all went to support my sister. I instantly understood how my sister could feel comfortable here. The foyer was laid back and comfortable. The people were welcoming without being overbearing. The pastor was genuine and warm. Even the small sanctuary felt homey and familiar.

As the service began, I tried to soothe my kids nerves and relax into memories. Our youngest nervously joined the kids procession around the room and then excitedly returned to the front for the children’s story time. By the end I was in tears and feeling very blessed.

My sister still doesn’t understand how this can all be important and moving to me, but still won’t claim to be Christian anymore. That’s ok. I’m not bothered by her thinking I am. It was just really nice to share this with her.

That evening I thought we were all doing my sister a service. Instead, it served us all. It made our loss feel a little less overwhelming.

Short Break

I’m taking a short break from writing (it’s still being worked on in my head, of course). I’m trying to get some hats knit up to sell for the holiday. Get some backup stock and a gift done.

This time of year is always a struggle. It’s especially so this year. I’m trying to enjoy what I do about the holidays, but sometimes I need something a little not so bright and joyful.

So far, this book has hit the spot. The first story, An Invitation to a Burning by Kay Howard, stirred and whispered to that inner magic of connection. A quietly powerful tale.

Bless Your Heart by Hillary Monahan was perfect. Sometimes we have to take matters into our own hands for those we love. Excellent arc and finish!

I’m still digesting This Skin by Amber Benson. That was not what I was expecting. I might reread it to get another look.

I often forget how much I love short story collections. I grew up reading my dad’s horror and science fiction anthologies. It can be fun to take a few short trips, which is exactly what I need right now.

This Is Fun

I’m still writing away at this novel every chance I get. A half hour here, a couple hours there. In between family, important tasks, and work.

Every time I return, I reread where I left off. I get really into it, excited to see what I came up with next and then it stops and I’m sad.

Then I remember that it’s my story and I’ve been the one writing it all along. Now I just have to keep going. So I do.

And I think I’m getting it wrong. Or the phrasing is out of place. Or I’m getting out of hand again. I keep writing, knowing I can go back and fix it. Then I’m off tending to life.

I come back and reread what I’ve got to fix. I may tweak a bit or see something more clearly, or even change parts completely, but it’s always better than I thought.

This is just so much fun!

The Things That Can Tickle Us

A crochet can cozy. Double layered with a wrist cuff.

My mom arrived at my sister’s a few days before we did. On my nightly call with her, our mom got really excited to show me something she got for each of us. Slipping it on to show me mine, I bust out into the most tickled laughter!

Then my mom put her beer in it and I lost it even more! They laughed at my laughter and my youngest grew worried. There’s a Bills one for my sister and the funky colored one for my mom. She said she took the one nobody wanted. A mother’s sad story. My sister said she actually planned it that way so she could have the one she really wanted.

The laugh continued when we arrived and my mom used hers that evening. Nothing particularly hilarious about a can cozy, but for me, it was a break from my otherwise serious pursuits. We had a good long row of jokes and fun all over some practically crafted yarn.

Another Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has always been my second favorite holiday. Even the weird ones were memorable. Including this one.

It’s been a little over three months since my brother-in-law passed suddenly. This is our first holiday season without him. My sister’s first holiday season without the person who made it so joyful for her.

So we came to my sister’s this year. We don’t often travel for Thanksgiving, but it wasn’t even a question this year. It was good to be here. We had all the usual foods and plenty to reheat a few times.

My crochet kid made this. Their uncle was learning guitar and was teaching them too.

Mostly we’re just making sure we’re together. It’s been the most Christmasy Thanksgiving I’ve ever had, but Christmas rom-coms and sweet romance stories are all my sister can tolerate, so that’s what we’re watching. And making ornaments together was really fun.

We also got ornaments to represent memories of him. We shared some fond memories as we hung each one, the only ornaments on her tree this year.

Holidays are always hard for me. This year it’s hard for all of us. So, we got together, laid around the house, and made a few simple memories. We did what I’ve always loved about this holiday in my life. We made time to rest together.

Getting Going Now

I don’t have a laptop anymore, but I only wrote two chapters saved to my external storage thing. Everything else is on paper. Which I haven’t looked at since I stopped writing months ago. It’s all in my head.

I know how those two chapters go, too. They’re a great start. But I’m apparently ready for a different part of the story. This beast of an idea is going to be interesting to knit together once I’m done with all the pieces.

I wrote the garbage version about a week or so ago. The plot, the events, the idea of what was happening. Then I began moving into the next scene. Working through how the story progresses, but as I did, the first bit began expanding and growing in my head and I went back to it and began a rewrite.

My struggle is that I rush. It’s all moving so fast in my mind that I tend to rush it on the page. So my second rewrite focused on slowing down and really drawing out the characters, showing some motivation for their behavior. Same for my third. Reworking different ideas, giving the set more character.

Another difficulty for me is physical descriptions of people and spaces. I rarely get vivid visuals from books or my own imagination. So research it is! I looked at images of places like what I was writing about and drew a building layout. Then pulled faces from the right era and culture I’m basing it all on. This really helps me feel the scenes more.

Rewrite number four has definitely been slow. I’m getting better at sitting in this scene. I take ponder breaks where I work through a bit I’m stuck on, or work out another piece to be written later. Do dishes, clean a room, spend time with my family, stare at the wall.

It’s such a good feeling to be writing again. To be excited about my own story. To feel like I can actually do this. Obviously, I’m hoping to have it published someday, but all I really want is to have the story on paper for myself.

Hot Flashes in the Morning

There’s nothing like getting yourself ready in the morning, only to start stripping while wrestling clothes off and on your kid for school. Then walking around topless to cool off before the neighbor kid comes over to get a ride.

Sheesh.

Then I spend the rest of the day in a body on the verge of another meltdown if I get too hot, but is also on the verge of freezing solid trying not to overheat. It’s a strange sensation being both hot and cold at the same time.

I get it now. I never didn’t believe women, but I get it now. Bless the ones who have an easy and unremarkable transition. I’m just not built that way.

So the kids get to hear about it. My coworkers get to hear about it. Even my clients get the jokes about me having no idea if the room is too cold.

Thankfully it’s not every morning. I get a few weeks or a couple months free from hot flashes that leave me feeling crazy. Then they roll back in with a whoosh.

Oh, It’s a Series

I don’t recall ever picking up a book simply because I liked the first one by the author that I read, but that is what I did with this one. Barely having skimmed the description on the back, I brought it home. Then it sat for a few months.

It starts off with a punch. I’ll admit, the whole scene’s a bit hazy, but I think that’s intentional. Then we’re off with the first set of main characters and I really have no idea what’s going on other than a holiday on a creepy island.

Then we’re with the main main character and as she’s going along her name strikes me as familiar. Then, she describes some past case and trip with her brother and it dawns on me that it’s the same person from the first book. Oh the joy of discovering a favorite book is a series.

From here the tension in the holiday group grows more obvious, the reasons slowly revealed layer by layer. The tension in Elin’s personal and professional life are palpable. When she’s sent to investigate a death at the retreat her partner designed, and his sister manages, both are put to the test.

Sarah Pearse expertly tells a compelling murder mystery with thrilling turns that play with our fears. As the characters of the case must face their past, so too must the detective face her boyfriend’s past, all while uncovering the island’s history to solve it all. Well, …

I think I’m getting better at figuring out who the killer(s) in books are, and, even though I was right, I was still left second guessing myself and changing my mind a few times. I’m a real sucker for genre blending and a well crafted story and Pearse has done it again. I’m excited to check out what’s next in The Wind.