Hi, y'all! Guess what? I TURNED IN MY BOOK!!!
This book (book 3 in The Ones Who Got Away series) was, by far, my most challenging book process-wise yet. You'd think that by my 15th full length novel, I'd have this whole writing thing figured out. Yeah, turns out, writing just gets harder as you go, lol. Processes change, different books require different skills, characters refuse to cooperate with your plan, and then there's the self-inflicted pressure of always trying to outdo yourself. So all that to say, I AM SO HAPPY to have it turned in! There will still be edits to do when my editor works her magic, but for now, I get to actually see the sun for a little while and do things like...blog!
I've been so busy lately that I haven't had a chance to share much with you guys, but I haven't stopped reading or listening to things, so I have a few recommendations for you today. This time, they're both for your ears (though one you can get in print.) I'm finding myself drawn more and more to audio because it's so darn convenient. I can listen in the car, while I'm cooking, while I'm getting ready in the morning. I love it.
For Inspiration:
First up is Shonda Rhimes' Year of Yes. I know this book has been out a while and I'm behind here, but sometimes you need to wait for a book to come into your life at just the right time for you. When Year of Yes first released, I was in a season in my life where I needed to learn to better say the word NO, not yes. I was overbooked and overextended.
However, this year, I decided that, though I still need to be selective with my yeses, I also need not say no to things just because they scare me. See, I'm an introvert, a to-the-core shy person. So, getting up in front of people, doing phone interviews, giving workshops, going to signings, etc. all make me anxious, and I want to hide in a cave. And saying no in the name of being too busy (even though I am actually busy) can sometimes be a crutch and prevents me from experiencing things I'd enjoy. Because almost inevitably, I angst about these things to a ridiculous degree beforehand, and then once I do them I'm like--oh that was fun! Which, for some reason, does not make me any less anxious the next time. *shakes fist at brain*
So when I started listening to Year of Yes and heard Shonda describe how she reacts in similar social or public situations, I was like YES. PREACH. She was absolutely speaking my language. If you've read the book, she has a story about sitting in President Obama's box at an event--her initial reaction would've been mine. So hearing how she decided to change things and how she went about it was truly inspiring to me. I HIGHLY recommend getting this one in audio. I'm sure reading the book is great, but I'm not sure it could compete with hearing Shonda read it in her own voice. It feels like she's sitting down with you for some wine and a chat. Plus, she includes the live recordings of the speeches she's given within the audio. Super ultra fantastic.
For Some Retro Fun:
Alright, next up I have something a little different and that will probably only appeal to my fellow children of the 80s/90s. My So-Called Life was THE show when I first entered high school. It premiered in 1994 and followed angsty 15 year-old Angela Chase, played by Claire Danes, who was trying to navigate adolescence, love, parents, and high school. It also featured young Jared Leto as Jordan Catalano, who was the most beautiful boy I'd ever seen. *insert teen Roni swoon*
It only lasted one season, and y'all, my 14-year old self was DEVASTATED when it was canceled. I wrote letters to the network, y'all. (And I mean letters with stamps. Email wasn't a thing yet.) I may have cried a little... (shut up, I was 14 and very angsty.)
So, I was probably a little TOO excited when I heard that two of my favorite podcasters (who do the True Crime Obsessed podcast--another fantastic podcast if you love both true crime documentaries and humor) were going to do an episode-by-episode podcast about My So-Called Life. The hosts, Patrick Hinds and Gillian Pensavalle, are hilarious, clever, and true superfans, so although they are picking fun at certain things in the episodes, it is from a place of love.
So if you want to have some fun and flashback to the 90s, I highly recommend it. I'm rewatching the episodes of My So-Called Life as new podcast episodes come out. (It's an interesting experiment to watch it through my adult/mom eyes now, lol.) It's streaming free on ABC.com and you can also get it on Hulu.
So, that's what I've been listening to. What's been keeping you entertained lately?