I hope you enjoyed your Valentine’s/Galentine’s Day! My partner and I went to see The Photograph and had a quick bite to eat at Dave & Busters. Whatever you did to celebrate, I hope you enjoyed it! The month of love is coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean romance can’t live on in the pages of books. Below I’ve shared a small list of titles that’ll be available this spring to help keep the spirit alive. And of course, all authors mentioned are WOC!
The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa, available now
A wedding planner must work side-by-side with her ex-fiancée's brother—wouldn’t be too awkward if he hadn’t been the one to sabotage her wedding. The duo must strip themselves of shared animosity to get the job done, but that might not be the only things the two are shedding.
The Trouble Hating You by Sajni Patel, available 5/12
What was supposed to be a family dinner party was really a matchmaking opportunity in disguise. Liya Thakkar believes she’s dipped and dashed on her recent setup until he arrives at her struggling biochem company as the lawyer assigned to save it. Fiasco aside, the pair attempts to give the other a second chance, but is Liya finally ready for love or will she run from him a second time?
A Taste of Sage by Yaffa S. Santos, available 5/19
When her Dominican fusion restaurant fails, Lumi Santana begrudgingly becomes a sous chef at a traditional French restaurant, headed by a man with a smug attitude she can’t stand. However, Lumi’s got a gift: she can perceive a person’s emotion through their cooking. When she breaks her vow of tasting her mortal enemy’s meal, she craves more than just his food.
Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev, available 5/26
In Dev’s sophomore release, chef Ashna Raje puts her pride aside to save her restaurant as a competitor on a reality cooking show. Couldn’t be much worse, right? That is, until, she’s paired up with a FIFA soccer star. A FIFA soccer star that happens to be her ex. From their televised first catastrophic meeting, all eyes are on the estranged pair. Can they set aside their disastrous past? Or will this chance meeting muddle things further?
The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon, available 6/9
The first in a series, Samiah Brooks finds out she’s been three-timed by her “boyfriend” after a thread of live tweets goes viral. She and the other two unsuspecting women launch a friendship and swear off men, dating and obsessing over relationship statuses. Samiah fills her time with developing her dream app, but in slides her coworker, Daniel Collins. Can she shield herself from temptation or will she break the sworn friendship vows?
The Marriage Game by Sara Desai, available 6/9
Layla Patel is forced to return home after her life is torn apart at the seams. Her father offers her the office above his restaurant to start a new business venture. A CEO of a downsizing company moves in and shares the office space with her, the two unaware that the space will also become a hotbed of suitors for the single Layla. Chaos ensues in the close quarters when he, too, gets sucked into the battle for her heart.
Not listed are several titles I covered in my anticipated reads for the year. You can find them here as well. If you didn’t see one of your favorites on the list, share them with me! I’m always on the prowl for more WOC romance.
While manifestations and measurable goals dominate the new year for most, we readers proudly display our Goodreads challenges for the year ahead. After surpassing my goals for the past two years, I was in search of something more fulfilling. I wanted to improve my reading experience instead of obsessing over a number. Below are several resolutions to expand and encourage my current reading habits.
Consistent Reading Logs
Key word here is CONSISTENT. I’m carrying over the small notebook I kept my mini-reviews in. I started off writing off my concluding thoughts with every book I completed, but within a few months the logs became sporadic. These simple bullet points are what fuel the reviews here. There’s a correlation between my low review count and the unreliable logs. Tracking your reading can be done in a number of ways besides Goodreads. Bullet journals have risen in popularity and apps like Libib and Read More offer alternative personal libraries. I just started using Read More this week and love the more simplistic approach, but discover what works best for you!
Readathons
Another quick self-drag: If I can devour the entire first season for You in one sitting, I can take that same energy and put it towards a book. Finding your rhythm after the holidays can be a hassle, but the right book can settle you back in to a more regular reading pattern. I participated in a total of three readathons last year-- two were hosted by 25inFive and the other was Witchathon. Though few, I found the experiences to be rewarding. During the selective days I was more dedicated and attentive to titles than shifting my schedule around to make time on the regular. While it’s encouraging to display your timely goals and view others’ during that time, don’t obsess over what you’ve done. Read what you can and celebrate that! Every minute spent with a book during a readathon is an accomplishment.
Book Clubs
More POC book clubs. More POC book clubs. Moore POC book clubs. With the reign of social media comes the virtual book club. Busy individuals and homebodies unite! In the case of Amerie’s Book Club, she introduces the title at the beginning of the month and reminds participants that a date will be set later in the month for a live discussion. I’m currently reading this month’s pick, but another I’d like to mention is ByAmberBurns and for those of you who can make it to IRL clubs, Girls’ Night In hosts in certain cities every month. Eventbrite, your local bookstore and Instagram’s search bar are a great place to start!
Travelling to Bookish Spots
Books and travel got intertwined when I decided I would take two solo mini trips. It’s my first time really travelling and going solo, so I wanted to start nearby. First up in D.C. I’ll be honest, I’m visiting to get a tattoo done, but I want to make it a 3 day stay, so I wanna see more than just the Smithsonian museums! If you’ve been and know of some bomb spots, puh-lease let me know. I’ll be going right before my birthday in June, so I want to take advantage of the warm weather and all the city can offer me in the literary. Second is Brooklyn, NY so I can step foot in The Lit Bar. That’s it. That’s the reason. I’ll head back north at the end of the summer just so I can support a black owned business. Uncle Bobbies is nice, but I daydream about the Lit Bar every now and then. I’ve got more time to research what else I can visit in NY, but I’m open for suggestions too! It’s important to venture outside our bubbles of comfort and experience all the real-life places that pages can take you.
If you’re searching for other bookish things you can do this year, I hope this list may have helped you start somewhere or even sparked you own individual ideas. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but I hope you consider joining me in some resolutions! In December I’ll return to this post to break down how well I did on my resolutions.
My 2020 TBR is already looking diverse with sci-fi, nonfiction, a thriller and some fiction already on my library’s hold list. It was a daunting task to narrow down to just 5 books I’m most excited for. Here you’ll find thrillers, romance and a short story collection. They’re all by women of color, so if you’re looking to have a more diverse reading list, I hope this helps!
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Expected publication: July 30, 2020
After receiving a letter from her newlywed cousin pleading for an escape from her dangerous husband, Noemí Taboada arrives at the isolated mansion in the Mexican countryside with only rescue on her mind. Obstacles include evading the suspicious husband, his father and even the house itself. Noemí must brave the allure of all three before she, too, finds herself an unwilling captive.
My book of the year author is dropping a Mexican thriller?! This jumped to the top of my want-to-read list as soon as I found out. Her debut weaved an epic Cinderella-esque tale that was my absolute favorite last year. Moreno-Garcia creates such complex characters that will only be more elaborate with a danger looming around them.
Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop by Roselle Lim
Expected publication: September 4, 2020
Vanessa Yu can see your fortune -- good and bad-- at the bottom of your teacup. She tries to avoid them, but they only invade her private life. Viewing her own tragic misfortune, she obliges to an aunt’s offer to start anew in Paris. Thousands of miles from home, Vanessa is determined to challenge her gift and rewrite her destiny.
Roselle Lim is arguably one of the best writers I’ve had the pleasure of reading in the past few years. To write such realistic plots and sprinkle in magic without overpowering the more heartfelt themes is a gift. I’m looking forward to following Vanessa to Paris and falling in love with not only her character, but the experiences and other residents she becomes involved in.
So We Can Glow by Leesa Cross-Smith
Expected publication: April 10, 2020
A collection of 42 short stories that explore the hearts and desires women and girls who populate them. Teenage love, grief, obsession, motherhood and bonding are just a few themes found within the female driven stories.
I want to haphazardly announce this as my book of the year already. I read Cross-Smith's debut at the very end of 2018. If I hadn’t already crowned a book and posted it, Whiskey & Ribbons would have been it. She has the ability to describe the inner, raw emotions of us in such an impactful way. I’ll never forget her debut and I know that within one of the many stories in her newest work, there’ll be more captivating stories I’ll never forget,
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
Expected publication: June 23, 2020
Danika Brown would rather write a thesis than a love letter. She’s successful in every area of her life except love, but friend-with-benefits is more her speed. Zafir Ansai is the perfect candidate, having rescued her in a now viral video. What begins as a fake relationship for the public becomes spirals into Zafir’s attempts to woo Dani into a realationship.
What I adore most about Hibbert’s characters in her first novel of the series is that they are so 3D. They have quirks and have real-life complications that aren’t common in many of the stories I read. I know this will be more than just a ‘break down the ice queen’s walls’ type of romance. The duo destined for love are gonna bring some sort of baggage
Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas
Expected publication: June 12, 2020
Hidden within Pennsylvania’s woods is a prestigious university that produces some of the world’s most coveted minds at a dark cost. Freshman Ines Murillo objects to much of the university’s odd protocol and explores the dark truths surrounding the exclusive circle of students with a dangerous agenda.
I was getting nervous there weren’t many thrillers in my want-to-read list for 2020 until I this sat in another user’s list. Gimme thriller. Gimme debut. Gimme black female author. In addition, I attended a small college surrounded by the Pennsylvania woods, so I’m well aware of just how isolating it can be out there. I tend to be become a devoted fan to the thriller authors I do read, so Elisabeth Thomas should make the list.
Maybe some of these were on your radar, maybe not, but I hope they’ve possibly given you an idea of what you might consider in this new year. With the daunting task of 40 books to complete by the end of the year, I’m always open to suggestion. Share with me what you can’t wait to read this year and I wish you a productive and abundant reading year ahead!
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash
I’ve revisited old characters and adored new ones. I walked alongside the underworld, kept hush about an elite band’s secrets, pursued a killer in plain sight and crept through the divide that keeps the imaginary world from leaking into ours. Again, I struggled to choose just one winner, below is the moment when I was cussing out GoodReads for not having the author’s titles in order of publication and then discovering she was releasing again in 2020.
BOTY
In Gods of Jade and Shadow, a young woman must accompany a Mayan God of Death in order to save herself and the fate of the underworld. Before October, I was concerned I wouldn’t find a book of the year. Set in the Jazz Age Americas with a heavy dose of Mayan folklore, Silvia Moreno-Garcia paints a setting unlike anything I’d read. Her rich descriptions make readers feel as though they’ve visited all of these places before. Casilope’s defiance and quest for freedom outshine the many gods, demons and other majestic characters who frequent the tale. You will witness Hun-Kame's personality transformation and his brother, Vucub-Kame's, justifiable darkness. The duality of each character and how it shapes each individual offer reason to adore and abhor them all equally. Beyond that, it was the first book review I’d done for my page since April! The eagerness to share my thoughts was real. I won’t go too much into detail because you can read my full thoughts here, but please know that if you’ve even been considering Gods of Jade and Shadow, the story is just as rich and intriguing as its cover!
Runner Up
There were a few books that came in a close race for second best, but Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune secured its spot. It touches upon a multitude of important topics including gentrification, mental health and familial relationships concerning minorities. All very relevant and gripping topics in today’s society. Not to mention I could damn near smell the food Natalie makes wafting off the pages! The romance subplot was adorable from start to finish, encouraging me to cheer Natalie on in her quest for love. It enhances the plot, but never takes away from her determination to reopen her grandmother’s restaurant and save her diminishing Chinatown. Though this wasn’t the only book that taught the classic ‘food brings everyone together,’ Roselle Lim’s debut is the most gripping I read this year! The true magic in Natalie’s story is the writing. Lim’s writing is so lyrical and poetic that I found myself rereading lines again just to really grasp and relive the awestruck moment I’d just had. This is another book that boasts a story as beautiful as its enticing cover!
Overall Year
Honestly, this year didn’t have as many memorable reads as I would’ve liked, and that’s okay. My Goodreads average was about three and a half stars. I found many of the books from repeat authors were let downs. I even tried to ride the hype train for the Jasmine Guillory and was extremely disappointed. I read with a much more critical eye this year and will now translate the notes I’ve made in the past year into how I edit my own writings. On the flip side of that, I was pleasantly surprised with the romance genre. About 20% of my books read this year fell into the romance genre and I’m so glad to discover that each of the women have titles releasing in the upcoming year. Also, shout out to all of them also being women of color. Gimme minority love all day, every day.
Guess who’s already added them to the top of her ‘want to read’ list on Goodreads?
Looking forward to 2020
Currently every title on my list is a repeat mystery/thriller author or many of the female romance authors previously mentioned. I’m expecting to invite in more romance next year because of what’s already saved. My biggest goal for next year is to include more memoirs and nonfiction into my reading challenge. A few were sprinkled throughout 2019 and while they were lackluster, The Collected Schizophrenias was definitely the most intriguing. I find myself bringing up many of Esme Weijun Wang’s experiences in mental health conversations with peers. I want to push the boundaries of reading the stories of public figures I already know. I want to read into the minds of individuals brave enough to share their substance on pages. I’ll also look into Book Riot’s Read Harder challenge, but they get really real...and like, I’m not sure if I’m ready for a commitment like that???
What were your favorites of the year? Your disappointments? Share your 2020 goals with me on Instagram or Twitter!
In early Jazz Age Mexico, Casiopea Tun has unleashed a captive Mayan God of Death who whisks her away on a life-changing journey to reclaim his rightful throne in the Underworld. Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Gods of Jade and Shadow is a Cinderella--esque tale heavily inspired by Mayan folklore and Mexican culture.
I’ve got nothing but good things to say about this book from beginning to end. I was getting weary I wouldn’t have a book this year that claimed five stars with such ease, but this came at the perfect time.
First off, the pacing was perfect. Casiopea’s story begins wealthy grandfather’s estate in Yucatán, travels to meet a demon and venture to various spots in Mexico and California to in search of items and concludes in the meandering roads of the underworld. Never once does it feel like she and her partner, Hun-Kame, remain in one place for too long. Each place they visit is integral to the plot and served its purpose. Also noted and appreciated is the time period. In tales like these, most authors go for either the present or Victorian era. Moreno-Garcia drops readers right in the heyday of flappers and carnivals and automobiles. Hun-Kame is a show stealer in a suit and Casiopea freaks out that people will whisper “whore” because the ends of her hair clip her chin. In all of the glitz and glamour, a god of death and his companion seek an entrance to what lies below the Middleworld.
If an epic didn’t have to be a poem, then I’d nominate this title be read instead in Literature classes. Besides the harrowing journey the two make, even in the shadows of Gods and demons, other magic wielders and even her tyrant of a cousin, Casiopea’s defiance is her courage and bravery. Despite her less-than-spectacular living situation, she doesn’t ask for the reader’s pity. She denies her rude cousin of compliance from the first written encounter and even as they fight to survive the blood-thirsty Xilbaba roads. She is even given an ultimatum to choose a life that would benefit her best, Casiopea takes her chances in her heart she knew there would be more tragedies if she chose the selfish route.
Her otherworldly counterpart is not to be forgotten either. From the moment his bones are released and he takes physical form once more, Hun-Kame commands his role as god. He is stoic and his lip doesn’t even twitch in a smile in the beginning, but he is not written in a way that makes the reader roll his or her eyes. As he goes through his written transformation, Hun-Kame becomes more admirable, his features and actions more human. His brother Vucub-Kame is your classic villain, locking his brother away for what he probably hoped would have been an eternity. Underneath his sinister actions, there is reason. He believes that what he is doing is right and just. However, Hun-Kame has flaws of his own that pushed his brother to lock him away.
Casiopea and Hun-Kame's romance is my favorite this year because it is the most realistic, despite the more fantastical elements. It’s a slow burn and subtle one, expressed in the twinkle of an eye or curl of a smile. “He'd fallen in love slowly and quietly, and it was a quiet sort of love, full of phrases left unsaid, laced with dreams.” They don’t admit their feelings until a later portion of the book and even in the face of death, the moment the two share is delicate. Any romance with a god, especially one of death, is going to have its challenges and the two accepted what the end held for them. A fairytale romance wouldn’t have suited either character and would have stolen away from all the character development and transformation it took to get to that moment.
If you blended Cinderella, Mexican culture and Mayan mythology, you’d get this beautiful tale. It’s a wonderful addition for anyone interested in expanding their reading into Latino authors or even the reader interested in mythology. Moreno-Garcia weaves a dark but dazzling world that Casiopea and Hun-Kame traverse through. The combination of elements and characters makes for an unforgettable read that will encourage readers to seek out more of what Latino authors have to offer.
In my absence over the summer I enjoyed the freedom to read without the nagging pull of consistent writing and posting dragging me into a world of creative frustration. I began to miss updating this blog while also accepting that my eagerness to solely post about reading and writing had dwindled. I still wanted to write about them but my desires had seeped into other unrelated topics too. By September I established my return would be this fall with a much-needed reinvention.
Envy sparked the need to express my duality through this medium. I was jealous that a fellow Philly blogger could switch between books and lifestyle with ease. I’d built this platform off of books but yearned to expand, but it just didn’t seem right. Until I told myself to do it. I refuse to let the second half of my twenties be cluttered with doubts and insecurities. And this is why we’re here now, revealing to you just another aspect of my identity—my navigation through wellness, finances and lifestyle.
Entering this final stretch of the year, my focus is to reclaim my space, more specifically my bedroom. This idea is thanks to a podcast episode by BlackGirlinOm of the same name. From ages 20-24, my bedroom was just a spot to rest my head at night, wake up, get dressed. Repeat. For 1825 days I viewed it as nothing more than just a bed in a room, and it showed. There were no accents, no décor. Just a bed, a dresser, full length mirror and a desk. This past June when I turned 25, my perception of the room changed. I wanted to make it a symbol of tranquility, safety and creativity. Even today, I’m still transforming it into a hub where I can relax and recharge and create and meditate. Below I’ll share with you five ways I have, am or plan to reclaim my space before the end of 2019.
I rearranged my room. This came at no cost, obviously, but when I switched around my desk with my dresser and mirror, I could already feel the shift in the room’s energy. With the desk’s new position, natural sunlight floods the wall and the exact spot I can get bomb lighting for my bookstagram posts. As for my mirror and dresser, having more space in front of my bed has made it much easier to keep my faux fur rug cleaner and allows space to add another piece to the wall they rest on. After the switch, my room has felt more open and inviting. This had to be the first step to encourage me to complete the creation of the space I truly want.
HomeGoods, Marshalls and T.J.Maxx are my best friend. The weekend I got my raise, I went with my mother to Exton, PA and blew a bag.
I mean serious retail damage. I spent the next two weeks tiptoeing around unnecessary purchases, but the addition of a new rug and blankets enticed me to want to remain in the comfort of my room. With the whiteboard planner I’ve hung from my wall, I can spread out all of the creative tasks I need to conquer that week. I even introduced a TV back into my room, something I haven’t had since college. The consumption of Netflix can be therapeutic for me on weekends where I prefer the company of solitude and trying to fix my laptop screen from the glare of the sun just wasn’t cutting it anymore. The space is small, so there won’t be much more to add but I’ve been plotting on a specific shoe rack and circular wall shelf for a few weeks and hope to add them soon.
Candles, candles, candles~ They were arguably the bulk of my purchases from my blow-a-bag session a few weeks ago. Candles were the one item I picked up from every store. Though I adopted the attraction to them from my father’s own collection, I see candles as a form of pacificity — an integral part of my meditating and manifesting practices. The collection has grown to about 5 or 6 new ones, so I believe that’s a good stopping place for the fall and may resume my candle shopping in the winter. Also, if you’re ever in need of good candles, I prefer DW Home to everything else (All tea, all shade, all offense your faves don’t compare)!
Minimalizing my closet. I’m a creature of nature, so once something sticks, I ain’t letting go. I had all of my high school years to go through the dreaded neon phase and then in college I was into animal prints.
SAY SOMETHING I DARE YOU. By the time I received my bachelor’s, my style evolved into neutrals only. I still struggled with online shopping though. Selling items on Poshmark opened my eyes to how often I recycle the same clothing and what I’m most comfortable with. To help solidify this new mindset, I’ve concluded with a simple system for my clothing—for every new item, one must either be sold, donated or trashed (depending on how well-loved it is). This system has saved me room in my closet and curbs the need to spend excess money on clothes. Shoes are included, too. This allows me to keep track of what I currently own and determine if that new top or new pair of booties has a spot reserved for it. But truthfully, that the rule is gonna be no good come Black Friday, because I mean...???
Counting crystals. In the past two months I’ve been more in tune with my spirituality. I’ve come across a number of witchy Instagram pages that intrigue me for their expansive knowledge and welcoming presence for newcomers. I have a two-year-old tattoo of a crystal ball on my left thigh, so believe me when I say this isn’t just a phase but a lifestyle. I didn’t exactly know where to start in but social media has been a lifesaver! Anyways, while I await my copy of Waking the Witch, I’ve been doing more research on crystals and what energies they can provide. The main reason I need the shelf in my room is to safely place the crystals I intend to order. My room won’t be able to host an altar, so a shelf is the next best thing. until I get the shelf I’ll purchase a set of crystals to travel with. But best believe when I can start ordering them for my bedroom, the energy will get that shift it really needs! But for now I’ll continue browsing and dreaming of what I can’t have just yet.
Alright, so I’ve explained my absence, the blog shift and what I’ve currently been focused on. I’m not entirely sure what ignited this wordly shift in me since I turned 25, but I’m not mad at it. I more interested in where it’ll take me and look forward to sharing this next step in life with you! Like always, my best points of contact are Instagram and Twitter.
Excuse me while I return back to the comfort of my bedroom.
I dusted the cobwebs and dirt off my tomb in September, but Hot Girl Halloween has finally arrived. This is completely unexpected, but damn near half of the books currently on my library’s hold list fit with the month ahead. And what better way to honor many people’s favorite time of the year then with reads filled with death, dread and the undead? Follow me below to discover five books released this year certain to make this month spookier.
The Chestnut Man
Someone is butchering women in Copenhagen and leaving behind a figurine made of chestnuts and matchsticks baring fingerprints of a teen girl presumed to be dead. Two detectives suspect that the string of killings are tied to a prior case and must put aside their cynicism to end the killing spree and uncover dark truths that extend far past the previous year.
You said give Freddy, Jason and Pennywise a break? Say no more. I kicked off Spooktober with this book and while the massive 500+ pages was daunting, I inhaled the behemoth and its contents in 6 days. Not to give a review, but it’s fast-pacing sucks you in from the very beginning and the depictions of the assaulted corpses are enough to make you glad the visuals aren’t available on Netflix…yet.
#MurderFunding
Seventeen year old Becca auditions to be a Painiac, an elite member of serial killers that terrorize the criminals trapped on Alcatraz 2.0. She joins a reality show to dead the rumor that her recently deceased mother specialized in taking lives. It’s seems simple until the show’s gore is as real as the hearts that once pumped blood throughout the losers.
This is the long awaited sequel to #MurderTrending! Murderous maniacs galore, I know this second installation into Alcatraz 2.0 will be as entertaining as the first. Becca better have a strong stomach ‘cause she’s about to witness some of the most creative, yet disturbing murders executed.
A Cosmology of Monsters
Noah and his father share more than just genes–he’s inherited the ability to see monsters too. His mother and sister see them, but dismiss ghouls back into the fictional world they’ve always lived in. They may shut them out, but Noah welcomes them in.
It’s always “I see dead people” when it’s a tale of a child able to communicate with the supernatural. Broadening this world to monsters could mean we are introduced to some other spooky favorites. Werewolves, vampires, goblins etc. Hell, I just wanna know what happens after they step over that threshold and the door shuts behind Noah and his newfound companions.
The Bone Houses
After her parents’ deaths, Aderyn and her siblings take on gravedigging to save the family graveyard. If burying the dead isn’t unsettling enough, the risk that the corpses may reanimate is. These risen corpses are called “bone houses” and their unusual ferocity is focused on the mysterious new mapmaker. Together the duo must find a way to lay the dead to rest for good.
How to seduce me with plots: insert graveyard and/or gravediggers in the synopsis. This story is literally just missing the Grim Reaper. Death holds such a heavy presence in this story that I’m curious to see how it is depicted within the YA genre.
The Beautiful
The undead dominate 19th century New Orleans. Celine Rousseau has fled Paris and takes refuge in one of the city’s underground groups’ vampire leaders, Sébastien. He comes under scrutiny after the body of a young women is found in his lair, the second in a string of murders sweeping through the city. Celine must forgo her attraction to help catch a serial killer terrorizing her beloved city.
I’m giving this book a chance based off recommendation from Amerie’s most recent YouTube upload.Twilight’s massive success hushed the YA vampires and turned me off, but when the book’s set in the one American city I’m dying to visit for its rich history in the paranormal, I can’t turn a blind eye. Footage of me flipping the first page of the book:
This concludes my recommendations for my favorite time of the year. I hope that something on the list speaks to you and if you do read any of these, you can always chat with me on Instagram or Twitter!
The Hiding Place is C.J. Tudor’s sophomore thriller, a dark tale of Joe, who returns to his former town in search of those responsible for the tragic loss of his sister, but uncovers hidden truths and an even sinister, unspeakable reality underground.
Just like her debut, she reminds us that adults don’t always harden as life beats them down; some of them as just nasty as hell from birth. As a child Joe was unable to find anywhere to fit in, so he joined a gang. As teenagers, they drank, smoked, destroyed whatever was in the way and ventured into a world beneath the ground they walked on. Now that he has returned, his stay is very unwelcomed. He must dodge the hateful attacks taken against him in the form of ruthless thugs and note-wrapped bricks. For one of his childhood acquaintances, malevolent behavior is a family heirloom, passed from one male to the next. As a teacher at his old high school, Joe witnesses said friend’s son get away with everything but murder. Including skin-crawling scene where one of his victims vomits up half-digested daddy long legs. Tudor’s stories are an ode to the darker, more wicked side of the underage psyche.
Red herrings are strategically placed throughout the pages. Although Joe is working tirelessly to extort the necessary people, he harbors secrets of his own. His past comes to haunt him during confrontation because he, too, hasn’t been entirely honest about his own past. It is even revealed that the crucifixion he is seeking has some personal business attached to it, and it doesn’t include his sister. Speaking of which, his personal agenda and comes in the form of a brutal, act first, talk later woman. In the beginning she fades in and out, an ominous reminder of why Joe has returned home. As the action picks up, she returns more frequently. However, her inclusion seemed rushed towards the end as she inserts herself into the climax and shoots first, cutting off the beginning of a monologue. Joe fears her in her arrivals, I found her disruptive and irking.
Bypass the man with the sketchy past and questionable motives and a town that doesn’t want him back, a mystery is gated from the community. Children and teens alike trespass land that taints them after they have encountered what grisly sight is below. This supernatural phenomenon is never explained thoroughly in the book and I love it. Much is left to be desired and can be completely up to the reader’s imagination. Unlike the quick pacing of the book, this lingers and digests during the course of the novel. It is a subtle dark cloud that hangs over the story that never goes away and haunts all the way up until the last word.
The Hiding Place is a great comeback for Tudor. She manages to relay an entire hidden backstory with ease in this fast-paced thriller. The accusations never stop until the final reveal, which throws off the initial mystery, leaving readers stunned at the confession. Despite dragging others for their moral compass, even our protagonist has a brutal reality check in the form of a licensed killer. And a hidden entity lurks in the shadows of Joe’s world, never truly revealing itself to readers. Fans of Tudor’s and page-turning suspense will enjoy this dark novel with an even darker secret.
Yes, you are looking at a back to back installment of Hold Digging. Yes, you are going to see it in the following month. No, I am not making it a permanent fix. I just have so many titles being released during the spring that I couldn’t waste a month focusing on writing when there are too many good books to read. Actual footage of me walking to the library to collect my books for the month:
Wrapping up the final rainy days of April, I participated in #25inFive’s readathon. I didn’t hit the goal of 25 hours of reading but I did make 10 hours! I finished two books in that time, one of them start to finish in the same day. The marathon did tire me out, so I won’t be starting another title until the weekend to dedicate some much-needed time to reviews.
I’m not entirely sure yet how next month will compare, but I’m confident that this is the most excited I’ve been for a reading month in a while. I’ve got three titles, two of which I’ve had on hold for months and a sophomore release where I’m giving an author a second chance.
The Hiding Place by C.J. Tudor
A man returns to teach at his former high school with questionable intentions and must confront the dark truths he left behind.
I found out randomly last month that Tudor had released her second book and immediately found myself questioning if I should read it. Her debut had a stellar plot that kept me interested but my response to it was lukewarm. I believe in second chances and therefore want to come into this with an open mind like I did the first time. I found the debut’s climax to be lackluster, but was enchanted by the gruesome and often crude scenes. I’m no masochist, but I am hoping to read and envision more scenes like it, especially when there’s a suicide, murder and missing sister all tied into one man’s story. There is hope that Tudor can convert me into a fan of her psychological puzzles.
Notes From a Young Black Chef: A Memoir by Kwame Onwuachi and Joshua David Stein
Race, fame and food intersect as Kwame Onwuachi, a contestant on Top Chef, recounts how culinary inspired him to open –and close—his first restaurant, but most importantly helped him persevere in life, even in the darkest moments.
Last year I got into memoirs because of Phoebe Robinson. Honestly, I’ve never heard of Onwuachi before this book but in the past year I’ve invested into my Sunday meal prepping. Spending early mornings in the produce market and in front of the stove has become a form of meditation for me because I don’t have to focus on anything but the food in front of me. I want to expand my memoirs beyond just recognizable names. I look forward to learning about how Onwuachi beat the odds and still keeps his passion for food alive, in both his successes and his failures.
Trust Exercise by Susan Choi
Set in an American suburb in the 80s, two performing arts students fall in love and their acting teacher stands to come between them.
Goodreads is the reason I gave this title a chance. Within the plot there are some truths and some not-so-truths. It’ll be interesting to discern between what really happened in the story and put together the puzzle. I am unsure if this categorized as a mystery or something else, but I’d like to discover it when I open it up. There is mention that the themes can incite debate on a number of topics, so I’d like to see how the messages are conveyed. Boasting a Pulitzer Finalist honor, my expectations for Choi’s work is high.
There’s possibility for one more title this month, but it all depends on the Free Library’s quickness to get the fourth book to me. You already know how I feel that. But anyway, I’d like to extend with my consistency of reading and writing into another month because I’ll need the discipline to get through my birthday month, which holds even more exciting titles in store!
Again, actual future footage of me running to the library when my books for June become available:
I hope you continue to read books you enjoy and write about the things you want!
If you liked it, then you shoulda put boxers on it -- The Kiss Quotient Review
Photo by Sarah Cervantes on Unsplash
In a world where she remains single or forces herself through uncomfortable encounters with the men her mother hooks her up with, Stella chooses to hire an escort, Michael. In Helen Hoang’s debut, The Kiss Quotient, an econometrician with more money that she can count discovers there is no easily accessible equation on how to love and be loved.
At the heart of the story we’ve got Stella, a wealthy woman living with Asperger’s, much like Hoang. However, her character is written with so much depth that on occasion I forget that some of her quirks, like French kissing reminding her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish, are a result of her diagnosis. It’s the moments where she freaks out the following morning because she didn’t brush her teeth or wash the sweat off her body, that remind me why she behaves in some of the manners that she does. She has enough layers that the Asperger’s is just a part of her and does not define her. She might be a diva with the fabrics and cut, style and fit, but she’s also in love with yoga pants because they make her ass look good.
Although she’s a woman whose primary concern is practicing on her relationship skills, she’s a loveable character from the very start.
For all of her quirks, she and her counterpart, Michael, complement each other well. Though a woman of strict order, he advises she shake up her schedule occasionally. He introduces her to a lifestyle that stretches beyond just relationship dynamics. Stella explores an entire world that doesn’t alter her persona for the worst, but actually enhances the woman she is in the beginning. At the job she’s discovered that many men in relationships don’t buy their briefs anymore, it’s the women in their lives that do. For a woman like her, such a simple act equates to a big finding for the project she is currently working on. Even he cosigns the idea that a caring act can mean so much to a couple in love and she is determined to show her affection.
The chemistry between the two is great, but it’s their bedroom scenes that left me cringing. She hired an escort, so of course there’s sex scenes. As expected of her, Stella isn’t a talker in the bedroom, but Michael is. And the things he said were...unsexy. It gave me first-time high school vibes. A lot of his dialogue in their steamy moments reminds me of the mature manga with the crappy translations that make you want to skip right past the sex scenes. If anyone actually talked that way during sex, I’m pretty sure it’d be a turn off, like from pond to puddle real quick. If it were to ever become a movie, I’d hope they’d find much hotter ways to get his point across because Christian Grey is somewhere cackling at Michael’s weak dirty talk. Don’t let that distract you from the fact that their steamy scenes were still well-written.
Despite the extraordinary circumstances of an uber rich woman and her adventures with the escort she falls in love with, Hoang keeps a peculiar matchup realistic. If she wasn’t in search of a practice relationship, Stella and Michael were more than likely never fated to meet. The secret and guilt he harbors is likely to never get out, either. I expected an over the top turning point towards the end, but the more I reflected, the more content I was with it. There are no over dramatic circumstances within the book, so my hopes shouldn’t have been set for fireworks. If such an event was to happen in real life, it would have turned out exactly how Hoang wrote it, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s romance, not fantasy. I even appreciated Stella’s approach to heartbreak. She never loses her sense of self when things don’t go exactly as planned and she doesn’t allow her sadness to be her wallowing in bed for days. She stands her ground and continues to be the woman she is, with or without a man.
Stella’s story is an ode to that old saying that money can’t buy you happiness. Money brought the man of her dreams to her, but it isn’t what makes him stay. She is an adored character with or without the man in her life and expertly shows that no matter your diagnosis, you are not a label. Readers looking for a slow-burning romance with great relationship dynamics and chemistry look no further. From beginning to end you’ll be rooting for Stella and Michael’s relationship. Love isn’t a bunch of numbers you can compute and spit out an equation on how to master it. It’s feelings, invades all five senses and can be expressed in even the smallest of things, like a set of boxers.
Before I get into anything book related, I want to honor the late Nipsey Hussle. We’ve all heard social media’s take on his unfortunate and unexpected death, but please remember that he is survived by people still processing this loss. I am a black woman in a relationship with a black man and the news prompted me to remind him to always be careful when he is out. I am beyond words for Lauren London and I hope we’ve all extended support to anyone who’s in need of it at this time.
This month I’ve made a promise to myself – I'm gonna get back on track. Big time.
I have no plausible excuse for why it’s April and I have yet to post a book review on this site. I just finished editing my review for PTW, so I am hoping it will be posted in the coming weeks.
I decided against a post for a writing wrap up since I didn’t do much writing. I will, however, give you a life update for why there wasn’t much activity during March. I am still in the process of job hunting. I have been fortunate enough to make it to the final interview for one that I want bad. Like real bad. Like I feel like it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’d be a damn fool to screw up. Going through the interview rounds, I was finally exposed to real editing. It’s a helluva lot more time consuming than I imagined. But you won’t hear me complain ‘cause this is what I want to do. To wrap this up, I’ve got to ace this final round and I want to remain as clear headed and confident as possible in order to get what I want.
Somehow Goodreads says I’m still on track to complete my 30-book goal before the end of the year.
With one-third of the year already gone, I want to hit the one-third mark of my goal. To help me do that, I picked these books this month:
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin
I cheated with The Kiss Quotient because I started it over the weekend when participating in #8intwo, a reading challenge to read 8 hours in two days. I only made half that at 4 hours, but I also had prior arrangements before I discovered the challenge. I have been waiting for Queenie for several months and am beyond excited to finally open its pages, which should be this weekend. Fever Dream was a random add-on because I am waiting for Schweblin’s most recent book to be in my hands, but after a conversation with a bookstagrammer who read her most recent book and offered a lukewarm review I wanted to give her a chance.
In order to combat this laziness I’ve had with reviews, I am challenging myself to 3 reviews this month. I’m almost certain Queenie will head over to PTW, but I’m trying to fight the selfish spirit that wants me to keep it here so I have content for this month. Either way, there will be a review for each of the books I read this month. My good sis Phoebe Robinson is waiting on the bench just in case one of the selected books just doesn’t make the cut...but even she might get read this month too.
For now I am focusing on being consistent. I will hold myself accountable for the decisions I make this month. I have a goal in mind and I have to keep my focus in check in order to get back to how I once was. I know it won’t be easy but I held myself to a higher standard last year and accomplished so much. I can do it again.
Regardless if the relationship is positive or negative, all must have an air of authenticity to them. No forced relationship compares to a realistic one. Just like a character must be well-developed, so should the bond he or she shares with another. A good way to test the bond between two characters is to put something at stake. I once tried it with my own two characters, Elliot and Rashida. He is burning down his childhood home in hopes that it will get rid of the spirit that threatens to take everything away from him. In this scene he is recklessly angry, pouring gasoline over everything, while Rashida is in hysterics because she can’t get through to him that there has to be another way to fight this without going to extremes. Throw in some gasoline on the walls and their clothing and a currently unlit match and I’ve just exposed another side of their relationship I’d never dived into.
I can’t think of a single story that included a lone character. No matter the genre, the main character always has some sort of interactions with other people/animals/beings. Those who the main interacts with regularly build relationships to strengthen their bond. Relationships don’t always have to be romantic. There can be platonic and familial, and don’t forget the aggressor and the victim or the relationship between the protagonist and the antagonist. Foe or ally, main or secondary, the relationships built between characters in a story are central to it.
For relationships, the good ‘ole ‘show don’t tell’ is an important skill to master. Think about your own relationships for a second. In my own romantic one, my partner and I prefer to do something without telling that we did it. For example, I knew he wanted to see Us just as much as I did, so I asked him what time he wanted to see it on opening day and then bought the tickets. If I would have bought them and told him “Oh hey, I bought tickets to the movie,” it wouldn’t have been as thoughtful. The latter would have been demanding recognition whereas the first was done just because I cared.
Make the relationship between your characters more realistic by taking the time to dig deeper into their flaws. No one’s relationship is completely transparent and perfect. We all fight and argue with the people we love. I am notorious for it to. With my characters Denver and Constance, I’d never even written a scene where they were upset with one another. That changed the day they were placed in an elevator going down to the floor where a coworker’s wedding was taking place. Randomly Constance admits to proposing to Denver shortly after she suffers a miscarriage. The gesture was not out of love, but to compensate for the fact that she almost had his child. A foolish act he kept to himself until that day.
If you didn’t figure it out by now, the theme for this month’s box is writing relationships. This also happened to be the one year anniversary for GoScribbler, so they packed it with some writer goodies that can serve multiple uses.
The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros (bookmark & autograph included)
Night notes mini notebook
Writer cloth pencil case
Typewriter socks
Mini poster
Writing Relationships passport
Inside look at Rebecca Yarros’ publishing process
Invitation to chat with the CEO of Entangled
Like before, the passport is my favorite item. The focus on a single writing component allows me the opportunity to dedicate my time to strengthening a specific part of my writing. The knowledge presented in the essays is always enlightening and encourages me to go beyond the information provided with an exercise to try out. The Inside Look always reminds me that my wacky ways of keeping notes on my characters isn’t so abnormal at all. I’m trying to be more responsible with my note-taking for creative writing instead of always winging it and then forgetting details that could have been useful if they’d been stored somewhere for later use. Seeing the way others organize their ideas gives me inspiration on how I should do the same with mine. I adore the small pencil case that was included, too. I always carry a small notebook and pens to work with me in case an idea strikes. I’ve always just thrown them into my bag and have lost countless pens this way. (And we know G2 Pilot pens ain’t cheap) Now with a small case to carry my utensils in, I’ll actually take more care of them.
Go Scribbler boxes are delivered at the end of a month, therefore I’ll take this last week to work on the relationships between my primary characters. Instead of creating brand new material, I will work from previously written scenes and determine how I can fix them to convey the strength of the bond between the written characters. I won’t be reading the book included in the box because two of my books for April are rooted in relationships, so I can instead study the authors’ work.
I’ve said it before, but will repeat it for good. I will not be purchasing Go Scribbler boxes for now on. Price wise, I do not benefit from them in the way I hoped. I will instead pick 2-3 items from the online store and include those instead. This writing process part of the blog is a work in progress and with each one I will continue to get better and find a rhythm that works especially well for what I am capable of.
The ice and snow are beginning to thaw and so is my apprehension to writing reviews. Can you believe I haven’t written one yet this year? (As in one posted on a site and not the brief one I posted on Instagram.) As you’re reading this, my review of Thick will submitted to PTW for a final review before publishing. Also coming to this site is a review for Black Leopard, Red Wolf. I’m currently only 20% in and the book is due back in a week...guess who's risking a late fee???
Most importantly, let’s get into the writing portion of this month. I did something I said I wouldn’t do again-- I purchased a GoScribbler box. But I’ve got an excuse! This month is their one-year anniversary box and because they keep saying this is their best box yet, I couldn’t help but fall for the marketing. There hasn’t been any information leaked about what we can expect inside, therefore I don’t have a specific theme for this month. And since it doesn’t ship until the 20th, the unboxing will be one of the last posts.
It feels odd not to have an exact attack plan but I will continue what I did in January. Last time I wrote about fantasy characters created by an artist whose work I adored. It introduced me to writing fantasy and I just might continue with the genre again since it seems to stump me every time I’m practicing with it. I do have one character in mind that I can work on. She is a fairly new one, created just last month and she fits in the fantasy genre, so I would like to make examples of her. I will also return to the witch and the beast eating hat because I was actually invested in the concept. You’re welcome to expect one or two shared writing posts this month for me.
In other news, I have finally given in to audiobooks! I was tired of waiting on Confessions, so I cancelled my hold and downloaded the audiobook. This entire week I dedicated my commute to and from work just to listening. I’m currently halfway through the novel and I’ve raved about Minato’s plot twists on Instagram. I’ll admit my thoughts on audiobooks have changed. They’re a wonderful alternative for those who lead busy lives and may not always have the time to sit and flip through pages. However, I find you need more concentration when listening. Multitasking while listening has caused me to miss certain parts and have to rewind as a result. Just like reading a physical copy, it requires your undivided attention. When I finish my current audiobook and novel, I may search for another audiobook (fantasy?) as I write.
This seems like such a short opening for the month, but with the mystery of the GoScribbler box and the demands of book reviews, it is a relief that for the next few weeks I’ll only be worrying about writing. I've concluded that these months don’t always have to be a specific theme or subject of interest. They can be a pick-me-up or time to regather and refocus my thoughts. With 30 more days ahead of us, I hope you, too, can offer a spring cleaning of any books or writing you need to do in order to enter a new season with a clean slate.
And now back to our regularly scheduled programming! It feels like its been forever since I've written one of these. Yes, it's unusually late in the beginning of the month for this, but to be honest, I took a short writing hiatus. One month of creative writing and cover letters and resumes burned through my morale to complete this is a timely manner. (P.S. I have a deadline this Thursday for my overdue PTW book review) Next month I'll have to reconsider how much writing I want to do and when it's okay to take a break from it.
More importantly,
Welcome to the month that celebrates our blackness and love in all its forms. To think a year ago I was reading one of my favorite books of all time proves just how swift time is. I'd spend the next few days harboring over characters and engaging in some of the most thought-provoking conversations with my boyfriend that I still reminisce on today. This year, though, there is no focus on romance. I've got a hefty four books, including the return of a beloved author, two books with unique plots and a collection of essays.
Thick and other Essays by Tressie McMillan Cottom
If the women and girls in Training School for Negro Girls wrote a collection of essays, it'd probably sound something like this. McMillan Cottom writes about the modern black woman's experience with topics ranging from race, beauty, money and more.
When I say I'm lucky as hell to have grabbed this book when I did!!! I was number four on the list and since checking today, there are 29 others with the book on hold and the library only has four copies...Something urged me to be one of the first because the demand for it would grow. After reading another essay collection last year, I was inspired to give another one a try and believe that it won't disappoint. I do intend for this to be the next review I do for PTW.
The Plotters by Ŏn-su Kim
Assassination is all Reseng knows it's the world he's grown up in since he could remember. But in this world, you never question who you get your demands from. When he uncovers a scheme involving three women, he finally determines if he'll continue be a pawn or take matters into his own hands risking his life.
I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS BOOK SINCE LAST MONTH. [Puh-lease insert eyerolling emoji] The library has a habit of saying titles are available but they're actually still being acquired and then for a city as big as Philadelphia, it still takes a minute to receive it. That was a case for this one. Since this is what I'm currently reading, I will praise it for the plot and how interesting Kim's writing style is. I'd usually say such word heavy language would bore me, but in this case it'd pulled me in. (Possible book review?)
Here and Now and Then by Mike Chen
Kin Stuart is living a double life. He's a time traveling secret agent from the future. After being stranded in 1990s, the rescue team arrives 18 years too late. Now he must try to manage the life he's built for the past 2 decades and the one he left behind 2 decades ago, including his daughter Miranda. He must travel across two time periods in order to save her very existence.
I wouldn't even say a book like this is a genre I'd read, but I can't imagine a title like this. Like the previous, the plot is what drew me in. I believe that the emotional bond between father and daughter is what will make this book stand out. A parent's love can cross multiple genres no matter the circumstances.
Confessions by Kanae Minato
A middle school teacher exacts her revenge on the class that killed her daughter by exposing their malicious deeds during the last class period before her resignation.
Does the author sound familiar? If so, I read her other book, Penance last year. Minato's ability to shift character perspectives and deliver heart-stopping twists and turns made it a hidden gem I didn't mention much about. This month I do want to write a review about this book because I have such high expectations for it. I did hear that it is a movie and may consider viewing it after I've read the novel.
How am I going to manage four titles and reviews? With discipline. I know I mentioned it quite a bit last year, but this is a good time to remind myself of the goals I've set and the expectations I've provided for myself. I've also been considering dabbling in audiobooks. In the case of Confessions, I've been waiting over 3 weeks for it and my patience is wearing thin, especially when I'm the only one waiting on a copy and it's been in transit so long.
Honestly, I've never considered it real reading when you listen to someone speak instead of physically flipping pages, but in a situation where I'm swamped with books, an audiobook might offer relief. I can listen anywhere anytime and don't have to worry about damage fees. I'm still on the fence about it, but it may be a change I make in the future.
There was a lot to discuss this month, but most importantly, I'm glad to be back sharing what made me start this blog- books. If you're the type to plan out books in advance like me, good luck! And if you just wing it, I hope you find some amazing titles this month!
Day 74 of January and it's finally time to say goodbye to the first month of the year. Cold weather made sure I kept my behind in long enough to complete what was expected of me and it's time to discuss with you all.
The most unexpected turn swerved into this organized writing. Remember when I spent the first week working on Elliot and Constance?
Despite the short-lived goal, both of them were introduced to new situations and revealed more complexities of themselves. Elliot's softer side was displayed during the cleanup after a hurricane when he came to the aid of an unlikely person. His partner, Rashida, discovered how much of an impact he made in her life during an extended absence. Constance admitted a decade old secret that threatened the very foundation of his marriage. Though I didn't spend as much time as I expected, I learned more about both of them than I had in months.
The course of the month was altered in the middle by a single image. On the sixteenth I came across artwork that produced a short paragraph of an idea that blended elements of Inuyasha and my own. A day later I chanced upon TerraTerra's Instagram and saw so many black fantasy pieces. Black witches, goddesses and so many more!
I knew I couldn't just admire the artwork, so for a week I picked one piece each day and wrote took a 45 minute period to focus on a piece of writing about her. To see black bodies in more magical themes had me in love. I occasionally read the genre but wasn't accustomed to it. The struggle only made me want to do these amazing characters justice with my writing. I enjoyed it so much that I bypassed the doubt I experienced when considering uploading my original work online. Now that I've gotten past the initial uneasiness, I know it''ll be easier to share my work as the year continues.
Lastly, things will change slightly by the next writing month. While I appreciate the contents and mission of GoScribbler, the price isn't doing it for me. After doing the unboxing and using the writing ideas notebook for a week, the items have collected dust. It sucks because the box that gets shipped out next month is focused on writing suspense. However they have an online store that sells past reading passports and other writerly materials individually. In March I''ll be unboxing a passport of my choice and an item or two from the store. With more control over what I receive, I'll be able too use the materials more to my benefit. Since making this change I've been more excited to get back to another month of working on writing. Additionally, a friend of mine has offered to coauthor an idea I drafted this month in order to keep me writing. She's a damn good writer, therefore, it'll encourage me to produce satisfactory content to work with.
Because I waited till the last minute to write this, you'll be getting back to back posts! Hold Digging is currently loading and I look forward to reintroducing reads that the library is finally getting and can't wait to get back to writing reviews. Until then, for my writers, I hope you reached or made made strides to your writing goals this month. For my readers, I hope your first TBR pile was completed or that you've made a dent in your 2019 reading challenges!
I am a reader before I am a writer, but before all, I am a creative.
This is the first of six writing months. I am still inspired by the cliche line to write the stories you want to read. I became an example of that quote in high school when I was assigned to read The Book Thief. Like any high schooler, I procrastinated until the end of my summer bliss on the 500+ page novel and later regretted whizzing past a main character who would become the inspiration for my own. I don't consider myself a dark person, but I do take interest in the darker things, but the idea of death never became an ideal choice until it narrated a book. Death as a tangible object or a being. Years later I'd create my first character, Constance and sprinkle in the realm of ghosts. And years after that, I'd marry the two ideas to usher in the underworld of grim reapers for my second character, Elliot.
When I think of the most memorable titles from last year, what resonates more than the stories are the characters that lead them. My heart ached for Eamon as he prepared a series of letters for his wife and unborn child, unaware fate had a different plan in Whiskey & Ribbons. I argued with Celestial and begged Roy to find love elsewhere as I read An American Marriage. Leigh's own perseverance despite losing her mother in The Astonishing Color of After pushed me through my own internal struggles after losing an uncle. Throughout Children of Blood and Bone I cheered Zélie on as she risked her life to bring down a kingdom. All of their authors constructed characters that felt so real, no matter the genre. The back of a book will tell you what you need to know about the plot, but those who drive it can only be rightfully conveyed through the pages within.
A story is nothing without its characters, but a character is a turn-off without a few complexities. Move aside, perfect Mary and Gary Sues and give me something more than just a blank void, Jane and John Does. Internal thoughts and quirks are fundamental to adding dimension to an otherwise flat character. Character development is crucial by the end of any story. A fan of foreign film, I recently introduced myself to the world of K-Dramas and with any movie or show, I spend time critiquing the progression of the storyline. In Black, the main character is a cold and callous grim reaper who, by the end of the series, suffers the ultimate punishment for the crime he committed on Earth just to change the life of the woman he fell in love with for the better. The drastic decision wasn't made overnight. Trials and tribulations awaited him and tested his relationship along 18 episodes before he made the ultimate sacrifice. Not every obstacle has to be of catastrophic proportions. Some can just chip away at the surface, as long as that character has the potential to lose something and comes out changed in someway after toughing through, it can be a success.
The GoScribbler box I received a two weeks back has characters as its theme and offers some goods that will help guide me through this month and the many more ahead. Inside is:
Hunting Annabelle by Wendy Heard
Characters Writing Passport
an invitation to chat with the editorial director at Mira Books
Complete the Story notebook
an inside look at Wendy Heard's publishing process
a planner
a pin
word count stickers
My favorite items include the passport and notebook. To have a 23 page summary of what makes characters so important packed into a travel sized reminder is perfect to return to when I need the extra confidence boost. The notebook is full of story starters that can become longer works with the right creative mindset. I appreciate the 100+ prompts that cover any and everything because it can prove beneficial on the days I swear I'm suffering from writer's block.
I am thankful the chat invite is for 7PM during a weekday because it takes into consideration not all of us, like myself, work the oh-so convenience of a 9-5 or have quick enough commutes that would get us home in time for a midday or early evening chat. The virtual chat allows me to join from my phone as I await the final children being picked up or during my commute home on the bus or sub. The inside look can also be beneficial to later on in life, as I may have mentioned here previously that I want to pursue a Masters in publishing. The more information I gather, the better.
I've got two goals this month-- to establish goals and create complexities within Elliot and Constance. Of the two, Elliot is more of a work in progress. Quite a bit is already fleshed out for Constance, but he's always available for improvement after six and a half years. I will do my best to balance lighter and darker prompts since the topic of death can already be heavy enough and even they must smile at some point. I don't have much of a plan towards where the next 22 days will take me, but I am sure it will be promising.
If you went out like me, I hope you take the day to recuperate before work or school 'cause I'm sure we're all looking a lil busted today. If you didn't, I'm glad you welcomed in the year safely.
With the help of a planner and supplemental pages found online, I intend to make this year for this blog the most meaningful. In addition, my Goodreads challenge has nearly doubled to 30. I was one shy of 25 so I figured why not make a real challenge since I saw what reading I was capable of with working full time and managing the site. I'll be allowing myself to read older publications, but I'm still reading 2019 titles each month too. Before I introduce them, I just want you to know that just because it's a new year, you don't have to set goals now. You can set a goal to accomplish at anytime of the year, so never feel obligated to do what society has marked as a reset date.
An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
* Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study for a quick and easy cash payout, however she becomes the victim of an obsessed and manipulative psychiatrist.
The Plotters by Un-su Kim
* Reseng is one of Seoul's top hitmen until he takes pity on a target and then find himself a target in the organized crime world he comes from.
Confessions by Kanae Minato
* A teacher is traumatized by a tragedy that befalls a middle school and she offers her resignation, but not before she gets her revenge on the student body that is to blame.
You won't find my thoughts on the picks here, instead they'll be posted to Instagram. I didn't intend to start the year off so dark...yet here we are.
The most important feature this month is the creative writing focus. I was semi-transparent with you in November when I participated in NaNoWriMo, but I want to make that part of journey more visible this year. Every writing month is based off of the previous month's GoScribbler box and they started me off with my favorite part of writing -- characters. I'm the queen of creating characters and scenarios scenarios and never writing them down. I've got two OCs I've held onto dearly for years. The first is Constance Faye. Sometimes he's a medical examiner and other times he's a funeral director who's widowed and communicates with spirits. The other is Elliot Roman Crow, a Southern slick-mouthed grim reaper or liquor store owner prone to possessions and is haunted by an entity that destroyed his childhood.
Because Elliot's character is 2 years old, he garners attention than Constance, who I've carried for almost 5. I want to equally split my writing between the two in order to get reacquainted with my first because there'd be no Elliot without Constance. In the days leading up to the new year, I had three where I wrote down scenes involving Elliot, so I better bring that same energy into writing these next 31 days! I take the easy way out and always place the two in scenarios where I know how they'll react so I’ll be challenging myself to create unexpected events to bring new complexities to their characters.
A long term goal is to find a plot somewhere in my writing to ultimately lay the foundation for a novel. During these odd numbered months I want to establish and nurture the confidence needed to do such a thing. I've amassed 3 notebooks just for this year. One for writing these posts, one for my random writing bursts and one for when I finally begin a writing project. Also during these months I'll share at least one small piece of my writing with the community on Instagram, so I need to write and polish something decent enough to be seen by others.
Next week we'll take a late look into my GoScribbler box, but until then I hope you've found some good books to start your year off with, drafted up an idea that you're ready to write about or accepted resolutions you're ready to take on. I can't wait to see what we all accomplish in the next 12 months!
