What is Friday Fare? As a recap, on Fridays I post link love to the various bits of arcane shiz I discover on the Interwebs. I liken it to a glimpse into my mind, but without the 80s song lyrics or mental cobwebs.
My eldest child was already picking some “dandi-flowers” on the way to school this AM, so I think it’s time to change up the banner on ye ‘ol Friday Fare.
I’m an ex-journalist and as a mentor once told me, it’s important to fact check EVERYTHING. Even the claim that your mother loves you. Pro tip? Using Wikipedia is NOT the same thing as using a reputable source for fact checking. Don’t believe me? See here.
I’ve got a bunch of big love in my heart for Sturgill Simpson. And I also understand the angst that comes with being a writer. Reading this article by Leesa Cross-Smith was a treat as it combines the aforementioned. (PS – Oxford American is probably one of my favorite online reading spots these days. I don’t read them all the time, but they have some fine contributors.)
Career Authors has become one of my FAVORITE writing spots on the Interwebs. It features contributors who are luminaries in the mystery world like Hank Phillipi Ryan, Paula Munier, and more. They recently ran a post by Jenny Milchman that talked about the difficulties of balancing family and the writing life. And I thought back to the day that I left for Killer Nashville. My in-laws agreed to watch my kiddos until my husband joined them for the weekend and instead of leaving to hugs and well wishes, I was nearly in tears because my youngest son decided to start projectile vomiting as I was preparing to continue my southern road trip. It was a rough mom-ing moment in my life. (And I should add … youngest was fine. My husband brought his mom a bouquet of flowers. And I got first runner-up for the Claymore Award. I like to think that there’s been no lasting damage.)
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Listening: Last week, I talked about my trio of awesome concert experience and shared that I saw Willie Watson at the Cavalier Theater in LaCrosse. I’ve had this song on near constant repeat since then. (And bonus … my eldest also knows the words, which makes us folk geeks. Or adorable. You pick.)
Reading: I just finished Kathryn Lane’s “Waking Up in Medellin.” Ms. Lane won Killer Nashville’s Silver Falchion in 2017 for this book. And it’s good, Lane writes amazing actions scenes. There were a couple parts of the book that I couldn’t suspend my disbelief on. (i.e. – I rooted for the romantic pairing, but didn’t think that the main character would be getting it on while her life was in peril. But hey … I could be wrong.)
I have a heart full of congrats and excitement for the next book on my list. My dear, dear friend Emily Allen West has a novella out with a bunch of other writers. “Of Beasts and Beauties” is next on my Kindle.
Writing Life: Writing is a marathon, not a sprint and I’m still wogging (walk/jogging) along. I have Sunday to myself since I’m solo parenting this Saturday and I’m looking forward to figuring out what the hell is wrong with the last half of my book.
May your coffee be hot and your lawn not totally full of dandi-flowers.
– Shelley
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