Month: April 2019

It’s been one of those weeks where I’ve had more obligations to attend to than actual time. In the midst of all of this, I’ve had sick kids, work deadlines, and a wedding anniversary to celebrate. (Ten years. Hooray to us. We like each other as much as we love each other and to be honest … I’ve always thought that there are people you are obligated to love. Hence, I’m grateful for the depth of affection I have for my husband, but I’m also gratified that even after 20+ years of knowing each other we haven’t run out of things to talk about and that I’d rather spend time with him than anyone else. And PS – he’s hot.)

Fiction takes a back burner on weeks like these. That and I have to write notes to myself with “stretch goals”. (And trust me – these are mundane. Things like “remember to take your noon vitamins!” and “finish reading and reviewing [insert book title here].”)

Here’s what’s new in links this week:

I’m still a sucker for productivity articles.  This was a decent one.

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I don’t really have anything new on the Listening and Reading fronts this week.  Unless you count this recent acquisition:

Writing Life: Slow, but meaningful progress.  I’ve also been knee deep in planning efforts for a couple Mystery Writers of America-Midwest initiatives – the MWA-Midwest Critique Program and the upcoming Wordplay festival!

Happy Friday!  Make it a good one.

– Shelley

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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.

So, we *had* a brief taste of spring in my corner of Minnesota.  But also this week, we had snow, followed by sleet, followed by thunder sleet.  Yeah.  The weather isn’t certain what it’s doing, but come this time next week – the recent white stuff that’s been dumped on my yard will likely be gone.

This was an interesting article by The Guardian in the UK about the romance industry’s problem with diversity.  It’s a long read, but it’s a good one and is probably just as pertinent to the mystery genre as it is our bodice-ripping brethren.

Split Rock and its lighthouse is an iconic spot in Minnesota and its current keeper is stepping down after 36 years of service.

And who knew that catering was such a cutthroat industry?  A great piece by the New York Times.

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Watching: Caught up on “Riverdale.”  (And yes, still mourning Fred Andrews.)  And almost done with Season 2 of “The Crown.”  (<– I am nothing if not behind on trends.)

Reading: Still reading Layne Fargo’s “Temper” and April Henry’s “Blood Will Tell.” I can tell why Fargo’s book has received so much advanced buzz.

Writing Life: Good things are happening.  Even if my kids were home yesterday on a mid-April snow day. 🙂

Happy Friday!  Make it a good one.

– Shelley

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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.

I didn’t *mean* to take a month off from blogging, but it happened – so I’m glad to be back and glad to share some links with you.

In no particular order, a couple author friends of mine recently release books.  I cannot wait to read Meg Hafdahl‘s “Daughters of Darkness” and K. Bird Lincoln‘s “Last Dream of Her Mortal Soul.”

This obituary won the Internet.

I am obsessed with reading up on the daily routines of creative types.  This piece about the daily rituals of artists like Joan Didion and Patti Smith did not disappoint.

I’m fairly obsessed with the Instagram feed and blog for Shutterbean.  I also recently made this recipe for Creamy Sausage Mushroom Pasta and it’s a winner.

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Listening: Spotify has been my go-to lately for streaming music.  And I was thrilled to find the 90s Pop Rock Essentials playlist.  Good. Times.

Reading: I had the opportunity to go the Murder & Mayhem in Chicago at the end of March and came home with more for my TBR pile:

Otherwise, I’m reading Layne Fargo’s “Temper” and April Henry’s “Blood Will Tell.”  I also finally finished Gillian Flynn’s “Sharp Objects” and whoa … that was amazing.  If you’re interested in what I’m reading, read, etc., you can follow me on Goodreads.

Writing Life: Very good.  Great progress on a project I’m working on with some friends and steady progress on Dragonfly.

Happy springtime friends!

– Shelley

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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.