Month: September 2022

I’m getting ready to drive this weekend to officiate my niece’s wedding. My brother has five children and this is the second wedding I’ve performed for his progeny. Selfishly, I hope that I get to officiate all of their weddings, but time will tell. (And I would not be pissed at any of my remaining nephews if they decided to elope in Vegas, but if they do – it has to be by an Elvis impersonator.)

My niece is marrying one heck of a great guy and I’m excited to be part of their day.

Otherwise – work is getting back in the swing of things this week and I’m grateful, but also grateful that it was slow when I split focus and was working on Bouchercon.

So – nothing too new and cool on my radar screen, but I made this one-pot orzo dish from Half-Baked Harvest and while it was good, the leftovers were even better. I think this one is going to be a go-to in my repertoire.

Am Reading:

I really need to dedicate a post to the amazing books I read as part of my prep for Bouchercon 2022, but in an attempt to read more than I scroll on social media (and to reach my Goodreads goal of 50 books this years), here’s what I’ve downed lately:

SHUTTER by Ramona Emerson – holy hell that was a good book. David Heska Wanbli Weiden recommended it and I’m glad I picked it up.

KISMET by Amina Akhtar – Again … amazing.  Amina and I are social media friends and she’s wicked funny, wicked talented, and gives me makeup advice via DMs on Instagram. I adore her and this book set in the wellness communities of Arizona was a fast-paced, spooky read.

Currently reading – I feel like Bobby Mathews is my brother from another mother and I got to spend some time talking with him at Bouchercon. LIVING THE GIMMICK has been on my TBR list for awhile and now that I’m 5 chapters deep, I am pissed that I didn’t read it as soon as it came out.  Sincerely – it is an incredible murder mystery featuring the world of professional wrestling.

Watching:

Hubs and I started watching Andor. I don’t know what I enjoy more – the Star Wars canon or snoogling up to my partner and our cats.  Win, win in my book.

Am Writing:

I *am* writing! Last week I joined the ranks of the #5AMWritersClub, but wasn’t able to keep up the practice this week. BUT – Q4 of 2022 is coming up and since I’m weird and make quarterly plans for my work, fiction, and personal life, I have big schemes ahead of me.

Happiness!
– 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. Am. Back.

(Top Left: Julie Tollefson, myself, and Kathleen Donnelly. These women are just the greatest and are my very good friends. Top Right: Jessica Laine, Mindy Mejia, and I were recognized by the B’Con 2022 Local Operating Committee as Bouchercon “Superstars.” To say I was touched beyond belief to get this recognition is an understatement. Bottom Left: James D.F. Hannah, Christine Husom, and I exchanging a laugh at our panel “Small Town, Big Crime.” Bottom Right: My stellar panelists – Hannah, Husom, Laura McHugh, and Terry Shames.)

Bouchercon 2022 was a lot. So much, in fact, that I came down with what my friend Tony called the “BoucherCovid.” But that was my own damn fault. I spent a lot of time talking with people and masked intermittently. Lack of caution = a lost week where I spent a lot of time sleeping and became acquainted with paxlovid. Miracle drug, that, even if it left a really strange metallic taste in my mouth.

But other than that, I made new friends, I reconnected with existing friends, spent an amazing week with my mother-in-law, and just found myself recommitting to my creative life.

More soon – I just wanted to say hello and give a quick update.

– 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.