I’m actually finishing this up the morning that I need to hit “Publish,” so you’re gonna have less of my random thought process and more of what I’m reading, what’s in my ears, and writing progress:
Recent Reads: My reading progress is woefully out of sync with the piles of books in my household, the books that come in from my local library, books that friends are releasing … you get the picture.
I am fairly late to the audiobook era. Or maybe I shouldn’t say that I’m *late*. Early in my adulthood, I found a, like, 16-cassette recording of THE HOBBIT and followed it up with other books I thought would be listenable. (Listening to Louis L’Amour on tape is actually fun too.)
My library makes it easy to download audiobooks from the Libby app. So the other day when I was driving up to the Twin Cities, I decided to start listening to Robin Wall Kimmerer’s BRAIDING SWEETGRASS. And at first, I got a little scared – Kimmerer narrates her book and her voice is kindness personified and is like a warm mug of tea.
In short, I was worried that she’d lull me to sleep on the road. But that wasn’t the case. The book is incredible.
I’m also reading a non-fiction by Kathleen Hale about the SLENDERMAN case. It’s definitely a page turner and I think I’m going to be haunted about mentally ill youth in the criminal justice system for awhile to come after I finish this.
And ….! I actually finished a couple books recently: Jason Powell’s ANY MAN’S GHOST and Kathleen Donnelly’s HUNTING THE TRUTH. Powell’s book was a debut novel and draws heavily upon his own experience as a firefighter with the New York Fire Department. His debut shows great promise. And Kathleen Donnelly? She’s my buddy – I love her and I loved HUNTING. Her next book in the series comes out in March and it’s already pre-ordered. 🙂
Listening: I had the absolute joy of going to see Ray LaMontagne up at the State Theatre on October 1st. Ray’s been a long time musical love of mine and to be able to see him in concert was sublime. Especially considering that there was a brief moment where I was like … do I *really* want to navigate the mess of Highway 52 to get up to the Cities and then have to drive home in the dark?
But Minneapolis is purty. Going to a concert and listening to Ray was incredible. And hilariously … I was sitting next to three other people who were also attending the concert solo. I have never experienced that and it was kinda fun. (One of the women barely KNEW LaMontagne’s music. She had just heard one of his songs on a TV show and got a ticket. I admired the hell out of that.)
Writing Life: One of my internet friends posted a status update on Facebook the other day asking about the 5 AM writers club. (Google it. It’s pretty self-explanatory.) Anyway, I respect the hell out of Rusty Barnes (publisher and founder of Tough Crime). And although we’re in separate time zones, I send him a note when I start working at 5 AM (6 on the east coast) and check in. We haven’t been doing this very long, but I like the accountability. I’m still on track to submit a short story for consideration for the Nashville Bouchercon anthology. I also discovered a different short story I had shelved, but I feel like it has potential and I’ve enjoyed polishing it again.
It FINALLY feels like fall outside! Go cuddle under a warm blanket and break out the sweaters. It is our SEASON.
– Shelley
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What is First Friday? This started originally as “Friday Fare” where I posted a hodgepodge of links and some of the things that were living rent-free in my noggin. This is a monthly version of that.
michellekubitz 