Author: Michelle Kubitz

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.

Rabbit, rabbit!

It is SEPTEMBER and I’ve already had my first pumpkin spice latte. It’s like I told my social media audience, my feeling for PSL reflects what I think for McDonalds’ Shamrock Shake. I need just once a year. So back to Americanos, I go, because I scratched the PSL itch.

I am sitting in a coffee shop with two of my dear friends while I’m writing this. Meg Hafdahl (and her co-author, Kelly Florence) has a book coming out on September 5^th. I actually acquired a copy of THE SCIENCE OF AGATHA CHRISTIE at a local author’s event in my hometown and cannot WAIT to read it. J. Lynn Else is the other author I’m with – she is one hell of a good author and has her first children’s book coming out in the near future. To be in the company of these darlings made for a good writing session.

Talking with them reminded me what I wanted to share with you!  I read this fantastic article about Annette Bening last month and was reminded why I think she’s a national treasure.

I also cannot believe that I forgot to tell you about the audiobook I’ve been listening to lately. Dave Grohl’s The Storyteller. It’s a collection of essays about his life and some of the adventures had while drumming for Nirvana and leading the Foo Fighters. The best part? Grohl is narrating his audiobook, so you’re getting the story straight from his mouth. There’s a part of me that I want to have my kids listen to this book, but there’s a lot of language in it. I may wait a year or two.

Finally, this recipe is one that’s been in frequent rotation in my house. Three out of my four family members eat it cheerfully, so the one who does not? He can make himself a peanut butter sandwich.

So here’s the news from me on my recent reads, what’s in my ears (other than Dave Grohl), and writing progress:

Recent Reads: So, the book I was talking about the last time I wrote is called “The Lazy Genius Way” by Kendra Adachi. I will say that this feels geared more towards the feminine gender and definitely has a Christian bent to it, but it was a good read for this agnostic.

Listening: I am still on my Monkees kick, but have been drifting back to my first love over the past few weeks as I’ve been working on a bunch of different projects. And I’ve been waking up at 4 in the morning with this song in my head. (And to be clear, it’s the Little Feat version, not the Ronstadt version. Ronstadt is absolutely golden and slays the song, but Lowell George’s voice sings to me when I wake in the early morning and his pragmatic voice becomes an ear worm that does not go away until I’ve had my first cup of coffee.)

Writing Life: I’m not gonna lie, I’m having some FOMO this week. Most of my mystery writing friends are in San Diego for the 2023 Bouchercon conference. I love the pictures I’m seeing of my friends boarding their flights for California, taking selfies after successful panel appearances. But, this is not the season for me to attend. I’ll be ready to join them next year in Nashville for the 2024 conference. I am working on a short story submission for next year’s anthology. Fingers crossed that it lands.

Happy almost fall!
– 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.

Oh intentions! As per my usual, I am living life at full tilt with about a dozen irons in the fire. And they are all GOOD intentions. But sometimes they get in the way of things like blogging.

Summer is almost over. I will not sugar coat that. There are people out in the world who schedule and plan legitimate vacations. I don’t know if it’s my “farmer’s daughter” DNA or what, but I am not that person? My kids have had halcyon days of summer camps. We saw some of our beloved cousins. We’re gonna go fishing with my father, but yeah … summer vacations. This is a perpetual work-in-progress, I guess. I’m just glad to give my kids the lazy days of summer. I’m grateful for the time I get to spend with my kids and my partner. We’re far from perfect, but we just genuinely hold each other in care, love, and joy. So not perfect – too much caffeine (for the mom & eldest child of the quartet). We’re heading into the “is that a dead animal or boy scent” time of our years together. We maybe rely on Discord too much to communicate, but gosh – this is a great time in my life as a mom.

This is balanced by my reality that I miss my own mom daily, but there are beautiful moments amongst grief and … well, #allthethings

Here’s the news from me on my recent reads, what I’m watching, and writing progress:

Listening: On the musical front, I have a few things going … first – I’m a lifelong fan of The Monkees. In fact, I had the absolute HONOR of seeing Papa Mike Nesmith in the January before he left this earth for whatever stardust he is now inhabiting. So imagine my pleasure and joy in finding out that The Monkees make for good “work” music. Don’t believe me? Open up a PowerPoint and queue up some classic Monkees. I guarantee 110% more joy, if not a kick in the pants when it comes to productivity. I don’t guarantee the same for spreadsheets, but I could be wrong. (Or terrible at Excel. Either is plausible.) If you Spotify, search up The Monkees and find whatever playlist is sanctioned by the band. It is really good and is like an audio bowl of mashed potatoes with ham gravy. Absolute comfort.

Just this week, I traveled to see another musical hero and attended a concert with one of my dearest friends in the universe. We saw The Wallflowers at the Barrymore Theatre in Madison, Wisconsin. The Barrymore is a sweet little theater and I will not be sad if I traverse to Madison again to catch a show there. The venue has a great amount of charm. This is the second time I’ve seen The Wallflowers and I am a fan of their earlier recordings. My highlight of the evening was the opening act – this uh-mazing troubadour named Will Dailey.

Recent Reads: I am READING again! Thank you, goddess. And I am grateful for THE DRY by Jane Harper, which has already been turned into a movie, but is perfect for … well. Any time.

I am currently reading a couple of other books that are of the “head shrinking” variety. One is about the “anatomy of a breakthrough” by Adam Alter and it’s good in a very cerebral way. The other is something about a “lazy genius way” about doing things. This reformed Protestant/confirmed agnostic struggles a bit with some of the more religious stuff, but the overall message is a good one and appropriate for my season of grief.

Watching: I’m still working on SUCCESSION. Do not doubt by my pace that this show is not AMAZING. It’s just that it *is* full of language and I have impressionable children.

In the meantime, hubs and I have been working on ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING. (We’re still on szn 1 ... judge us!) And I watched RONIN the other night, which just assured me how good 1990s schlock is.

But … holy Hannah – how can I forget this? I did the #BARBENHEIMER! This is where I watched Oppenheimer AND Barbie in one day.

I enjoyed both movies incredibly. BARBIE is the movie I will see again. Watch OPPENHEIMER for the bragging rights. Watch BARBIE for … well. #allthethings

Writing Life: *whispering* I’m working on a couple of short stories and trying to get my head around my current WIP. Don’t tread too loudly in case you startle the lady behind the curtain.

Phew. I’m sorry that this has taken the third Friday for me to say “hello” and wish you all the good things in the world. But … if you are reading this, I hope that you are well.

– 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.

It’s JU-LY! Time in the Midwest for sweet corn, mosquitoes the size of your thumbnail, humidity that causes tomatoes to grow, and in my family – endless camps to drive to, birthdays (for moi and some of my dearest friends), and that feeling that although it’s still summer vacation – the end is coming up too fast for my liking.

Here’s the news from me on my recent reads, what I’m watching, and writing progress:

Recent Reads: Here’s a couple of articles for your reading pleasure:

• Harrison Ford … I love him.
• Over the past few years, I’ve tried to be one of those writers who gets up at 5 AM and tries to get some words down on the page while my head is fresh (and before the coffee has even brewed.) I have also tried to get up early in the morning to bike, walk, work out, whatever. Apparently, my mind and body really like sleeping until about 6:14 AM and then my morning routine. And then work. And then when do I have time to write or work out or … Anyway, I thought this was an interesting article on how to train your brain to achieve a good morning flow.

My reading world has been a little bit of famine lately. Not for lack of good books out there, but my concentration is not what I wish it was when it comes to reading. I don’t know if this is the result of grief brain or what, but I’ve been thinking about trying to jumpstart my reading life by revisiting an old favorite.

Watching: I’m still working on SUCCESSION and my BOARDWALK EMPIRE rewatch. In the meantime, it’s now time for STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS. SNW = date night in my household.

Writing Life: During the tail end of June, I participated in Jami Attenberg’s 1,000 Words of Summer. I don’t know how many years I’ve been doing this, but it’s exactly what it sounds like – you write 1,000 words a day and you’re part of a larger community who talks about their progress using the 1,000 words hashtag. And during this time, Attenberg sends out a daily newsletter that always starts out with these words: Today you will write 1,000 words. It’s a magical mantra.  SPOILER ALERT: I didn’t always hit my 1,000 words. But it was a nice way to touch my WIP every day, even when some of my words were just meandering thoughts on the page.

Happy July!  Be careful with your appendages!

– 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.

It’s not a stretch or an exaggeration to say that I am a different person from the last time I wrote a blog post. I’m still a chonk, I’m still right handed, my hair is it’s very own version of chaos that I’m wise enough (in my 40s) to ignore and let do it’s own … thing. I’ll go into more details about this 2023 version of me below, but first some housekeeping:

First … HELLO!  I hope that this finds you well.  I cannot say that I’ve missed you, because I am in contact with most of the people who read my blog. But if you’re a casual reader or someone who clicks because I show up in some RSS feed of yours – hello.

Second … weekly blogging?  Some people are really good at that. I enjoyed it for the years that I did it. But I had a thought the other day and that was – why not just do a monthly recap of what you’re reading, what’s pinging around in your head, etc. It’s probably a lot like its predecessor FRIDAY FARE, but it’ll publish on the first Friday of every month.

So here’s the news from me on my recent reads, what I’m watching, and writing progress:

Recent Reads: I finished COTTONMOUTHS by Kelly J. Ford and that was visceral. A couple other links I’d encourage you to explore are two from Paul J. Garth. First off, Garth’s story THE COLOR OF BONES was recently published by the Reckon Review. In and of itself, the story was fantastic. Then over on the DO SOME DAMAGE blog, Garth goes into the backstory of the story’s long genesis and journey. Given the gestation period of some of my stories, I really appreciated this insight into the importance of finding the right home for our stories.

Watching: I’m just hopping on the SUCCESSION train, just in time for all of the trade articles and social media to give away the series finale. Oh well – my mind is a sieve, I’ll probably forget all of the things that I’ve sussed out by the time I get to the conclusion of the series.

And because life’s been hectic lately, I decided I wanted to rewatch BOARDWALK EMPIRE. I don’t know many people who watch something about a 1920s era bootlegger for a “comfort” watch, but I’m just going with it.

Writing Life: I am … more about some of the roadblocks below.

Happy Pride!
– Shelley

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So … under normal circumstances, First Friday would end there. And if you need a coffee break or your eyes are already glazed over – this is a good break point.

A verrrrry long story short – my mom died in April after a long illness. Anyone who’s been through the death of a parent has an inkling of what this feels like, even if it’s different for all of us. And for someone who makes a living writing words, I still lack the full vocabulary of how to express my loss.  In the simplest terms, I lost one of my biggest cheerleaders. And even if my mom didn’t fully understand the ins and outs of the writing world, she had an abundance of faith in my ability to string words together. That’s the professional side of things right there … closer to home, my boys have lost one of their beloved grandmothers, my husband has lost his mother-in-law, and instead of that original nuclear family of four – it’s now my grieving dad, my brother, and me with the shared experience of who we were. My mom left behind her baby sister, more relatives than can reasonably be listed, and many friends who adored her. She was also survived by two beloved aunties.

Here is what I know … my mom and I loved each other very much. We told each other this often. Because I think we both knew that time was going to be too short for our liking.

*Shrug.* This is the 2023 version of me. Still learning, still evolving. Still hopeful and outspoken. <– that’s the legacy that my mama left me. 🙂

Thanks for reading.

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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.