"I'm an author" means so many things: I'm a reader, writer, researcher, dreamer, experiencer, human being, etc.
I've written three full length novels and published two, but so much more happens behind the scenes too. What does my life look like for me to get to the fully written & published part?
It’s been a long time since I’ve written a substack, but as the Sunday Scaries set in, I want to take a break from all of the reading and writing I’ve been doing and splatter some words and pictures into a blog before I return to my 9-5 tomorrow along with all the adulting I’ve been forced to endure as of recently.
First and foremost- I’ve turned 34
Happy birthday to me! The older I get, the more boring birthdays become. I’m grateful for everything I still have and everything I’ve gained over the last few years. This year I was able to celebrate with my entire family along with my fiances entire family, and it made me so happy everyone wanted to be there!
My fav birthday present was a banner for my author events!
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My fiance surprised me with a giant banner (taller than me) that showcases both books I’ve published! I have an author expo happening this fall and it’s so perfect for it! I can’t wait to get a second one with my newest book (after it’s published) and a headshot.
If you liked Five Alive in the 90s-00s, try this $1.— juice from Walmart!
I don’t have much to add about this- I have nostalgia issues and this scratches that itch (or itches that scratch). If I’m in a depressy seshy this definitely helps!
My most recent read
I’m a sucker for Freida McFadden, and view reading her books as more of a game. I base how smart I feel that day on how fast I figured out the twist (or twists usually).
I will say if you don’t want to ruin anything, don’t even go ahead to read chapter titles toward the end because you WILL start trying to guess and have too much of a clue. Everytime I thought I had this one figured out, I got whiplash. I think at one point I had it predicted, and honestly sitting here thinking more about this I realize I just remembered ANOTHER thing that makes more sense now.
Main character Brooke is a single mom nurse with a ten year old son who decides to return to her hometown of Upstate NY Raker. The only job she can get is at the nearby prison, which makes her nervous because she was the victim of a crime- and her assailent is in that prison. She received the opportunity to move home after being banished by her parents ten years prior for being a teen mom because they died in a car accident and left her the house. She’s forced to face her past, the crimes committed against her, and the truth (including her own because she lies a lot) and it’s very confusing but great when tied up in the end. I have it a 4.5.
Current Reads
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I love nonfiction, but I need to read something else at the same time or it’s too dry. My recent nonfiction read was Columbine by Dave Cullen, which I found fascinating but I didn’t “know everything” yet so I was very invested.
With While Idaho Slept, I’m realizing I know a lot of it already because I covered this case closely at my former job as a reporter/journalist. I also don’t love the style it’s written in (but that doesn’t mean it’s bad or that others won’t like it). It’s very descriptive in a way that feels almost forced when describing the students who were killed and their lives they lived.
We Were Liars is something I’m going into totally blind but have read really great things about. It was one of many books I got from the Amazon book sale.
More writing
Don’t forget about my current books! Hometown Revenge: A Cruel Reckoning and 12,775 Days, both available on Amazon.