• Book Review

    Six of Crows Duology Review

    One of my new favorite authors is Leigh Bardugo. I enjoyed her Shadow and Bone  Trilogy a couple years ago, but had not read the duology set in the same Grishaverse until this year. Big Mistake on my part, as these books are both highly entertaining and really well crafted.  The Quick and the Dirty:  Spoiler Free Short Reviews Six of Crows      5 Stars I have had this book on my shelf for a while *cough years cough* and I am a bit embarrassed about it now. If I had known how amazing it is, I would have delved into it immediately!  Set in the time after the Shadow…

  • Creative,  Inspiration

    The Hardest Easy Task

    The hardest part of writing is sitting down to do it. The second is actually writing once I have sat down to write.  I sit down to write and realize that I have forgotten something to drink. If I don’t have something, I will just be getting up in 10 minute to get it so I might as well do it before I start. Don’t want it to interrupt a moment of flow. I also need my lap blanket. Oh, and a snack. But look! I should check for that email I’ve been waiting for while I’m here. Instagram is showing me notifications, I should engage with my friends and…

  • Inspiration,  Memoir

    My Story of Stories

    The first time I read a book completely by myself I was 5 years old. I still vividly remember sitting on the couch of my oldest sister’s house, reading Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess to her. Pride filled me when I finished–I had done it! By myself! Rushing into the kitchen I told my parents.  Laughing, they congratulated me. “Are you sure you read it? Or did you just have it memorized from making your sister read it to you a thousand times.”    I was deeply offended by this accusation that I had ‘cheated’ in reading a book by myself for the very first time–with all the…

  • Creative,  Inspiration

    Tricking Yourself into Joy

    Have you ever had to trick yourself into trying something?  Maybe you had to trick yourself into learning Ballet as an adult. ‘I’ll just do it for the exercise, you think. Barre really tones your muscles.    Or maybe you picked up painting or the violin or figure skating.  And you gave yourself all the adult reasons you should do it.  Stress relief Relaxation Exercise Keeping Neural Plasticity.    Maybe you’re like me. Because that’s what I had to do with writing. I’ll just do it for fun, I thought. Stress relief. Process all those emotions. It’ll really help my anxiety if I give my imagination something to work on…

  • Book Review

    Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood Review

    Sarah J Maas has been an auto-buy author for me since I fell hard for Rhys in A Court of Mist and Fury. So when I heard about her new series, Crescent City, I knew I was going to buy it, no questions asked. Was I bitter a little bit that it wasn’t the next ACOTAR installment featuring Cassian and Nesta? Maybe. A little bit. But I trust the Queen to know her business and to tell me a good story. So I dove into House of Earth and Blood shortly after receiving it. First Impressions: This book was definitely a surprise. Adult fantasy? Awesome. Take off those restraints SJM,…

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