News & Events
Books
Thank you for continuing to give love to Healing Crystals. This collection is only in Kindle Unlimited for another month, so if you have a subscription, now is the time to read a story or two. I’m not sure if the audiobook version will disappear once I remove Healing Crystals from KU, as I could only create it because it was in KU. If you prefer audio and have Audible, put this in your queue for September!
For those who have read the book already, I’d appreciate a rating and review on Goodreads or Amazon. I’m aiming for five new reviews this month - can you help me get there?
Upcoming Events
August 23rd - Elmhurst Local Author Fair from 10 am to 1pm. This is will be the first time I’ll have physical copies of Healing Crystals. I love them so much.
Oct 5th - Gail Borden Author Fair from 2 to 4pm. This is a little farther than I usually travel, so hopefully I get to meet some new faces!
Gwen’s Writing Gossip
In case you missed it, the new Chicago’s Grimm story came out in the past month. Based on Rumpelstiltskin, this story was big enough I released it in two parts so make sure you read both. I’ve also submitted a short story for an anthology open call I’m really, really hoping I’m accepted it. And I’ve had an agent get back to me about The Adventure List, waiting to hear more! So much of late July/early August was pushing through and finishing a bunch of little projects, and now I’m light on writing but heavy on taking the time to recharge by reading and watching movies. You can’t go all the time, and I often find myself inspired by other stories.
I’m totally blaming the need for ‘inspiration’ and ‘research’ for why one of my bookshelves now has a stack of books on it, blocking the titles behind it. I might have to weed my shelves again - or just read my physical books faster instead of using the library so much. Especially as my reading time will decline as Fall comes in,
will be waking up in September!Personally, I’ve been trying to enjoy the end of summer. My camping trip🔖 was a delight, mainly because of how unexpectedly charming Galena was and how chatty the guy at the old blacksmith shop was. Ever since I’d spent a few shifts working at the Mackinac Island historical blacksmith shop during a college job up there, I’ve been fascinated by the craft. 🔖
My bookclub also met, and it’s always so interesting to see people’s reactions to a book. I might have been the odd one out this month, not being frustrated like others. I’m also hoping for at least one more good summer storm. The past few have been late at night/early morning, so I didn’t get a chance to watch the lightening strikes.
Media Recommendations
Apothecary Diaries by Natsu Hyuuga
The Apothecary Diaries took me by storm. I watched the entire first season on Netflix in a day, and then realized Hoopla had the light novels. While I’m only on novel 4 (there’s 16 and it’s ongoing), I’m so charmed by it.
It stars Maomao, a maid in the rear palace who uses her herb lore and deduction to solve mysteries that threaten the royal family in a very Sherlock Holmes fashion. Her Watson, if you will, is Jinshi, a eunuch who oversees the rear palace struggling to not fall in love with her while hiding his lineage (and the fact he’s not actually a eunuch.)
I will admit I found the anime more accessible - the light novels took me longer to get into because they’re so different than what I currently read and I’m not certain if it’s a translation problem, the culture of light novels, or the narrator voice. It reminds me of early YA/kidslit from the 80s in that there’s a lot of reading between the lines that you have to do. It stretches my critical thinking skills, which I appreciate, but I know that’s not the current style.
Loveless by Alice Oseman
Loveless was my Ace Bookclub read and I adored it. It’s about Georgia’s attempts to find romance in university, but as hard as she tries she just can’t get it. It’s ultimately because she’s asexual, and I love how this book didn’t stop at that realization but continued on to talk about the acceptance of the term and what that means for Georgia’s future life. For a lot of queer folk, realizing you’re queer is just the start. How do you be queer? Incorporate it into your life? Be a part of the community? Especially if you’re aro ace like Georgia, and society’s standards are not aligned to your wants.
This book made me feel seen, so much was relatable, and I’m glad the Georgia’s roommate also had a sex-adjacent discovery (namely that she’d been using empty sex as a coping strategy that wasn’t really working) because it gave the book a more rounded theme of intimacy - love, friendship, emotional connection. It happens in so many ways.
What book have you read recently that focused on non-romantic relationships?
So glad I got the Healing Crystals anthology. See my review.