Reading Order will be switched Slightly

As I said in my last post of 2014, I’m going to be continuing on with the Afro-futurism challenge. However – literally yesterday I got loaned seven books. The people who loaned them to me are probably in no hurry to get them back – none of them are particularly thick, lots of YA – but I kind of feel obligated to at least start on some of them so I’ll probably finish Zoo City next week when I don’t feel so rushed. I did start Anna Karenina and Zoo City – but they’re mine and I’ll be getting back to them as soon as I make some headway on my pile. I read through a book by a local author, and I figured – hey, I’m basically resorting to shinnanigans to get taken seriously – why not review books to try to help out other authors? Particularly, ones by small presses and indie authors? I might take a day or two to write the review after reading the book.

Here’s my disclaimer: I like reviewing. I like discussion more. I know I’m essentially discussing by myself, but whatever. Don’t take my word as the ultimate viewpoint on anything. More than likely, I’m going to start reviewing, then talk mostly about a topic raised about the book. It’ll be more like special snowflake opinion rant then a proper book review. I can do a solid book review, and I’ll try to behave – but don’t hold your breath.

Anyway, now that I’ve read a few titles, here’s from the list:

Book that Contains Magic – Blade’s Edge by Virginia Mclain
Book by a Female Author – Clockwork Lies by Dru Dru Pagliassotti

Mental Health Break Update

So I mentioned in the last post that I was going to be off for a few days early January – long story short is that they shut down the high way on my first day off and I kept going in because, quite frankly, I knew it was a shot week and I’m a believer for when my family finally needs an ambulance, I want them to be fully stocked. I’m a 0.5, so I’m one of the first who gets called for sick and whatever, so it’s easy to pick up to full time.

I have been off for a week though – I didn’t mind before because I knew I had this block off and I just said ‘no’ for once – but there’s no way they shut the highways down, so we had adequate staffing and I don’t feel as bad.

Have I been writing? Yes – and not as much as I wanted, but I still got some done – I’m on the home stretch for the first of the two kid’s novels. They’re short, and they’ve been fun because I’ve been reviewing children’s media. I enjoy watching stuff with my sister’s kids, and from a technical point of view, I’ll watch just about anything if it’s animated well enough. I’m a geek that way.

I kind of got suckered into the family thing, as per the norm. I’m single and have no obligations save to the dog (who is rather exhausted due to our little staycation in extremely mild weather which involved lots of outside time) which works for me. I’m an INTJ, so even though I saw people lots, I find them draining (well, I find the drama draining).

So anyway – could have gotten a lot more stuff done – next to no editing was accomplished – but I got to see some people I haven’t, took in my first Jets game (they won 5-0!) and I feel a lot less burnt out, so mission accomplished, I guess. As per my post on facebook though about the first step being about your attitude – I suppose I could be all pissy that I didn’t get to do X,Y, or Z, but short answer is I that I got the creative urge back and I think the first step in curing anything is the will to change.