Happy June and bring on the sunshine!
We’re speeding toward summer so it’s time to bring you the latest quarterly installment of my favorite things along with what I’ve been reading and learning these days.
Feel free to chime in with your own favorites below!
I hope your spring is wrapping up well and that there are plenty of sunny days in your future 🙂
Please note that some links are affiliate links, which mean I may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you end up buying anything! Check out my site policy here and let me know if you have questions.
What I’ve been reading:
The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones
Okay, so I’m not usually a fan of zombie books but I quite enjoyed this book and its characters! It’s set in the same world as The Drowned Woods, though they each stand alone perfectly well. The Bone Houses is described as “part horror, part fairy tale” and I’d definitely recommend giving it a read!
The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag
This MG graphic novel was recommended by my 3rd grader, and she has great taste! This is the story of a boy born with witch powers in a community where only girls are witches. A beautiful and authentic story of family, friendship, self, and adventure!
TBR pile:
Magic Claims by Ilona Andrews
I’m counting down the days until Ilona Andrew’s latest book, Magic Claims! (Aka Magic Clams haha.)
If you’re already a Kate Daniels fan, release date is June 13th! If you haven’t checked out Ilona Andrews before, start with Magic Bites, the first in the Kate Daniels world.
Soundtracks:
Recently I’ve been listening to everything by Lin-Manuel Miranda and I love it. Lots of Encanto when the kids are around and then In The Hights and Hamilton when I’m on my own.
In The Kitchen:
I’ve been making homemade wine!
It’s still a work in progress but it’s been fun to learn more about. And neat to try something completely different from my usual kitchen projects! Honestly, one of the biggest tasks in winemaking has turned out to be washing and sanitizing everything so it’s not as complicated as I thought. I haven’t made anything fancy but it pairs well with a nice cheese board!
::::::::Pause for a cute cat photo break::::::::
Prompt time! Where I’m going to ask you lots of questions… 🙂
Writing prompt:
It’s time to make some lists!
Thinking of your worldbuilding: What are 10 things you find fun about your world? 10 secrets in your world?
Thinking of your main character: What are 5 things they are good at? 5 struggles? What are 5 wounds from their past? What are 5 things you like about them?
Wellness prompt:
What are 2-5 simple things that make you feel happy and satisfied? How can you incorporate them into your day/week/summer?
Bonus: Get out for a walk!
Taking a walk is one of my simple things to feel good and I’m happy to share it with you 🙂
Goals/Productivity prompt:
What is one thing you’re hoping to accomplish over the summer? What are the steps you’re planning to take to get there?
Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.
Maya Angelou
Happy writing and wellness to you! 🙂
PS: I wanted to give a last-chance shout out for the Forge as it wraps up its current membership launch tomorrow, June 10th!! I talked about it a bit last week (and why I’m excited enough about it that I’m an affiliate) so I won’t repeat myself, but the TL;DR version is that it’s an awesome community and provides an excellent chance for feedback and support. Check it out here if you want to learn more!
Oooh, we’ve been looking for a new graphic novel. We are definitely going to check out The Witch Boy! Thanks for the recommendation.
Oh yay, I hope you love it! 🙂