July Rambles

I'm late, I know, but it's been a real editing time.

I don't actually remember July, which is weird because it just happened. I taught about four classes though, I remember that. My mother flew out to visit and that was nice. My husband and I had our annual date. I did stuff to get ready for the inevitable back to school rush in mid-August. I edited. Alot. Oh! I attended the WriteHive virtual writing conference which was informative and packed. I survived the heat but we actually had some lovely cool days. The massive downpours--seriously it rained so hard and so fast you couldn't see anything outside the window but a wall of grey--led to our roof leaking. The neighbor's tree had grown onto our roof and it created a big ole pile of leaves, clogging the drains (we also have a mansard roof, so its mostly flat, with a rubber membrane and it goes at a slight downhill tilt). The tree has been cut and the roof repaired but now its time for inner ceiling repair.

I guess July was busier than I remember. Hm.

Things I Read

I love urban fantasy. I've been a big fan since someone put Anita Blake in my hands back in high school in probably 1999. That feels right. I started July reading some cozy mysteries, by Connie Berry, which were enjoyable. I did like the Midsomer Murders in joke about all these murders happening in a small town. I find cozies get repetitive after two or three and its best in small doses.

But urban fantasy called and I re-read and finally finished the Sentinels of New Orleans by Suzanne Johnson. I don't know if she's writing anymore. It's a six book series that takes place in New Orleans, starting right before Katrina, during Katrina, and afterward. I'm not from Louisiana, but the books read like a love letter to the city and to Cajun culture. The worldbuilding is incredible. The protag, DJ, might actually be an anti-hero. There's very little romance, but I'm glad the author realized in the last book how much her love interest sucked and dumped him for another guy. There's an undead pirate. I had a fun time on a re-read, and finally reading the last one. These never became as popular in the early 2000s/2010s as the Charlaine Harris books. There's less sex and more magical political worldbuilding, which is right up my alley.

And I finished up the month with two Judith McNaught books. She is a romance author very popular in the 80s and 90s. Maybe even longer. Her most well-known book is Whitney, My Love, often associated with the worst trends of bodice rippers (the consent in that book is murky). I've only read her contemporaries (very set in the 90s so I don't know anymore if thats contemporary or historical), including Every Breath You Take and Perfect. Fated Mates did a close read of Perfect which is a wild ride of a book.

It's so late 80s, early 90s. Everything is peach. Women wear lots of bows and lace. No cellphone so the accidental hostage situation is easier to believe. Some things are problematic--there is a scene that I'm calling dubcon, it might be noncon. I understand the context but it gave me the ick. It's a thick, meaty book, I think well over a thousand pages in my Kindle. I liked it. I don't know what it says about me, but I enjoyed the heck out of it.

Things I Enjoyed

Finally saw Project Hail Mary. That was great. A real gem of a film.

I love it when my mom comes because I can see the city as a tourist and Cincinnati is apparently a foodie town because my mom comes looking for food. Specifically, certain food she's had in the past and keeps thinking about. Also she loves Jungle Jim's and people should visit the city for that massive store.

I did not enjoy not being able to eat salad for July, except for the small harvests of bok choy and bibb lettuce from my garden. I also blanched vegetables for the first time. No comment. I cannot wait for soup season.

I'm iffy on the Vampire Lestat show (the album is good though). It had strong moments, but I think it hinged too much on the last episode as clarification for the season and that works as a mystery, but genre wise, I don't think the show meets the rest of the requirements. (I did re-read Queen of the Damned which is a helluva book. Like a drug trip) At times it felt soulless, and unsure of its own project. Well acted. The last three episodes had strong emotional moments but it didn't land for me. I understand this is an unpopular opinion. Maybe I'm just a Louis girl.

Things I Wrote

If you subscribe to this blog, then you know I spent a lot of July editing and that The Dissolution of Tal Stephens is up for pre-sale now on Amazon. Maybe other vendors soon. There's a pre-order prize for the first 15 pre-orders. It's this beautiful character art by artist Stevie Galliart.

It was done in an art-nouveau style. Tal's a bit earlier, but close enough and I love the lush style. A happy moment for her. It's from one of my favorite moments in the novel:

That was July. Thanks for reading! Please share this blog with your friends and if you're reading Tal, I'd love to hear from you.

Stay dry and cool <3