First Friday | March 2024

February was a roller coaster month – many good things, several fairly awful things. And in my creative world, I wrestled with productivity and … well, most bluntly – getting up at 5 AM to write. It’s only towards the end of the month when I was finally through a head cold and recovered from an EPIC girls’ weekend* that I started getting up again at 5. And while I spend a lot of time worrying that I’m not writing enough, I remind myself that I’m writing more than I did a year ago. That’s going to have to be good enough for now.

Another wonderful thing happened in February: I went to a pair of locally produced musicals. Watching LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS was a hoot because that was the show that my high school performed my senior year. Annnd, I was in it. My friends and I also saw HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH. Given the upheaval in the LGBTQ+ world, I was moved to tears at the end. It was visceral and I am amazed that this show is still controversial some 30+ years after it was originally workshopped?

Here’s what’s interesting in my universe:

Sofia Coppola’s PRISCILLA was one of my favorite movies of 2023. I went with my best friend Anne and we both were gobsmacked by it. I enjoyed the heck out of this profile by The New Yorker about Coppola (the younger’s) overall filmmaking aesthetic and the path that basically got her here. (The New Yorker [might run into a paywall – ope!] Also, I just discovered that PRISCILLA is streaming on MAX.)

R.E.M’s song Nightswimming was released in 1992 as part of the band’s album “Automatic for the People.” And in typical Midwestern form, it seemed to gain traction a few years later and became a huge part of my high school soundtrack. (But maybe that’s because of one of my dearest friends, Rob—I remember listening to this CD in his car and this song makes me think of him.) Anyway – this Substack entry was a beautiful meditation on one of my favorite songs. (Substack)

I came of age right around the time that TITANIC hit the theaters. (I will not disclose how many times I went to see it in the theater, but will admit I ugly cried every time I got to the end.) So I literally hit young womanhood right when Kate Winslet was making the rounds at award shows and in magazine spreads. And I’ll be honest – how amazingly lucky was I to have such a person as a cultural touchstone? (Winslet’s a few years older, so she gets to be my big sister in the universe.) Anyway – this piece was fantastic and sincerely – when my current WIP gets published, you can imagine Winslet as the lead character. (Net-a-Porter)

I am low-key obsessed with this song by boygenius. And I probably amuse the crossing guards at my kid’s school as I’m blasting it on my way home from school drop off. (YouTube)

Monthly minutia:

Here’s what February looked like by the numbers in my creative world:

8,650 – written on novel

1,140 – written on other projects (this month, my output was limited to my blog)

February was the month where I watched ALL THE THINGS.

I am a movie fan, full stop. I like watching TV, but I don’t make a concerted effort to keep up with “much see TV”, etc. But in February, I got together with some fantastic friends, we crashed in a house, and spent an entire weekend in our pajamas. We read books and we watched TV.

What we watched …

Out of all of the films we watched, NYAD was probably my favorite. Based on a true story, both Annette Bening and Jodie Foster were just … wow.

And speaking of movies, no one told me that this SpongeBob movie was a Keanu Reeves movie.

Also – in the interest of Jodie Foster and because I’ve heard about it forever, I’m finally jumping on the True Detective bandwagon. I am only 2 episodes in on the first season and it’s good storytelling.

Books read:

Clouded Waters by Dianna Hunter—I just so very much enjoyed this story. I enjoyed the representation of the protagonist (older, queer) and the story is so very relevant to what is going on up in Northern Minnesota—the struggle between protecting the waters from the allure and money of mining.

The Windsor Knot by S.J. Bennett—I’m not sure how I came across this one. I think someone recommended it and I have now found a new book series to enjoy. In this one, the amateur sleuth is none other than her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth. At first, I was a little “meh,” but this one ended up being an absolute delight.

The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel—I don’t know what it is about my DNA, but every once in awhile I find myself thinking that the idea of just up and getting lost in the woods (on purpose) sounds divine. Well, Chris Knight did that—for 25+ years before he got caught. This book is a really interesting dive into the story of the “last hermit” in America, what prompted him to seek such solace, and what happens when you get booted out of Utopia.

Notes on a Silencing by Lacy Crawford—This was a good book, but it was infuriating to read. The nut of it is that when the author was 15 and at a prestigious private school, she was sexually assaulted by two upperclassmen. Annnnnd, when her parents finally went to report it to the school, school administrators successfully silenced her by threatening to ruin her reputation. It was an absolute heartbreak to read, but there is a cold comfort of some justice meted out at the end of her tale.

The best thing about being a writer is having writer friends. While you see the list of books that I have listed above, I also have access to books that you haven’t even DISCOVERED yet. Sometimes because they’re in the process of publication and sometimes because they are in the generative stages of progress. I am beta reading a book for a friend and I got my hands on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) that I cannot wait to dive into.

So until we meet again … onward and upward, friends.
– Shelley

*To be clear about the girls’ weekend: I was hanging out with a bunch of my fellow mom friends. Kim’s folks winter somewhere warmer than Minnesota, so we take over her parents’ house for a weekend—eat enough sugar to stun a hippo, read our books, drink *some* wine, but really – it’s very tame. I just apparently cannot stay up past 11 without a week’s worth of consequences.

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What is First Friday? This started originally as “Friday Fare” where I posted a hodgepodge of links and some of the things that were living rent-free in my noggin. This is a monthly version of that.

First Friday | February 2024

February!

Given that I’ve switched to a monthly format for this communication, I tend to jot notes down throughout the month – little reminders of what I want to say. It helps, because when I sat down to start writing this, my mind was like … I don’t even know where to start! Do I talk about how I am charmed by the Kelce brothers, even though I don’t know a damn thing about football? Do I talk about how weird this damn weather is that we’re having? (50 degrees on January 31^st in Minnesota. Climate change is real, y’all.)

Do I talk about the wonderful trip that I had with my girlfriends earlier this month to celebrate my friend Meg’s 40^th birthday? Or how my dad is absolutely KILLING it post-knee surgery/rehab. So many things.

Anyway – I am glad you are here. I hope that January treated you well. As evidenced by the stuff above, I had a good month. I scratched my itch for travel, I read some amazing books, I had some great hikes by myself and with my kiddos.

Here’s what’s interesting in my universe:

I love John Malkovich. I love that someone so unique was once a Midwestern boy. I don’t even know if I have a favorite character of his, I just know that if he’s on screen, I’m in for a treat. (Warning: NYTimes paywall)

Book bans are BS. There are some teachers and students who are rebelling against this dangerous fad. (NPR)

I’m a huge Andrew Welsh-Huggins fan and ridiculously psyched that I get to call him my friend/acquaintance. On this blog, he shares some of his favorite reads from 2023. (Lesa’s Book Critiques blog)

Dark mud aroma. So … I’m on social media way too much. I don’t even want to know how many Instagram Reels I’ve been sucked into over the years. But I unabashedly love Melissa Ben-Ishay from Baked by Melissa. Her energy is just amazing, her videos make me want to eat vegetables, and she’s just delightful. Anyway … I don’t think that this woman drinks coffee regularly, but her husband does and he drinks Turkish coffee. I’m always up for a new coffee, so I got some Elite Turkish Coffee – and of course I’m never going to find this description again, but when I was trying to locate it – one of the vendors described it as having a dark mud aroma. And I’m not gonna lie – that’s pretty damn accurate. But I’m hooked. As long as I don’t delve into the last inch or so of coffee, I am not choking on the grounds that gather at the bottom of the mug. This is what I drink after my 5 AM wake up alarm to get up and try to get some words on the page.

Monthly minutia:

The 5 AM wake up calls are working. Don’t get me wrong … I don’t write a lot. But I’m writing daily and this daily chipping away counts builds books. My hope is that I keep increasing my word count as I’m going along.

Here’s what January looked like by the numbers in my creative world:

6,193 – written on novel

1,564 – written on other projects (blog, short stories)

Another big part of my creative life is reading and I’m trying to spend less time on my screen (sorry Baked by Melissa!) and more time in front of books. Here’s what I read in January:

You Don’t Belong Here by Elizabeth Becker – About a trio of women journalists who changed the way that the Vietnam War was covered. If you’re anywhere in my vicinity, you’re sick of hearing me talk about this book. That’s how good it is.

Burying the Newspaper Man by Curtis Ippolito – I was very excited to read this debut by Curtis. We’re mutuals on social media and he’s one of those guys who is always cheering folks on and is an all around good human. This book was very good – it handled a delicate subject sensitively and I am excited to see what’s next for Curtis.

I read two Douglas Preston books in January. One was his solo effort called The Lost Tomb, a bunch of nonfiction essays that he’s updated in this book. One of those essays? Recounting the story of “Dead Mountain”—a doomed group of hikers who died in the Dyatlov Pass in 1959. That read was a good lead up to his book with co-author Lincoln Child—the third Nora Kelly book named Dead Mountain.

And finally, the book that absolutely slayed me: I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai. I genuinely lack words to describe how good it is. This one is going to stay with me for awhile.

Well … February is here. I am hoping that this finds you well and that I’ve given you a few things to ponder during the month ahead!

Onward and upward, friends.
– Shelley

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What is First Friday? This started originally as “Friday Fare” where I posted a hodgepodge of links and some of the things that were living rent-free in my noggin. This is a monthly version of that.

First Friday | January 2024

Some people choose words for their New Year – a manifestation, of course, of what they hope the new year will bring them: Abundance, Grace, Hope, More, Yes, No, Carbs … OK, that last one is a lie. Although it *is* a good word.

But any-who … I chose a word last year. That word was “care.” I was going to take more CARE as I schlepped around 2023. I was going to take better care of myself. I didn’t have grand plans of losing a shit ton of weight or anything pragmatic like that, but guess what? I FAILED at the CARE and feeding of that word and intention in my life. I could blame my mom dying, but … yeah. I really sucked at doing anything more than the bare minimum and putting one foot in front of the other. Seismic events will do that, I guess.

So, no words this year. Bless anyone who has done any of that kind of work and I genuinely mean that. (I may have bought crystals from a local witchcraft shop towards the tail end of December … I love woo. I love it.)  I thought about giving up flour and sugar for a hot second and actually SUCCEEDED for three days, but then I bought a box of wine and fell so hastily off of that bandwagon, I think I injured my liver further and gave my pre-2024 “better” self some whiplash.

So … new year, same me. New year, same me—but one who’s trying to remember why I love wandering in the woods so much. (And with such a mild winter, I’ve had a couple opportunities already to discover new-to-me trails.) Same me—but I’m trying to drink less and make 5 AM wake-ups a thing so I can get some words in before I head to my day job. (And shocker! I find that I can actually get my ass out of bed if I’m well rested.) Same me. And I’ve always rather liked me, so I’m OK with another year of existence and another year of doing the best I can with what I have to work with.

And with that … time for our first Friday of 2024!

Reading: According to Goodreads, I whiffed my 2023 goal to read 35 books. Silly Goodreads! I don’t track EVERYTHING that I read, especially if I’m judging something for a competition. I read around 40 books last year and I read over 175 short stories through my work with Shotgun Honey’s Gauntlet.

I’ve stuck with 35 books again for 2024. So far I’m doing FANTASTICALLY. I have two books that I’m reading right now—one is YOU DON’T BELONG HERE by Elizabeth Becker. This is a non-fiction about some of the trailblazing women journalists who captured images from the Vietnam War. Threads had an amazing string about Catherine Leroy and I needed to know more about her.

I finished reading Douglas Preston’s THE LOST TOMB. My love affair with Preston goes back to his co-authoring with Lincoln Child and their Pendergast series.  This book is a non-fiction and a reprint of some of his most iconic articles printed in places like The Atlantic, The New Yorker, etc. There were a couple that really stuck with me, but this is one that’s good to get from your local library versus buying from your favorite indie bookstore. (All apologies to Mr. Preston.)

Finally, there’s a lot of buzz around I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU by Rebecca Makkai. And I get it. Totally. I’m only a couple chapters in and I can tell that I’m going to be envious of this writer’s talent.

Listening: I had a hankering for some 80s Country music the other day. Spotify did not disappoint.

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I’ve also been listening to some Sheryl Crow and I’m wondering why she doesn’t do more, because gosh her voice is lovely.

Writing Life: Hey, did I mention that I’m getting up at 5 AM and trying to get some words in before I go to work in the morning? Oh, I did? Oh, does it feel like I’m bragging?

Well, to be honest – as I’m writing this, I am drag ass tired, but I’m grateful for the progress that I’m making on my WIP. Also, my eldest gets up at 6 to start getting ready for school; my husband’s alarm goes off at 6:15 for him to go to work … these early hours are really the only time that I’m by myself. It’s me, the cats, some camping lanterns I got as part of Target’s holiday clearance, and stringing together words. It is its own form of magic.

And 2023 wasn’t a total wash—I got a short story polished enough for submission to a much admired magazine. Fingers crossed that my story about family secrets and murder finds a happy ‘lil home.

Onward and upward, friends.
– Shelley

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What is First Friday? This started originally as “Friday Fare” where I posted a hodgepodge of links and some of the things that were living rent-free in my noggin. This is a monthly version of that.

2023 | Don’t let the door hit you …

If I did sit down to write a 2023 recap, it would be a bit of a bummer. But since I’m one of those perpetual “coffee cup’s half full” people, I’m going to focus on my blessings and not on the dumpster fire of this past year. Because at the end of all things, I am luckier than most.

With gratitude, always –

Shelley

First Friday | December 2023

December snuck up on me and ooof. I never wish time away, but this year can kiss my dragging ass. I don’t want to espouse toxic positivity, but I’m gonna focus on a few things that are silver linings.

What’s good: I’m going on a mini writing retreat with a dear friend this upcoming weekend. I’m not sure how much writing *I’m* going to get done, but I have a few concrete tasks that I want to complete while I’m gone.

What’s also good: It’s cold in Minnesota – shocker, I know, considering it’s December. I get a brief reprieve next week when I go to Florida for a work meeting.

What’s a blessing: Random conversations with old friends. A classmate of mine sent me a picture of a rutabaga the other day. Weird, I know. But he used to always bring my grandma rutabagas in the fall and she’s make soup with them. How cool to be in my 40s and get these random texts about a shared love that’s been absent from this earth for a long time.

Recent Reads: I’ve been reading the latest issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine (EQMM) and loving the short stories therein. I’m currently on a story written by my friend Travis Richardson.

Listening: Spotify listeners can now access their yearly roundup of artists listened to the most. No one should be surprised that Gordon Lightfoot was my most listened artist.

Writing Life: One foot in front of the other. Slow but steady.

– Shelley

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What is First Friday? This started originally as “Friday Fare” where I posted a hodgepodge of links and some of the things that were living rent-free in my noggin. This is a monthly version of that.

*Ahem* Third Friday | November 2023

I’m gonna apologize in advance because this post is a LONG one. You ready? You got some coffee/tea? OK – dig in:

A strange fact about me is that although I’m a fairly messy and disorganized person; my Outlook calendar is a wonder to behold with recurring goals scheduled, my coworkers’ time off schedules noted, etc. Even hubs and I have individual and shared Google Calendars where we check on each others’ whereabouts before we schedule various events. (I even recently had to upgrade to the paid version of the Doodle poll to herd multiple cats for a meeting. I also have a calendar reminder to cancel that before I get charged the monthly rate again.)

So although I have a monthly reminder to write a blog post; this month has already been as such that I had to scoot that calendar reminder and … well, yeah. I thought I was going to have a Second Friday post, but now it’s a Third Friday blog post. 

Sigh. Here we are.

My plate had been just ridiculously full lately. Some of it by choice, some of it by circumstance – usually due to over-scheduling and over-committing myself.  (So, basically my fault.) The biggest expenditure of energy over the past few months is that I helped chair a political advocacy committee in support for my kids’ school district and the District’s technology referendum. I met and volunteered with some amazing people (sincerely, I have some lifelong friends that I now get to treasure). I REALLY pushed myself out of my comfort zone (I still really hate phone banking).

All of these things sound AMAZING, don’t they?  LOL, it’s great until you lose by a 300+ vote margin and find out that barely 30% of your community’s registered voters actually voted. Votes matter, people. Even in off years.

There is obviously something detrimental about volunteering for anything that is going to take away from your writing time. Full stop. It takes away from your precious and fleeting time, it expends mental energy. I went to the chiropractor last week and he was like “what have you been DOING?” (I seriously throw my body out of whack, that’s how talented I am at being a stress ball.) But, as I’ve told my husband: I know that I NEVER want to run for political office (I don’t think I could have anyway for … um, reasons.) And honestly? I met really good people. And advocating for your kids’ future is always a good choice. And there was at least one person that I ended up working with that helped me unlock a character in my work in progress.

So what’s next? I’m going to be holding down my couch for the foreseeable future. (I had a preview of that this weekend when I was laid low from a combination of my Covid booster & flu shot. I am really good at napping and taking up real estate on my couch.)

I am also taking the next couple of months to strategically figure out my next steps regarding community engagement. But more importantly, how that balances with work, my family, and my work … the creative kind.

Because, what is the point of having a writing blog and calling yourself a writer if you’re not writing.

Here’s the news from me on my recent reads, what I’m watching, and writing progress:

Listening: I’ve been on an R.E.M. kick lately. Maybe I’ll write more later, but maybe you’ll search up some R.E.M. and just get what I’m feeling? Maybe? You can let me know in comments if you get it.

This evening, I am going to see A.J. Croce in concert, with my dearest Anderson. This is a musician that I’ve seen … four times? He is Jim Croce’s son, in case you were wondering about the last name. Obviously, I enjoy his music – otherwise, I wouldn’t go – but it’s the camaraderie. And it’s the memories that A.J. brings up when I think about the DECADES and venues I’ve seen him play in. (Seriously, the first time I saw him in concert was late June 2000 up in Duluth, Minnesota. I still have the signed poster.)

Recent Reads: Sooooo far away from my Goodreads goal, but the book that recently kicked my ass and my headspace was Pedro Hoffmeister’s AMERICAN AFTERLIFE. It’s dystopia, but not set in the too distant future.

Watching: I went ahead and indulged in two movies recently at my local indie movie theatre.

THE ROYAL HOTEL which is set in Australia. (I see some negative reviews online. Don’t listen. You can wait to stream online, but it’s a good watch.)

And … (swoon) … PRISCILLA. Let’s get something straight right now: I am not an Elvis fan. If I was, I’d probably like his gospel stuff, which is saying a lot considering I’m agnostic. HOWEVER … if you tell me that Sofia Coppola is going to direct a biopic that’s about one of the most polarizing musician wives this side of Yoko Ono? I. Am. In. And I got to see it with my best friend – so … winning, beetches. Beautiful. Sumptuous. Uncomfortable in the subject matter. One of the best damn soundtracks …

Which brings me to what I’m watching small-screen: GEORGE & TAMMY. Oh, sweet Lordt. I’d like to tell you that my mama raised me better than to be taken in by some sweet-talking, silver-tongued devil like George Jones, but my matriarch’s side of the family that absolutely worshiped at the altar of folks like Cash, Jennings, Kristofferson, Nelson, and … yes, Jones, would have loved this biopic of George Jones and Tammy Wynette. And the main actors in the show (Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain) do their own vocals. It’s just … it’s a must-watch.

I also finished 1923 and I loved every single minute of it. Eye p*rn. Nearly every part of it. (And a brutal and necessary look at the Indigenous schools that were part and parcel of our country’s last century.)

Writing Life: If you are a writer, you acquaint yourself frequently with failure. It’s just the way that it is. But my most recent failure is one of my own making. I whiffed the deadline for the Bouchercon anthology and did not submit a short story for consideration. If you know me, you know that I am deadline-oriented by nature – it’s my profession, it’s just who I am. In my writerly life, it’s not uncommon for me to miss an “artificial” deadline. (Ahem – you’re reading my “first” Friday on the third Friday.) Maybe I need to beat myself up more, but … well, I don’t do that. I missed a deadline. That means I have a story that will need to find a home someday.

PS – Elmo loves you. Always.

November, babies. It’s been a brutal month in what’s been a brutal year, but *shrugs* … we dust ourselves off. I can’t guarantee that things are going to get better, but I can guarantee that things are still going to happen whether we’re ready or not.

Be gentle with yourselves! Drink something warm. Make some soup. You’re loved.

– Shelley

PS – I was going to be all FANCY and produce this recipe in my professional Canva subscription (that I have a calendar reminder to cancel), but November 18th is my momma’s birthday. Last year, I nearly set my kitchen on fire trying to make her favorite cake. (The heating element decided to GLORIOUSLY set itself ablaze. It was a fantastic discovery to make at 5 AM on the morning of Mom’s birthday.)

Anyway – this recipe is her grandma’s and *my* grandma submitted it for inclusion in the 1978 Rossville Presbyterian Church cookbook. It’s the only time I’ll willingly use margarine. And I did not edit this into a Canva-worthy graphic, because it’s perfect as-is. With my momma’s handwriting and everything:

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What is First Friday? This started originally as “Friday Fare” where I posted a hodgepodge of links and some of the things that were living rent-free in my noggin. This is a monthly version of that.

First Friday | October 2023 (spooky szn)

I’m actually finishing this up the morning that I need to hit “Publish,” so you’re gonna have less of my random thought process and more of what I’m reading, what’s in my ears, and writing progress:

Recent Reads: My reading progress is woefully out of sync with the piles of books in my household, the books that come in from my local library, books that friends are releasing … you get the picture.

I am fairly late to the audiobook era. Or maybe I shouldn’t say that I’m *late*. Early in my adulthood, I found a, like, 16-cassette recording of THE HOBBIT and followed it up with other books I thought would be listenable. (Listening to Louis L’Amour on tape is actually fun too.)

My library makes it easy to download audiobooks from the Libby app. So the other day when I was driving up to the Twin Cities, I decided to start listening to Robin Wall Kimmerer’s BRAIDING SWEETGRASS. And at first, I got a little scared – Kimmerer narrates her book and her voice is kindness personified and is like a warm mug of tea.

In short, I was worried that she’d lull me to sleep on the road. But that wasn’t the case. The book is incredible.

I’m also reading a non-fiction by Kathleen Hale about the SLENDERMAN case. It’s definitely a page turner and I think I’m going to be haunted about mentally ill youth in the criminal justice system for awhile to come after I finish this.

And ….! I actually finished a couple books recently: Jason Powell’s ANY MAN’S GHOST and Kathleen Donnelly’s HUNTING THE TRUTH. Powell’s book was a debut novel and draws heavily upon his own experience as a firefighter with the New York Fire Department. His debut shows great promise. And Kathleen Donnelly? She’s my buddy – I love her and I loved HUNTING. Her next book in the series comes out in March and it’s already pre-ordered. 🙂

Listening: I had the absolute joy of going to see Ray LaMontagne up at the State Theatre on October 1st. Ray’s been a long time musical love of mine and to be able to see him in concert was sublime. Especially considering that there was a brief moment where I was like … do I *really* want to navigate the mess of Highway 52 to get up to the Cities and then have to drive home in the dark?

But Minneapolis is purty. Going to a concert and listening to Ray was incredible. And hilariously … I was sitting next to three other people who were also attending the concert solo. I have never experienced that and it was kinda fun. (One of the women barely KNEW LaMontagne’s music. She had just heard one of his songs on a TV show and got a ticket. I admired the hell out of that.)

Writing Life: One of my internet friends posted a status update on Facebook the other day asking about the 5 AM writers club. (Google it. It’s pretty self-explanatory.) Anyway, I respect the hell out of Rusty Barnes (publisher and founder of Tough Crime). And although we’re in separate time zones, I send him a note when I start working at 5 AM (6 on the east coast) and check in. We haven’t been doing this very long, but I like the accountability. I’m still on track to submit a short story for consideration for the Nashville Bouchercon anthology. I also discovered a different short story I had shelved, but I feel like it has potential and I’ve enjoyed polishing it again.

It FINALLY feels like fall outside! Go cuddle under a warm blanket and break out the sweaters. It is our SEASON.
– Shelley

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What is First Friday? This started originally as “Friday Fare” where I posted a hodgepodge of links and some of the things that were living rent-free in my noggin. This is a monthly version of that.

First Friday | September 2023

Rabbit, rabbit!

It is SEPTEMBER and I’ve already had my first pumpkin spice latte. It’s like I told my social media audience, my feeling for PSL reflects what I think for McDonalds’ Shamrock Shake. I need just once a year. So back to Americanos, I go, because I scratched the PSL itch.

I am sitting in a coffee shop with two of my dear friends while I’m writing this. Meg Hafdahl (and her co-author, Kelly Florence) has a book coming out on September 5^th. I actually acquired a copy of THE SCIENCE OF AGATHA CHRISTIE at a local author’s event in my hometown and cannot WAIT to read it. J. Lynn Else is the other author I’m with – she is one hell of a good author and has her first children’s book coming out in the near future. To be in the company of these darlings made for a good writing session.

Talking with them reminded me what I wanted to share with you!  I read this fantastic article about Annette Bening last month and was reminded why I think she’s a national treasure.

I also cannot believe that I forgot to tell you about the audiobook I’ve been listening to lately. Dave Grohl’s The Storyteller. It’s a collection of essays about his life and some of the adventures had while drumming for Nirvana and leading the Foo Fighters. The best part? Grohl is narrating his audiobook, so you’re getting the story straight from his mouth. There’s a part of me that I want to have my kids listen to this book, but there’s a lot of language in it. I may wait a year or two.

Finally, this recipe is one that’s been in frequent rotation in my house. Three out of my four family members eat it cheerfully, so the one who does not? He can make himself a peanut butter sandwich.

So here’s the news from me on my recent reads, what’s in my ears (other than Dave Grohl), and writing progress:

Recent Reads: So, the book I was talking about the last time I wrote is called “The Lazy Genius Way” by Kendra Adachi. I will say that this feels geared more towards the feminine gender and definitely has a Christian bent to it, but it was a good read for this agnostic.

Listening: I am still on my Monkees kick, but have been drifting back to my first love over the past few weeks as I’ve been working on a bunch of different projects. And I’ve been waking up at 4 in the morning with this song in my head. (And to be clear, it’s the Little Feat version, not the Ronstadt version. Ronstadt is absolutely golden and slays the song, but Lowell George’s voice sings to me when I wake in the early morning and his pragmatic voice becomes an ear worm that does not go away until I’ve had my first cup of coffee.)

Writing Life: I’m not gonna lie, I’m having some FOMO this week. Most of my mystery writing friends are in San Diego for the 2023 Bouchercon conference. I love the pictures I’m seeing of my friends boarding their flights for California, taking selfies after successful panel appearances. But, this is not the season for me to attend. I’ll be ready to join them next year in Nashville for the 2024 conference. I am working on a short story submission for next year’s anthology. Fingers crossed that it lands.

Happy almost fall!
– Shelley

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What is First Friday? This started originally as “Friday Fare” where I posted a hodgepodge of links and some of the things that were living rent-free in my noggin. This is a monthly version of that.

*Ahem* Third Friday | August 2023

Oh intentions! As per my usual, I am living life at full tilt with about a dozen irons in the fire. And they are all GOOD intentions. But sometimes they get in the way of things like blogging.

Summer is almost over. I will not sugar coat that. There are people out in the world who schedule and plan legitimate vacations. I don’t know if it’s my “farmer’s daughter” DNA or what, but I am not that person? My kids have had halcyon days of summer camps. We saw some of our beloved cousins. We’re gonna go fishing with my father, but yeah … summer vacations. This is a perpetual work-in-progress, I guess. I’m just glad to give my kids the lazy days of summer. I’m grateful for the time I get to spend with my kids and my partner. We’re far from perfect, but we just genuinely hold each other in care, love, and joy. So not perfect – too much caffeine (for the mom & eldest child of the quartet). We’re heading into the “is that a dead animal or boy scent” time of our years together. We maybe rely on Discord too much to communicate, but gosh – this is a great time in my life as a mom.

This is balanced by my reality that I miss my own mom daily, but there are beautiful moments amongst grief and … well, #allthethings

Oh my poor mom … memorialized by a RIDICULOUSLY huge and gorgeous tattoo on my arm. She now is with me wherever I go … as if I needed a reminder. But maybe I did. Always moving onward and carrying her with me.

Here’s the news from me on my recent reads, what I’m watching, and writing progress:

Listening: On the musical front, I have a few things going … first – I’m a lifelong fan of The Monkees. In fact, I had the absolute HONOR of seeing Papa Mike Nesmith in the January before he left this earth for whatever stardust he is now inhabiting. So imagine my pleasure and joy in finding out that The Monkees make for good “work” music. Don’t believe me? Open up a PowerPoint and queue up some classic Monkees. I guarantee 110% more joy, if not a kick in the pants when it comes to productivity. I don’t guarantee the same for spreadsheets, but I could be wrong. (Or terrible at Excel. Either is plausible.) If you Spotify, search up The Monkees and find whatever playlist is sanctioned by the band. It is really good and is like an audio bowl of mashed potatoes with ham gravy. Absolute comfort.

Just this week, I traveled to see another musical hero and attended a concert with one of my dearest friends in the universe. We saw The Wallflowers at the Barrymore Theatre in Madison, Wisconsin. The Barrymore is a sweet little theater and I will not be sad if I traverse to Madison again to catch a show there. The venue has a great amount of charm. This is the second time I’ve seen The Wallflowers and I am a fan of their earlier recordings. My highlight of the evening was the opening act – this uh-mazing troubadour named Will Dailey.

Recent Reads: I am READING again! Thank you, goddess. And I am grateful for THE DRY by Jane Harper, which has already been turned into a movie, but is perfect for … well. Any time.

I am currently reading a couple of other books that are of the “head shrinking” variety. One is about the “anatomy of a breakthrough” by Adam Alter and it’s good in a very cerebral way. The other is something about a “lazy genius way” about doing things. This reformed Protestant/confirmed agnostic struggles a bit with some of the more religious stuff, but the overall message is a good one and appropriate for my season of grief.

Watching: I’m still working on SUCCESSION. Do not doubt by my pace that this show is not AMAZING. It’s just that it *is* full of language and I have impressionable children.

In the meantime, hubs and I have been working on ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING. (We’re still on szn 1 ... judge us!) And I watched RONIN the other night, which just assured me how good 1990s schlock is.

But … holy Hannah – how can I forget this? I did the #BARBENHEIMER! This is where I watched Oppenheimer AND Barbie in one day.

I enjoyed both movies incredibly. BARBIE is the movie I will see again. Watch OPPENHEIMER for the bragging rights. Watch BARBIE for … well. #allthethings

Writing Life: *whispering* I’m working on a couple of short stories and trying to get my head around my current WIP. Don’t tread too loudly in case you startle the lady behind the curtain.

Phew. I’m sorry that this has taken the third Friday for me to say “hello” and wish you all the good things in the world. But … if you are reading this, I hope that you are well.

– Shelley

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What is First Friday? This started originally as “Friday Fare” where I posted a hodgepodge of links and some of the things that were living rent-free in my noggin. This is a monthly version of that.

First Friday | July 2023

It’s JU-LY! Time in the Midwest for sweet corn, mosquitoes the size of your thumbnail, humidity that causes tomatoes to grow, and in my family – endless camps to drive to, birthdays (for moi and some of my dearest friends), and that feeling that although it’s still summer vacation – the end is coming up too fast for my liking.

Here’s the news from me on my recent reads, what I’m watching, and writing progress:

Recent Reads: Here’s a couple of articles for your reading pleasure:

• Harrison Ford … I love him.
• Over the past few years, I’ve tried to be one of those writers who gets up at 5 AM and tries to get some words down on the page while my head is fresh (and before the coffee has even brewed.) I have also tried to get up early in the morning to bike, walk, work out, whatever. Apparently, my mind and body really like sleeping until about 6:14 AM and then my morning routine. And then work. And then when do I have time to write or work out or … Anyway, I thought this was an interesting article on how to train your brain to achieve a good morning flow.

My reading world has been a little bit of famine lately. Not for lack of good books out there, but my concentration is not what I wish it was when it comes to reading. I don’t know if this is the result of grief brain or what, but I’ve been thinking about trying to jumpstart my reading life by revisiting an old favorite.

Watching: I’m still working on SUCCESSION and my BOARDWALK EMPIRE rewatch. In the meantime, it’s now time for STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS. SNW = date night in my household.

Writing Life: During the tail end of June, I participated in Jami Attenberg’s 1,000 Words of Summer. I don’t know how many years I’ve been doing this, but it’s exactly what it sounds like – you write 1,000 words a day and you’re part of a larger community who talks about their progress using the 1,000 words hashtag. And during this time, Attenberg sends out a daily newsletter that always starts out with these words: Today you will write 1,000 words. It’s a magical mantra.  SPOILER ALERT: I didn’t always hit my 1,000 words. But it was a nice way to touch my WIP every day, even when some of my words were just meandering thoughts on the page.

Happy July!  Be careful with your appendages!

– Shelley

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What is First Friday? This started originally as “Friday Fare” where I posted a hodgepodge of links and some of the things that were living rent-free in my noggin. This is a monthly version of that.