August is officially over and, phew, it’s been a month. I’m pretty sure my life has turned into a soap opera.
The really cheesy kind, where every time something happens, you’re like, COME ON. I’m not buying it. None of this seems like it could actually be real. But of course, you keep watching because you’re 75% sure karma is going to kick in soon, and it’d be a shame to miss that.
Since this is a recap, let’s recap the last ~3 months of my life, shall we?
✦ Grandmother suddenly got sick and died
✦ Missed miscarriage #2
✦ Mother getting a divorce
✦ Grandfather diagnosed with dementia (I’m his primary caregiver)
At this point, whenever someone asks what’s new, I just laugh maniacally.
So August was a lot of returning to the blogging scene and playing catch-up. And ya’ll, it is soooo good to be back.
So here’s what I got up to in the blogosphere this month.
#AmReading Update
Books read this month: 10
August Book Reviews:
Wish Our Hearts Away by E.J. Phillips (★★★★☆)
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman (★★★★★)
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan (★★★★★)
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson (★★★★★)
The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell (★★★★☆)
The Seasons of My Mother by Marcia Gay Harden (★★☆☆☆)
The Three Hares: Bloodline by Geoffrey Simpson (★★★☆☆)
Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young (★★★★★)
Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine (★★★★☆)
Upcoming Reads
Here’s what’s on my list to read in September. Whether I get to them all remains to be seen.
Discussion Posts
Reading With A Busy Schedule|| Finding Time Amidst the Chaos
Bout of Books || Did Someone Say Read-a-thon?
Top Ten Tuesday
Books That Should Be Mashed Together (In Which I Play Frankenstein)
10 Book Bloggers You Should Follow
In A Reading Slump? Try These.
10 Books to Read Before Graduating
Blogger Post Love
Here are some great posts this month from other bloggers:
✦ Shealea from That Bookshelf Bitch talks about spreadsheet hacks (including templates)
✦ Annemieke at A Dance With Books will be hosting a 15 Years With Bartimaeus starting September 3.
✦ Douglas William Thurstan Smith reminds us of seven benefits of reading.
✦ Mara at Across The Books reminds us of what we have to look forward to with September releases to get excited about.
✦ Krysta at Pages Unbound discusses the myth of the “good reader”.
✦ Simant from Flipping Through the Pages celebrated her one-year blogoversary with a list of things she’s learned about blogging.
#WritersLife Update
Oh, yes, hai, I’ve done this. Mostly.
Kai and the Wayfarer’s Amulet is currently out with betas! They should be back within the month, at which point I have one more draft to do before the long slog of querying agents. How … exciting? I love it, really. Don’t let me fool you.
What is exciting is that I’m having a cover made. You know what that means? 2019, baby! I’ll be self-publishing this particular series. No release date yet, but it’s coming. I cannot wait to share this cover with everyone. More details when we get closer to publication!
August Twitter Fun
Not following me on Twitter? Maybe you should.
WHY WRITERS ARE STARING BLANKLY:
– Currently living in a fantasy world. Back in 20.
– Figuring out a major plot hole.
– Contemplating murder. Probably not of you.
– Thinking about the book we were reading.
– Socializing batteries are drained. Recharge with coffee.#writerslife— Sammie Betler (@srbetler) August 10, 2018
HOW WRITERS PLOT:
– Not at all, then everything in the span of 5 minutes. – On note cards. – Which they inevitably lose. – In the 30 seconds before sleep. – With color-coded Post-It notes. – And mood music. – What? No, it’s called progress, not procrastination.#writerslife — Sammie Betler (@srbetler) August 16, 2018
STEPS TO WRITING A GREAT NOVEL:
1. Find a pen and notepad.
– A computer will also work.
– Or your enemy’s blood and a rock, I suppose.2. Come up with an idea.
– Or be mauled by a plot bunny.
– Get rabies shot.3. ????
– Magic, maybe?
– Try some blood sacrifices.#writerslife— Sammie Betler (@srbetler) August 29, 2018
So sorry to hear what you’ve been going through the past three months, it sounds exhausting both mentally and physically. I’m so impressed with the amount you’ve read in August, I can only read that much in my dreams haha
Seems like 2019 is gonna be a super exciting time with your self-publication, looking forward to seeing the cover and how it progresses from there!😊
Thank you for linking my post!✨ Brb gonna go follow you on twitter now
I confess, half of that was a read-a-thon, so I knew I was going to be setting aside more time than usual to read during that week. 😛 So that helps a lot! Not always feasible, though.
2019 also means we get The Wicked King and The Toll, which I’m probably more excited about than my own book coming out. Am I supposed to say that? xD But, I mean, priorities. But yes, so many good things promised in 2019! I’m already calling it: it’s going to be a great year. 😛
I am really sorry for what you are going through past three months. I can’t imagine to deal with such difficult situations 🙁
But I am so happy that you were able to get back to your routine and did so well reading-wise, this month. 10 books is certainly impressive. And wow, you posted so much on blog too. I’m impressed.
And good luck with your book 🙂 Thank you for linking to my post. I hope that September is even better for you 🙂
Thank you! Having things like the blog helps, because I enjoy it. 🙂 I didn’t think I’d read as much, so I’m happy to make it to ten. It felt like less than that. And thank you! Here’s to hoping that September’s a good month for everyone. 😀
I’m sorry to hear about your family, Sammie…that’s really sad and sending you all the good wishes. 😔 Hope you’re holding up ok.
And best of luck with the querying and/or self-publishing! That’s a huge step for any writer ahh and definitely full of nerves and excitement. Wishing you total success!
I’m holding up really well, and the book reading helps. xD It’s hard to wallow when you’re falling in love with the next cold-hearted assassin who clearly is just misunderstood and needs a hug. 😉
Thank you! I’m so terrified but still excited. Is there a word for that? The Germans probably have one. They have fabulous words, for pretty much everything.