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Books I Hope to Read this Year
Mentions: Circe, Me, What Once Was Mine, The Princess Diaries, The Devil Wears Prada, Ella Enchanted, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Stalking Jack the Ripper, Dear Edward, Emily Windsnap and the Tides of Time
Good afternoon! Eileen is taking over today! Baby doesn’t deserve attention today because she’s been a pain in the ass. I told her to play elsewhere while I take on this newsletter.
I may have published a book months ago, but I don’t spend much time reading. There are other free writes I devote time to, career seeking and promoting this book on the side.
I’m adding books to my TBR list when I’m not reading. It’s an ongoing list—a list of a hundred and more.
What will this decent author read next? I’ve compiled a list of new, classics and mostly new!
Note: This was taken from my newsletter by the same title.
I’m so up for this one! It’s on my bookshelf, ready for my miniature hands to grasp at the pages. This book freaking won the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2019! The same year, it was listed as one of the best novels of the year by NPR, WAPO,( Washington Post) TIME, Entertainment Weekly, New York Public Library, Publishers Weekly, rated #1 on the New York Times Bestseller and on the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Fantasy!!!
As for one who loves fantasy and mythology, this better not be a disappointment!
Baby: Hewo!
Eileen: Baby! What are you doing? You’re supposed to be playing!
Baby: Beh! I found a book to read this year! It’s called Hookers and Blow Save Christmas!
Eileen: Baby! Uh, not now! Later. *Shoves Baby away from the screen*
Baby: You think you’re so grown up because you can read.
Eileen: I like bio/autobiographies for one reason: to get the inside scoop on the protagonist. To feel like I know them on a personal level. I like Sir Elton John not just for his music but for overcoming the challenges in his life (attempted suicide, terrible relationship with his father). Note: that info you can find almost anywhere and not strictly in the book. My admiration for Sir John piqued at the height of the fantasy drama film, back in 2019, ROCKETMAN.
Baby: I’m BACK!
Eileen: Baby, I didn’t call you.
Baby: Noo. But this Jimby Fallon book did. *Holds up one of Jimmy Fallon’s baby books, Your Baby’s First Word Will Be DADA, to her face*
Eileen: *Pushes her away from viewers* Baby, I doubt they want to read a picture book.
Eileen: Disney invades your bookshelves! It has long before it turned itself into a streaming service! Might you remember the Little Golden Books? The five-minute story collection?
Not long ago, I discovered Disney’s Twisted Tales, a chapter book collection for young adults. Take the series as alternate realities to your favorite Disney tales–and here’s another twist–these tales are dark. From Alice in Wonderland to Peter Pan, surely you settle on one that you won’t be able to put down.
Rapunzel is the latest in the series, with the publication date as recent as September of 2021.
I’ve added Reflection, Conceal, Don’t Feel and Part of Your World to my collection. I’m a Rapunzel fan; there’s space on my bookshelf for her dark tale.
Baby: I’m adding to my collection! Wook at this super cutie! *Shoves book in Eileen’s face*
Eileen: Really? Did I not put a lock on your door?
Eileen: Yeah, it’s a book, and it’s a film! I rewatched both movies about two years ago. Not much for me to say about this one other than I am kind of drawn to pretty book covers. Moreover, I am familiar with the author Meg Cabot.
Baby: *From bottom of the screen, she holds up a book. Her hand is the only appendage visible. Eileen takes the book to read the cover.*
Eileen: You want me to read The Bad Seed?
Baby: Read it TO me!
Eileen: I will . . . once you learn how to crawl.
Baby: *points her hand down, to mimic a shadow puppet bird*
Eileen: Another book to film starring Anne Hathaway. Another film I’ve seen dozens of times and could see another more.
I’m at that age where I should jump into chick-lit books for young adults—especially ones over two-hundred-something pages like the one I am listing here.
I have read reviews of this book where the readers preferred the film version. Usually, I am that person! Tell you what: you cannot always go by reviews. Go with what your heart desires.
Eileen: *Looks around for Baby–doesn’t see her* I guess we’re good the–ow!
Baby: *Upside down and hanging from the ceiling* Eee-heee!
Eileen: *Picks up dropped book* What is this? *Reads the title: It’s Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. Eileen hands it back to Baby.*
6) Ella Enchanted
Eileen: Yes, you’re in good company if you weren’t in the know that the film is based on the book! Another film starring Anne Hathaway! Three in a row! Hardly done on purpose! No, I wouldn’t consider myself a fan of hers. She has quite a résumé. This book came out in the same decade as Harry Potter. I mention that should anyone might have noticed this fantasy read along the same shelves. I’ve never heard of any praise or media coverage for Ella. That’s not to say I won’t enjoy it. I certainly will leave star reviews for it.
Baby: Think fast!
Eileen: * Ducks in time to miss a book thrown through the air and aiming for her head. She looks at the book’s cover.* Corduroy.
Baby: *Pointing at Eileen* You have six hours, and if you don’t read to me . . .
Eileen: There will be consequences.
Baby: There will be consequences.
7) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Eileen: How have I not read the Harry Potter series yet? How is Apple still cranking out new models of iPhones? I dunno! To be fair, I did start reading it long ago, long before we realized what’s actually inside of a hot dog. I read to maybe page eleven, then found it did nothing for me. Since I’ve watched the Harry Potter films time and again, I’m sure I will enjoy the books, come to think of it. Hey, Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, watched three HP films. So . . .yeah! Eileen: *Blinks fast and notices a book slide out underneath Baby’s nursery door. Eileen takes the book and reads the title.* We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.
Eileen: Interesting! Can’t tell if I’m babysitting or interning.
8) Stalking Jack the Ripper
Eileen: Book one of Stalking Jack the Ripper series, not only is the main focus on Jack, but throughout the installment, other characters are as follows: Prince Dracula, Houdini, and the Devil himself. I’m fascinated by the macabre atrocities carried out by the Ripper, therefore, this looks like a book I’ll fancy. While I’m not interested in magician magic, Harry Houdini’s mysterios fascinate me as well. It’s that era, also, that engages me: pre-1900’s.
Baby: Psst!
Eileen: I think I heard the faucet turn on.
Baby: PSST! Eileen: Tell me that’s the faucet.
Baby: Eiween! *Slides book on the floor over to Eileen*
Eileen: *Reads cover* The Rainbow Fish. Oh,there’s also a note. “Read before dark or you shall get a fart.” What?
Baby:*Crawls away, giggling*
Eileen: I’m hoping this novel doesn’t get my nerves going as I read it. It’s a story that could certainly occur in reality. What sparked my interest to put this on my TBR list is the theme of survival. In addition, the process of healing. If I can get by reading the entire book, I will be proud of myself. *Looks around for a random flying book or a baby face. There isn’t any.* Eileen: Okay, moving on. Last on the list. . .
10) Emily Windsnap and the Tides of Time
Eileen: I’ve been going back to this delightful series throughout the years. I used to own the first book, and then after having read it many times, I donated it–books always need homes. Last summer, I read the second to last one in the series–Emily Windsnap and the Pirate Prince–and by the time I could have gotten around to reading this one, I decided to wait for next summer. The Windsnap tales are the sole mermaid series I’ve stuck with and read every one. I’m sure you remember the first book, for those of you in my age group! *Peeks around the room again, but no sign of Baby or her storybooks.* I guess that’s all for–
Baby: *Slams on top of Eileen, with a book in her hand* Noo! Storytime!
Eileen: Yes, storytime.
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2021: The Year I Became an Author
Shall we say 2021 deserved a nicer shelf life than one filled with hate and despair?
Think back to it, so I don’t have to get into the details. This wasn’t the best year I’ve ever had (that was in 2018), but yeah, it was memorable in more ways than one.
To start off, I finished the final season of MLP:FiM! I left off at season 7 before that and enjoyed the last three seasons. The creators called it quits after season 9, by the way. I did, however, give their spin-off a shot: Pony Life. I LOVED it! Still waiting for Season 2 to be available elsewhere besides YouTube’s paid service.
Onto a political note (though it shouldn’t be :/), my mom and I got ourselves tested for COVID after we received a not-so-pleasant surprise from a relative. Mom and I tested negative, thank goodness!
Love in the time of COVID? Ehh.
This year I rented a PO box for the first time. It was needed for the specific reason I signed up for a newsletter service. Addresses apply, that’s why.
In the spring into summer, I obtained helpful marketing tips months before my book’s publication date. A chat with cozy mystery writer Melissa Storm paid off those sessions.
I can’t put this aside: in winter, I was flaring up with Cosynd, the copyright law company, after months of silence from them. It turned out to be a misunderstanding.
Spring was where I emailed a countless number of individuals and publishing companies if they’d like to review my book. Spring was when I officially made a professional account on Instagram last time I checked.
Summer, quite obvious here. That’s the season I became an author.
June 30, to be exact!
Somewhere along the way, I turned into an official GoodReads author! I have an Amazon Author profile and profiles elsewhere on many bookshop websites. More like biographies.
After going through trials of three separate website builders (I couldn’t settle on which one was less of a hassle to work with), I decided upon WordPress.org. While up until this point, the format could look more put-together, I will work out another theme once I find one that fits my budget.Seriously, the summer would not be complete had I not traveled to my cousin’s wedding. That weekend, I had a ride up through NY up to MA. Although it was about a 26-hour vacation, it still made my weekend! Hurricane Henri turned up, and how lucky we were to have made it through unscathed!
The fall was when my editor tried time and again to turn my book into an ebook. No joke, it took about two months until completion! I had to tell myself the next time I do this, I need to find another publishing company that can make my book into two editions without draining me of money. Or I can go with ComiXology, even.
Ebook publishing is not as simple as I imagined. 🙁
In late September, what stands out in my memory, was when I emailed author and illustrator Marc Brown; I wanted his permission to feature him on my blog. What do you know? On that day, a Saturday, he responded within the hour! It was okay with him!
As for the rest of the year, I tumbled (Tumblr) for a first, finally switched to ConvertKit, and received a review or two for my book.
After losing my grandmother to COVID, I lost another relative to it, not even a year later after losing her. I spoke with R2H on Zoom. I kind of made a new friend when my college friend and this newish friend met up at the mall, weeks after the birth of Omicron. At last, I tried ShakeShack.
2021 was a pisser! 2022 better be a more agreeable year! Let this just be like a repeat of the Spanish flu and be over after exactly two years!
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