Well hello, and season's greetings! There's never a time of year when I'm more psyched about a great book than late fall/early winter. It's a great protector against the elements. This time around I've chosen a second go at Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. This is possibly a fool's errand after my last ambitious undertaking, especially since my reading time has only dwindled, but it feels like the perfect read right now, even if it's only a chapter each night before bed. I had a Barnes and Noble gift card kicking around so I also treated to myself to Francesca Lia Block's Pretty Dead. It's no secret that I'm not a vampire novel enthusiast, but I am an FLB fangirl so I couldn't resist checking out her foray into the undead. I'll let you know my thoughts once I've had a chance to dig in.
As for my little avenger, we read Goodnight Moon, every night, and lots of Sandra Boynton these days. At six months and counting he's not quite as attentive as he once was, being that he's much more interested in eating the books than looking at them, but I figure if I keep at, the love of a good story will infect him one way or another. And that's why board books were invented, right?
Oh, and I'm writing again, which feels amazing. I won't lie, I still have to force myself to get started every day. But the butt-in-chair, no excuses, just stop talking about and get down to business already approach is remarkably effective. Once I'm immersed in what I'm doing, I always wonder what took me so long. So until my next lapse, it's full steam ahead.
Happiness abounds, and I hope the same is true for all of you.
Written material copyright Dawn A. Emerman 2010