Captain's Log. Stardate 78131.9
Hello friends! You know when Smashmouth said “the years start comin and they don't stop comin”? That’s been the vibe recently. But like. With days. And weeks. And months.
Anyway. Things have been happening! I will tell you about them.
All three of my published books were featured on Libby’s list of 23 queer sports books to read this summer, so that’s super cool.
Book things:
Free From Falling is with the copy-editor and my publisher is still targeting a December 2024 release. I should have an actual release date soon.
I’m also over half-way through with the new writing project I’m still not talking about. Initially, I wanted to complete it in a year, but (like everything I write ever) the word count is higher than anticipated so I probably will finish it springtime or summer next year. I keep reminding myself I have a whole ass demanding job and I’m renovating a house in addition to doing author things and that failing to complete a 100k word novel in a year is not a character flaw in those (or any) circumstances. My Anxiety Brain refuses to believe this yet, but perhaps with additional repetition it will stick.
Fic things:
Feast your eyes on the most beautiful bind I’ve ever had the pleasure of holding in my grubby little hands (that’s a lie, I would never, all hands were washed before touching).
The attention to detail that @poppypressbindery put into this bind of WDWG is confounding and really emphasizes that bookbinding is an art; this bind in particular is a masterpiece. And the way it was wrapped/delivered?? Absurdly pretty. The stickers and bookmarks? Unnecessarily kind. The fact that folks like Tyler exist who love fic so much that they create beautiful physical versions of them (and then offer to send copies to the writer! For free!) is just so cool. I love fandom.
Because life is overwhelming at the moment I’m not working on any new fic currently, but I have Many Ideas that will hopefully become stories once house renovations are done.
I do enjoy taunting my friends with those ideas, though.
Speaking of House renovation things:
This house is going to be unrecognizable when I’m finished with it. The living room, once white and boring, is now green and glowing and slowly filling up with thrifted mirrors.
Before:
After:
Before + After:
Funny story of the week:
Related to House Things, we’ve been having some issues with our hot water heater so B did a little investigating and decided that the anode rod needed replacing. I intentionally misheard him (as one does with ones partner) when he conveyed this information to me and said, "you need a new anal rod??" which then became a little ongoing joke between us as we found and ordered a new one and then tracked shipping.
Unrelated, we open our windows at sunset each night to cool down the house for sleeping. Also unrelated, we live on a corner in a heavily foot-trafficked area near downtown.
So. The windows are open. The Amazon delivery guy has just dropped off a package. I bring inside the box and, without thinking, shout up the stairs to B, "DARLING, YOUR ANAL ROD IS HERE." There is a large group of people passing by on the left hand sidewalk.
There is a woman with a stroller on the right hand sidewalk.
The amazon driver is only just closing the gate.
They are now all paused and staring in at me. The windows are open.
My husband is laughing.
I may never set foot outside my home again.
(And here she is, lads…the anal rod) (I am wearing pants, I promise).
Speaking of my partner, we’ve been married for a year! Time flies when you’re having fun and all that. We actually both forgot our anniversary until I was hopping on FB to check marketplace for mirrors (as you do) and FB reminded me that we eloped a year prior. Whoops. Anyway, I highly recommend marrying your best friend, if possible. It’s working out well for me.
We’re actually in Tensleep WY right now (the river picture above) on our annual camping/climbing trip, which I will tell you all about on my next update. I was slightly poisoned last night, so I am languishing at the campsite for the day enjoying the wifi and begging my stomach to get its act together considering the distinct lack of toilets. Pray for me.
I’ll tell you about the climbing trip, my biggest and coolest renovation (the library!), and do a belated book rec (sorry, I know folks have been asking, I’m just overthinking it) next time. See you soon! Love you! Stay hydrated!
Hope you feel better soon. Hope also that with additional self-talks and pats from friends and loved ones (should you be able to accept them), your anxiety brain will believe someday that your productivity does not indicate your worth!