Thursday, July 14, 2011

This 'n' that...

I thought I'd start out by sharing a picture of the monster trumpet vine in my back yard. Every year I swear I'm going to cut it back a little and spiff it up. As you can see, that hasn't happened yet. And with my green thumb abilities, when I do give it a trim, it'll probably look much worse.

I'm still in a bit of a "didn't get to go to RWA National in NYC" funk which may explain my recent lack of enthusiasm for various projects. I miss the feeling of being energized and encouraged after spending a week with all those enthusiastic, like-minded fellow writers. I miss the interaction and stimulation. Writing is such a solitary occupation. That's why I'm really looking forward to a one-day writing workshop in September in Montezuma, Iowa, where Les a/k/a The Assassin Langtry and I will present a writing program. Due to my work schedule, I haven't even been able to make local RWA meetings recently and am sorely in need of hanging out with other people who also hear voices in their heads. Good times.

Since I have been indulging in blatant self-pity, I also know there's nothing like a good book (or three) to get me out of the doldrums. My tax man recommended the book THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins and I picked it up this past weekend. I finished it in a day, went out and bought the next book, CATCHING FIRE, finished that, bought the last book, MOCKINGJAY, and I'm 3/4 of the way through it. I plan to send a thank-you card to my CPA for telling me about the series. It's that good.

What books have you read recently that knocked your socks off? What are you reading currently? When have you stepped outside the genres you typically enjoy and found a "keeper" for your bookshelf?

Next up for me after I finish MOCKINGJAY is THE SHACK by Wm. Paul Young.

Happy reading!

~Bullet Hole~

5 comments:

catslady said...

I loved The Hunger games and although quite different, I also thought The Shack was a great book. I found a new author for me - Katheryne Kennedy and it's a new genre for me fantasy/paranormal. She has an Elven series which I'm enjoying and also Beneath the 13 Moons.

Kathy Bacus said...

I finished MOCKINGJAY this evening. Loved it! Thanks for the thumbs-up on THE SHACK, catslady. I'm starting on it tonight. I haven't picked up any books by Katheryne Kennedy yet but I hear she's excellent so I'll check her out, too.

So many books. So little time.

Robin Kaye said...

I'm re-reading The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley. I almost never re-read books but this one is splendid. I loved it so much when I first read it, and I found out it had been published in the UK and hadn't yet come to America. I had a little hand in bring it over the pond and having it published in the US and Susanna was nice enough to mention me in her acknowledgements. She's dubbed me her publishing yenta! It's even better the second time around. What a beautiful book, part contemporary, part historical, and wholly incredible.

Diane Kelly said...

Your trumpet vine is gorgeous! I used to have one all over my fence but we had to tear it down when we replaced the fence and it hasn't grown back. Waah.

How cool that your CPA recommended a good book! We CPAs aren't nearly as nerdy as people think we are. : )

Linda McDonald said...

I loved the Hunger Games Series. I recently read a memoir that I loved. It's called, "My Year With Eleanor" by Noelle Hancock. She spends a year doing things that she fears: sky diving, stand up comedy, a week volunteering at a mortuary. It was so good. She sprinkles in info about her inspiration, Eleanor Roosevelt, and many of the things that Eleanor did that she was fearful of doing.