A powerful haircut
Snip, snip
Roads Go Ever On 15: A powerful haircut
💻 what I'm up to 💻
I did it. I’m fully vaccinated as of yesterday. I can move with marginally less anxiety in the world. The first thing I did was get a haircut (why yes, I did choose a salon because of the Dolly Parton and RuPaul mural on the side of their building). I asked the stylist to cut off so much hair that it was one of those situations where she cut off a small ponytail before she even washed my hair. I know it is such a small thing but losing the weight of 18 months of unfettered hair growth was a relief. And yeah it’s just hair, but at the same time… is it? The act of returning to something so routine was a revelation. Dropping that five inches of hair felt symbolic. Freeing. As smaller chunks fell on the floor around me and also somehow inside my face covering, I felt a kind of awe. Like this haircut represented an act (however small) of hope. Of moving forward.
Plus you know, weather is getting warmer and I’m gleeful that a mass of hair is no longer covering my neck. Look how short!
This small step has me thinking about the next one. Getting a beer on an outside patio. Even eating outside maybe?! Going for hikes on more narrow trails where social distancing is impossible if you cross someone’s path. Taking a road trip to visit my family in Ohio. And I’m absolutely thinking about a return to theme parks in the fall; I booked a trip for Walt Disney World in December.
Get ready, world (and self). I’m cautiously putting my foot outside the door and feeling things out. I don’t think any of us should be reckless. And remember: if you’re not ready for any of this, that’s okay. We’ve all been through varying levels of trauma. Comfort levels are subjective. Listen to your gut. Take it slow. And if any friends/family don’t understand your feelings, give them a figurative kick in the shins (I’m assuming you’re not close enough to make a literal kick). We all need to hold understanding close to our hearts when it comes to our loved ones and emerging from our respective cocoons.
While I’m kind of in a holding pattern on my two book projects, I figured I’d share something else I wrote. As many of you know, I work as the managing editor at Nerdist. I write for the site when I can and as I’m absolutely obsessed with Shadow and Bone right now, I wanted to dive into a particular aspect about the series: the goat! So I talked to actor Kit Young (Jesper Fahey) and writer/co-executive producer Daegan Fryklind all about Milo the goat—why Milo works in the series, what it was like to work with a goat, etc. Kit Young was DELIGHTFUL to chat with and I loved writing this article. Read all about Milo at Nerdist.
📘 my book things 📘
It happened! A Kid’s Guide to Fandom and The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge are both out in the world. Y’all placed a ton of pre-orders for signed copies of The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge with Malaprop’s (my local bookshop) and I’m thankful and so are they. You can still order signed copies of both. Just give Malaprop’s a call.
I’m doing a virtual event for A Kid’s Guide to Fandom with Wheatberry Books on May 15! We’re going to make a fanzine together and it will be a blast. Register for free at the above link!
ALSO: I’ve stopped by some podcasts to talk about The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge! Thank the Maker had me on and so did Friends of the Force. I’m so appreciative!
And I’m on a very cool podcast debuting its second season today and it’s hosted by one of my favorite people and I’m so excited but the episode’s not out yet and I don’t want to spoil it. I’ll post about it on social media though!
📺 what I'm watching 📺
The Mitchells vs. the Machines
If you want a highly entertaining and humorous animated film with a queer protagonist trying to find herself and figure out her complicated relationship with her dad and family all while fighting off the robot takeover and the end of humanity as we know it, The Mitchells vs. the Machines is for you. Michael Rianda and Jeff Rowe co-directed and co-wrote this Sony animated film and it is such a blast, with some inventive aspects that set it aside from all the animation you know. It's on Netflix.
The Bad Batch
Of course I’m watching the new Star Wars animated series. OF COURSE. Getting more of the clones is always a treat (though I don’t understand why the Bad Batch’s skin is so much lighter than the other clones and that cameo of [redacted] in the premiere has much lighter skin too 👀) and I’m so curious about this specific era right after Order 66 when the Empire has turned the clones, our former friends, into more callous stormtroopers. When a clone punched a droid for merely touching him in the premiere, my heart cracked. And the new kid character joining them, Omega? I love her. Hunter’s my fav of the Bad Batch/Clone Force 99. I’m all about his reluctant father figure vibes. How about you?
📚 what I'm reading 📚
From Little Tokyo, With Love by Sarah Kuhn
If Sarah Kuhn writes it, I will read it. Her newest book reinvents a modern fairy tale with the amazing Rika at the center. She's an orphan who lives with her aunt and cousins, she's grappling with her biracial background, she has rage. And she dives into a mystery about her mom and meets a very cute actor and... it's riveting. Plus it's set in Little Tokyo, one of LA's best places.
I also just want to say that I canceled the 15 ebooks I had on hold at the library that I just kept hitting “deliver later” on and it was freeing. I want to focus on the many physical books I need to read.
🐳 something whalesome 🐳
I like wholesome things and the whale emoji is cute so: whalesome!
This otter is trying so hard and I feel every second of this video.
🍃 creativity corner 🍃
Here I’ll share tips and tricks that are helping me write, imagine, and/or stay productive.
So way back near the beginning of the pandemic (I can tell by the length of my hair), I sat down with the very talented and awesome Erin Lefler for her series The Drawing Board. She interviews folks in the entertainment and comic industries each week to look at process and creativity and all that fun.
That video is my creativity corner this newsletter though I'll repeat something I say in the video: if you are doing any kind of work for which you will get a 1099 or you want to register yourself as a business, hire an accountant as soon as you can. I tried to do my taxes and everything myself until last year and it was HARD and I messed up so many things. Now I pay an accountant who knows everything inside and out and gives me advice and I should have hired her back in 2011 when I started getting paying writing work.
📃 quote of the week 📃
"So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their endings." - JRR Tolkien, The Hobbit
Change comes eventually. Bad times will fade. Even good times will end. But as we’re in this optimistic yet still precarious place (folks, please get vaccinated if you’re able to!), this quote is on my mind. Endings happen.
Thanks for reading! If you’re so inclined, let me know what you’re reading and watching or anything at all.