Little moments

I’m holding them close

💻 what I'm up to 💻
Okay, so, summer happened. It’s still happening. The first day of fall is still weeks away. But today I got up early and took a walk and I needed a hoodie. A chilly current tucked itself away in the air and wrapped around me when I refilled the bird feeders last night. I welcome it. I’m tired of Sweaty Season.

Anyway, as ever, I’m trying my best. I’m not writing as much as I would like to be, but I’m working on it. I went to a writing retreat two weeks ago and wow being around other writers and folks who can help keep me accountable helps. A lot. So, I’m trying to bring that accountability into my everyday life. I need it. After rewriting half of my middle grade fantasy on that retreat, I realized I need to rewrite it again. From the beginning.

It’s learning. It’s part of the process. It is definitely totally cool. Being a writer is neat.

When I’m feeling a way about my work or myself, I remind myself of what I’m grateful for. I thought I’d share some of the little moments I’ve loved lately.

• Kairi got the all clear from her surgeon, whew!

• The family of crows in our neighborhood, who I’ve been feeding peanuts for a while, keeps bringing their fledglings to the bird bath. They leave behind wee feathers in the water and make so much noise. Juvenile crow caws are so distinct and loud! This week I’m pretty sure I saw the fledglings try to eat peanuts for the first time. One of them just did not get it and begged to be fed by an adult. The adult responded by moving farther away.

• Watching Nix be Nix in Star Wars Outlaws 😭😭😭

• Quietly sitting by the lake during my writing retreat

• Organizing my bookshelves

• Coffee with Dreamlight Valley

• Learning more about myself (I just got a reading from The Force Healer and I have a lot to reflect on)

Here’s to more little moments.

📘 my book things 📘
Book stuff is a bit of “second verse same as the last” this time. However! I have seen the first draft of the cover for Thrill Ride and it is GORGEOUS. I cannot wait to share it, hopefully soon. I have also commissioned an artist to do a map of the theme park I created for the book and I also cannot wait to share more about that. In the meantime, if you’re a Barnes & Noble Rewards member, you can preorder Thrill Ride for 25% off between now and September 6 with the code PREORDER25.

📺 what I'm watching 📺
I’m in serious pout mode over Prime Video canceling My Lady Jane after one season. At this point I should know better than to get attached to shows. Ugh. I am slowly watching season three of The Bear and less slowly watching A Discovery of Witches (it’s newly arrived to Netflix).

📚 what I'm reading 📚
Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis
I loooooooooved this story. LOVED. It’s a snappy space heist with so much sass and tension and action. The main character Ada reminds me of Claudia Black’s Vala Mal Doran in SG-1. Ada looks out for herself, she’s hella capable and calculating, and I want to be her? Also if you’re like, Amy, I’m busy, I do not have time to read, then I have good news for you. It’s a novella. Go forth and read it.

Other books I enjoyed recently include Farrah Rochon’s Fate Be Changed (perfect for this Merida fangirl) and Kalyn Josephson’s Ravenfall, which was a great reminder for me that middle-grade stories are often intense AF.

🐳 something whalesome 🐳
I like wholesome things and the whale emoji is cute so: whalesome!

mrdoingthemost

A post shared by @mrdoingthemost

 I first met Raevon Redding through a mutual friend in the Disney Parks ambassador program, and when I tell you he is a shining beacon of light and kindness… Raevon has a series of Bow Tie Talks that he posts weekly and I look forward to them. (I do mentally replace the God references with the Universe, but you do you!). The most wholesome and pure.

🍃 creativity corner 🍃
Here I’ll share tips and tricks that are helping me write, imagine, and/or stay productive.

claribel_ortega

A post shared by @claribel_ortega

First of all, if you haven’t read Claribel A, Ortega’s Witchlings books, get on that. Second of all, follow on her Instagram and Threads for excellent publishing insight. Finally, watch the above video for her cozy writing method. I’m going to start trying this out next week because friends, me and writing are on the outs right now.

📃 quote of the month 📃
“Grace costs you nothing.” - Abby Jimenez, Part of Your World

Say it. Think it. Repeat it until grace for yourself and others becomes a reflex. I’m right there working on it with you. (Also, Part of Your World is wonderful and I definitely stayed up too late reading it because I couldn’t put it down).

How is your world looking as fall approaches? Leave a comment or reply and let me know how you’re doing. Maybe tell me about some of the little moments you’ve felt grateful for.