Sweatshirt season
Be one with the fuzz
Roads Go Ever On 05: Sweatshirt season
š» what I'm up to š»
It is my most loved time of year in Los Angeles. Gray clouds start to cover the sun more often. I donāt feel an instant sheen of sweat cover my body when I step outside. And because insulation in this apartment is terrible, even when it creeps back up to 80 degrees it doesnāt get hot. This means I get to wear a sweatshirt every day. Since Iām working from home, I can wear the same sweatshirt for several days if I so choose. I make the rules.
And I just love sweatshirts. Theyāre comfortable, warm, cozy, soft. I can usually pull the sleeves over my hands when they get cold. If it has thumb holes? Heaven. I can sink into fleece ones for a whole other level of luxury. Sweatshirts feel like a hug. Itās just⦠sweatshirts bring me such contentment. I know it may sound silly, but going through my many sweatshirts (too many for a reasonable person who lives in a desert to own) and choosing the one that suits my mood brings me such joy. Maybe itās all the looking for happiness in unconventional places to get through this year? Who knows.
Aside from writing odes to sweatshirts, I am in Ultimate Planning Mode. My husband, cats, and I are moving across the country in just about a month, and Iām just going through lists on the daily and making notes in my calendar.
š my book/writing things š
You may know the drill by now, but if youāre still looking for last minute Christmas gifts, Iād sure appreciate if you got one of my books through whatever means is safest.
Iām starting to think about my books that are arriving next year and soon Iāll be able to reveal the cover for A Kidās Guide to Fandom, my middle-grade debut thatās a non-fiction guide to exploring fandom. And Iāll get to share who the illustrator is too and YAY!
Finally, Star Wars Insider #199 is on shelves now and I have two interviews in it: one with Ashley Eckstein about the end of The Clone Wars and one with the authors and architects of the High Republic.
šŗ what I'm watching šŗ
Klaus
I am fully in Christmas mode so Iāve been revisiting a stable of favorites. Klaus is a new addition since it only debuted last year. Itās an animated film with a sweet Santa Claus origin story. Santaās history here involves a postman, a desolate angry town, and an exceptionally kind and lonely toymaker. No joke: Klaus is beautiful with an earnest thread of togetherness and helping others. I cried. I forgot how good it is. If you want something heartwarming to watch this holiday season, Klaus is on Netflix.
And, and, and the animation is breathtaking! They drew it in 2D but applied lighting and textures as if it was 3D? Look, I donāt know animation technology but Cartoon Brew has an interview with folks who worked on the film, and itās fascinating.Ā
š what I'm reading š
Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
Imagine if a certain fantasy show made its own way once it went through the source material and then didnāt end well. Just imagine. Hmm. That happens in Spoiler Alert. Thatās kinda the b plot though. This romance has fanfic, body positivity, a convention, nerdiness, and utter joy. I inhaled it.
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
Itās winter time even if SoCal doesnāt feel like it, and when itās winter I want books that bring me snowdrifts, icy forests, and roaring fires. I only just started The Bear and the Nightingale two nights ago, but oof, am I enchanted. It has Russian fairytale vibes and centers on the story of a daring girl and Frost, a blue-eyed winter demon. There's magic, wildness, and descriptions so vivid I feel like I need an extra blanket while reading.
š³ something whalesome š³
I like wholesome things and the whale emoji is cute so: whalesome!
If youāve ever owned a stuffed animal you know they can be the most loyal friends. We form bonds with our toys, especially as kids. This dad has been taking photos of his kids with their plush bears for years, and I dare you not to smile at his Instagram feed.
š creativity corner š
Here Iāll share tips and tricks that are helping me write, imagine, and/or stay productive.
As Iām approaching a holiday break from my day job at Nerdist and already entirely failing at taking the time completely off (I need to work on a magazine article, looks like a deadline for a start on a book just dropped in my lap, I want to brainstorm ideas for more non-IP books and thatās all on top of packing for the move I mentioned -- you can see what Iām doing to myself here), let me share advice Iām terrible at practicing: take a break if you can! You need it. Your mind needs it. Your body for sure frakking needs it. It will clear some weeds and give you a fresh place to start from. Even if itās just for a day. And remember: you do not have to āearnā or ādeserveā your rest.
š quote of the week š
āWords are living things. They must be treated with respect. Theyāre born, they live and grow, and change, just as we do.ā - Lenora Bell, Love Is a Rogue
A lovely (and quite steamy!) romance novel I recently devoured featured a protagonist who, in the Regency era, is determined to write the ultimate dictionary. I canāt resist a bookish heroine, itās very my brand, and this quote jumped out. Words evolve, and we need to pay attention to the whens and whys and roll with the changes.
Create your profile
Only paid subscribers can comment on this post
Check your email
For your security, we need to re-authenticate you.
Click the link we sent to , or click here to sign in.