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Hello to all of my happy readers!!!
WOW! I think February just flew by.... I blinked and it was over. I had a lot of fun this month and a great deal of stress. I was reminded this month to take the extra moments to squish our loved ones. Watching someone far too young become quite ill has been humbling.
Winter Institute was pretty awesome. I learned a lot and went to many a meeting and education class and several private publisher dinners. Winter Institute is put on by the American Booksellers Association and it is a well attended event. This event brings about 1600+ people from around the country. In my opinion it is a little wild. I feel overwhelmed with those numbers, etc. I just want to go to my hotel room and put on my jim-jams (what I call pajamas) and read or stare at a wall. So I have to take it easy at these type of functions. However, I really loved the intimate dinners that publishers invited me to, where I got to meet other booksellers, publishers and authors. Very fun. My hubby got to stay with me in my hotel because he was in Seattle for WSF work anyways. We went to a comedy show on Monday night put on by one of the guest authors whose book I read. Fun was had. I brought back sooooo many bags of books for myself and my team!
March is bringing me good vibes... I am painting almost everyday as a therapy outlet for my mental health and I am loving how I feel. Watercolor and acrylics mostly. Some of my fun and whimsical works are in the shop, please feel free to stop in and see what made me smile this week. We leave at the end of the month for 8 days in Iceland and then 10 days in Scotland. Iceland is fully planned and booked. What a lovely adventure that will be. We sat down with a local couple who have been to Scotland numerous times and we spent several hours chatting with them, looking at maps, etc. So we will finalize this week what I like to refer to as our visit to the Highlands. I can NOT wait. I will post pics.
We are in the slow season and I am trying not to freak out, like I do every year. It is exhausting work and very little return this time of year. I did get a position on the Board for Anacortes Pride, I am really looking forward to serving in this way.
This month I read How To Sell A Haunted House by Grady Hendrix... this is the second book by this author that I have read. This author is sooooo very good at writing outrageous and creepy. This book was so different than other horror books that I have read, I didn't love the sibling dynamic in the beginning but then it all clicks and you just go "WOW". I mean what's not to love about creepy haunted houses... oh and puppets.. yeah.. creepy dolls too! Fun! I also read Is It Hot In Here (Or Am I Suffering For All Eternity For The Sins I Committed On Earth)? by Zach Zimmerman. He was the comedian that we saw at Winter Institute. His book is good and it is a humbling reflection of what queer people may go through with parents who are not accepting and/or are judgmental. I am a mama bear to an openly gay son and I could not imagine saying these types of things to my kiddo. There was a LOT of humor in his writing. There is a chapter called, Twink on the Fire Escape- hilarious!! I also started reading Rachel Linden's latest manuscript... it is in the very early stages of the printing process. I am a decent content editor, so I am happy to do that for her, but it is grueling work with all the little details, etc. I listened to Booked: A Collection of RomCom Novellas for Book Lovers by Jenn McKinlay. This book is told in 3 novellas and the last one features the characters from the previous 2 novellas. Cheesy, predicable and yet I could not wait to listen to it more. It was very Hallmark with less syrup. Fun and a quick listen. I enjoyed! Then I listened to Big Swiss by Jen Beagin and WHAT A FREAKING DELIGHT!! OK... my full disclosure is... it is sexy, sexy. It follows Greta and she is a transcriber for a sex therapist. It is funny, sad and the narrator is wonderful. There was a part that I KNEW was going to happen and it just didn't matter, I was so happy to be a fly on the wall. I really liked it, but it is not for everyone.
This month I will finish reading Rachel Linden's manuscript. I will also read Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe. It is a graphic novel and the art is awesome! I picked up a copy of Amazing Grace Adams by Fran Littlewood from the Winter Institute event. I know NOTHING about this book other than I liked the cover- hahahaha! I also want to read The Many Assassinations of Samir, The Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri. It is a middle-grade read (for 8-10 year olds) and this one is due out this month. The story is a young man traveling on the Silk Road with another man, Samir. The man selling dreams is a scammer and he makes the wrong people mad. They attempt to assassinate him and this traveler takes it upon himself to save him. I thought it sounded very clever. I will also listen to Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan. I glanced at my hardcopy and decided.. that I better listen to it. I will also read while I am in Iceland.. Secrets of the Sprakkar: Iceland's Extraordinary Women and How They Are Changing the World by Eliza Reid. This title is due out in March and I think I am going to LOVE IT!
Please stay safe, happy, and healthy...Happy Reading!!
Brandy~
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