#Netgalley I have questions…

Such as….

Do I get dinged for DNF’ing a book?

Should I still review said book? On why it was DNFed?

When do I start posting about the books? Because  the second one I grabbed…. O.M.G. I haven’t laughed this hard or enjoyed myself so much in a while. I’m loving this book. But it doesn’t publish until JANUARY 2024!!! (I know I can write the review and just schedule it)

Which leads to…..

Hello my lovelies, I just reinstated my Netgalley account. Yay!! Of course, the first book I chose was… Hmmm…. As writers we can learn a lot from it. Do I still give it my honest review? Do I just shrug it off? Move on? I don’t like giving negative reviews, or at least naming the book I’m talking about. And I especially don’t like reviewing a book I DNFed (Did Not Finish).

Life is so nuts right now– full of grief and stress and fear and excitement. But I’m really enjoying this second book I chose. Whew! I was starting to think my romance with reading was fizzling out.

I do have to say, tho, I really like Netgalley’s App. Makes it so simple and easy to read & get the books! Yay!

When it isn’t about the thing…

So I follow @hannahnicolemaeon TikTok. She has a series of what I just thought were skits — Assistant to the Villian, and they have gotten me through some really dark days. I am so happy that it’s actually a book that will be coming to a shelf near me in November. So excited for her, and also excited to support it.

Now she has a brilliant marketing team. They sent out gorgeous promo boxes and I started seeing them pop up on the Tok. Kewl! Then there was a contest to get one, but my phone wouldn’t let me enter. Google don’t like doing that kind of stuff from the Tok or an evil villain is holding me down. Or would it be a hero being a dood? One or the other. A chance popped up again, and again I was blocked. And again.

Then there was a book club and the first 50 would get a free ebook. I was, miraculously, right at the very beginning but… Again. Blocked at every turn. Couldn’t follow the link thru Tok and it wasn’t available thru the actual app the club is on. So once again…

And I lost it. I was on lunch at work, sobbing in my car, trying to get myself back together because it was time to go in. Red eyes and snotty, but I eventually did so. Thankfully the guys I work with are kind of oblivious.

Now here’s the thing. I. Don’t. Cry. Over. Not. Having. Books. End of story. Never have. Do I really, desperately want to read it? Yes. However, I don’t even know if it’ll be any good. Never read anything by her. Want to support her, interested and wanting to bring some sunshine back in my life, yes. Absolutely. But I don’t cry over not being able to buy books. If I did, it would be waiting for a new Anne Bishop book and never have I ever.

WTH?

Talking with my sister Mary, who btw I’m running away to in about a month, put things into perspective. Dad died and I’ve been running and fighting so hard since I haven’t had time to grieve. I’m leaving my home. I’ve been here 13 years, and in Cali all my life. Said goodbye to SF over the weekend, and my beloved Pacific Ocean and now I’m crying again. I’m trying to pack up my home and don’t know how to do this.

On top of all that I can’t write. My tongue has been leashed, at least for another month. All the hurt and anger and so many more emotions that need to come out but I promised to hold it in. And when I can’t speak my truth I don’t write it either. Actually I probably should. It’s not like I have to show it to anyone, right? But will I have any time.?

To be honest, I have been feeling like I just have to live in Hell for a while, then I can escape.

And again, not the fault of the author (hannahnicolemae) or marketing team of the book. I am so excited for her. And to be very honest, I have been blessed with ARCs and marketing treats from Rie Sheridan Rose and if you haven’t read her series with Jo what are you waiting for???? Steam Punk greatness is what’s waiting for you there. She also has spooky books, just in time for fall.

Library Score! (And writing stuff!)

I now have a Cry About it Book List. In addition to a TBR pile both physical and ebook that is out of control (and untouched).My CAIL is comprised of books I lust after but can’t get. Yet. Hopefully someday, but not right now, when I’m worried about so many other things like necessities.

Some of the books on my CAIL I have a hold placed on Libby. Some aren’t available on there. And the wait times are horrid. But at the Lodi Public Library, I’ve found my second CAIL book! 

Went to the library Thursday after work and scored yet another book that was on my cry about it list. Abby Jimenez’s “Yours Truly”.

When I tell you I have taken so many quotes from this book and written them down in my journal, because they just hit me so hard… I know not everyone likes Romance or Rom-Coms, but this book hit me both with the language and with the structure.

I loved the letters between the characters, the dynamic, the way their own insecurities and the whole book.

But then I started this and stopped this blog and I think I’m just gonna post before I forget.