January is over! How crazy! It seriously went by so fast. Then again, it feels like Christmas was a century ago.

Life Updates

• started an Instagram account for my Etsy store. It was so confusing at first, considering it was my first social media account. I think I’ve gotten the hang of it now, though!
• found out that the curse of writers and excessive notebooks is REAL. I have so many empty journals with no idea what to put in them and any suggestions would be much appreciated 😫
• my sister and I had our first coffee-and-books date, where we went to Starbucks and talked about our projects while sipping coffee. We both got so much done that I think it’s going to become a regular thing.
• made moodboards for side characters in ASATSF
• my cat loves me now, for some reason. And I’m here for it. But she still eats my Bible verses and my math homework. Can’t win them all.
• celebrated my mom’s birthday with a stroll down the harbor and a surprise dinner with family and friends!
• went for a trail ride with my cousin (technically, this was on December 31, by I’m counting it, and you can’t stop meeeee).
• started drawing because I’m desperate to draw character art 😂

Photo Dump

Writing

As Sure As The Snow Falls

I’ve been going through the first draft veeeeery slowly. But I had my sister read through it, and she liked it, so that’s good!

I’m trying to let it settle, so I can go back and rewrite it with fresh eyes. I’ve been focusing very heavily on world building so everything makes sense this time around.

Here’s a quote from Kye’s POV:

I hate the Seers.

I shifted my position on the slanted rooftop in order to see the far corner of the courtyard below. My hand slid down to my belt to the place where my dagger was strapped. I drew it absentmindedly, wondering how hard I would have to throw it to embed it into the Seer’s chest and pierce his heart.

Another Secret Project

Eeeeee! This one is so exciting. I’m hopefully going to talk about it in an upcoming post, but I’ve been working on it really hardcore this month.

Reading

I read two books this month! *cue off tune, slightly sad trumpets *

I wanted to read more, but alas, time got away from me. Plus, I kept starting books that were really slow, and I fell into a reading slump near the end of the month.

I finished Crossed by Allie Condie, which was a three star read for me. The middle was super slow, the romance felt forced, and the main character still didn’t have a personality.

Where Darkness Cannot Follow by A. M. Daylin was soo good but a little slow at parts, resulting in four and-a-half stars from me.

Music

Day Late And A Buck Short by Julia Cole finally came out! I was waiting for this one. Its so fun and fun to sing 🤪

Other songs I’ve been loving are Better Me For You (Brown Eyes) by Max McNown, Can’t Steal My Joy by Josiah Queen and Brandon Lake (!!!!!!), and If I Ever Get You Back by Morgan Wallen.

For Next Month…

I hope to read some more. I want to read at least one non-fiction book in February. I’d also like to start on ASATSF’s second draft, and maybe even the first draft of my other project. We’ll see!

Have a blessed day!