Monthly Wrap Up: June

 Happy Thursday! I don't know what happened yesterday, but I totally forgot to put this up! So here it is, a day late haha 

I went for a walk today and it was almost a 100 degrees. I think I'm nearing my threshold for summer weather... I'm ready for it to cool down now haha Plus allergies? Not fun at all. I had no idea what some of you go through with seasonal allergies, but I can now fully appreciate how much they suck. There were at least two days this month where I didn't get out of bed for a full day. I slept the day away because my allergies were so bad and it is only because of these all natural allergy things my mom found for me that I am able to once more function. That and Clairitin. Anyways... I'm pretty sure you didn't come here to hear me complain about my allergies haha Onto more fun stuff! 

Writing: I told my mom the other day, if I ever complain about how I don't do anything and am not productive (which I do at least once a month or so haha) just remind me of how much I have written this year so far and it's only June. I'm publishing Golden Touch in a week! Next Thursday! I've edited it on and off from January to now. I've written three children's short stories (for some little girls who lived in our old neighborhood. The minute one of they found out I was a writer she commissioned me to write her a story and then the other two wanted one for themselves too and I can't say no to three adorable little girls so... here I am a few months later having written 3 children's short stories, something I didn't think I would ever do haha), I've written an entire first book/season of a serial for Kindle Vella, started the sequel to that, and soon will be editing the sequel to Golden Touch. 

So, whenever I start to complain, I'm going to come back and look at this blog post and remind myself that I have been pretty busy and very productive the past few months. Not only have I done all of that, but at the beginning of the year I also wrote almost ten short stories or so and edited an old novella I found too. Monday night I also remembered I had written an NA Peter Pan continuation about Wendy and I looked it up on my flashdrive and have now become obsessed with this story. I started rereading it and was like what the heck? Why did I drop this? It's so good! I was swooning over the romance I had written four years ago and am invested in this story because I don't remember where it was going or what I had planned to do with it haha It also helps that I just finished Kara Swanson's amazing sequel to Dust called Shadow which is also a Peter Pan continuation. I was already in the Peter Pan headspace, so now I'm like... I have to do something with this story. I low key am rereading it and editing it as I go and making notes because I kind of want to publish it and I already have a cover idea for it too. So... who knows, maybe in the next few months there might be an announcement about a Peter Pan continuation from me. 

But, yeah, so July has been a pretty productive month for all the writing things. 

Reading: 

I also read a lot this month! What happened to me this month? I think I lit a fire under myself when I realized I had one month left before my summer class started and I better enjoy the break/free time while I could before I had to get up every morning and do classwork instead of just writing and editing and stuff. 

I finished rereading Legendary by Stephanie Garber (all of her books are always a delight to reread). I love the Caraval series so much.

They're just the absolute best. This is a totally random observation, but the first time I read them, Legendary was my favorite in the series and I loved Tella the most. But now I think Caraval is my favorite and I like Scarlett a lot more than I did the first time I read through it. 

Jenni Sauer's Yesterday or Long Ago came out this month too and I can't stop raving about this book. It is so good!! All of her retellings are so wonderful and unique.

I've never read a retelling quite like hers before. I have also dubbed myself as Rinity's twin and am now waiting for my own Tov to show up and be adorable and kiss me in a library the way hers does. Can someone please send me my own Tov? I would really appreciate it. Though if you want to send me a Gibbs I think I would be OK with that too haha Just everything about that book was so good and if you love Pride and Prejudice vibes, all the sweet cinnamon roll characters and a unique spin on the Aladdin story you have to get this book. 

Like I said, I also finished Shadow by Kara Swanson.

That book is not for the faint of heart. Like wow... it was gut wrenching and Kara pulled out all the stops for that book. I'll be honest, I did like Dust more, but I think that's just because I prefer a contemporary setting with fantasy/magical elements than actually being in a fantasy world the way Shadow is. But it was still so good and the ending literally had me in tears. 

Life Stuff: 

What happened in my life in June? I'm not really sure. I think I spent a lot of time sitting behind a desk writing or burying my head in a back. I had some really fun times with friends. Late night ice cream excursions and deep conversations. I did a photoshoot with some friends too which was really fun. 

My allergies sucked... I went to a unicorn Dalmatian birthday party for my little friend who turned five and that was so much fun. Her and her family are so wonderful to hang out with. Oh! I got my hair cut! It's grown out a little since, but it's still pretty short and my curls have bounced back which I'm very happy about! Turns out long hair for me isn't so good for my curls or my scalp and now my head and hair is so much healthier. I also got the coolest pants from this random little store in the mall. I'm obsessed with them. Went to a few parks... 

But really, you know what I always want to remember about this June? What June 2021 will be remembered as by me? Loki and Fringe. I have an obsession with Loki. I did before, but now this show has made me even more obsessed than I already was. It's literally the best MCU show they have come out with and I can't imagine any of their other shows ever topping Loki.

I was going to post a gif from the show... but I don't want to spoil anyone, so here's one from Ragnarok. 

I have waited years! Since I saw the first Thor movie for Loki to get his own show or movie and that time has finally arrived and I am not disappointed. I love him so much and I can't wait to see how the show progresses! Sylvie is pretty rocking too. I hope Her Universe comes out with a whole line for her because I totally need some Sylvia clothes in my life. 

And then there is my other obsession. This one is brand new but equally as important and has taken over my life. Fringe. My mom and my friend recommended it to me and I can't stop watching it. It is so, so good. Peter is my new fictional crush, I just love him so much and I am so worried something bad is going to happen to him!

I mean just look at him! Look at her laugh! Look at them together... I love them so much! 

This show is making me want to write a multiverse/dimension travel book so much. I now want to write all the doppleganger hijinks and drama after watching this show.  

Looking Forward to July: 

I'm definitely excited for the Fourth of July. I love the Fourth, it's always so fun. We won't get to hang with our usual friends this year which is a little sad, but I'm sure whatever plans we do make will still be fun. 

The next season of Outerbanks comes out in July too and I can't wait! I can't wait to see John B and the whole crew! That first season was so good and I just know the second one is going to be good too. 

My brother and I are also going to go see Black Widow in theaters the weekend it comes out, so that'll be fun. Oh, and you know, I have Golden Touch coming out next Thursday too. No big deal. ;) Every time I think about it coming out I get both excited and so nervous. I just want it to do well haha I also have my first ever podcast interview that Thursday to celebrate the release. I'm excited and nervous about that too. I'm not the best talker and I get super anxious, but this was such an amazing opportunity I couldn't pass it up. 

What else is there...? I'll be in the trenches of my Oceanography class that started this week. Hopefully that all goes well. My cousin is coming to stay with us for a few weeks so that'll be fun. My brother (one of them haha) who has high functioning autism will be moving out of his group home that he's been living in for a few weeks now and we'll be finding him an apartment/condo or house or something that will better suit him and his needs. I wrote out a whole post about that eye opening experience that I want to share this month too. God has been so good throughout the whole messy journey of this thing and I know He will get us to where we need to go with that situation. 

The Runaway will go live on Kindle Vella some time in the middle or end of July! I'll let you guys know when the app goes live and the first five episodes will be available. 

Other than all that... I'll be editing Emerald Phantom and possibly Peter Pan continuation along with writing more of the sequel to The Runaway. 

How did your June go? What are you looking forward to the most in July?