Welcome to the Books of 2021

 I had a conversation last night with a friend of mine. She asked me what my favorite books were. That's a tough answer as it varies from moment to moment and genre to genre. We ended up talking a lot about books in the fantasy and science fiction genres with a heavy lean towards queer and LGBTQ+ narratives - likely helped by the fact that I'm currently reading Stina Leicht's science fiction and very queer Persephone Station.

The cover art is amazing for this book!

Growing up my book list tended to be comprised of cozy mysteries and most things written by Agatha Christie. There were a few fantasy books here and there (naturally I was big into Harry Potter - though I am currently greatly displeased with the author). My family also seemed to favor mysteries and I ended up with a whole collection of Nancy Drew books and the "Cat Who" series. 

With few exceptions, it wasn't until high school and college that I began to branch out and read other genres. While in Japan at 11, I read Lloyd Alexander's Prydain series since they were a few of the only English books in my aunt and uncle's home. In high school, I received my first science fiction books with Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series (I did not read Extras) and branched out to the fantasy series The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel (the first few books are great - I don't know what happened in books five and six, but I was too invested by that point not to finish them) by Michael Scott. I even picked up the mid-grade Disney series The Kingdome Keepers by Ridley Pearson.

The only genre I can't seem to get into is Romance. 

I'm fairly certain it's because Romance as a genre relies on trope (all genres have them stop groaning) that I don't enjoy. Lack of communication skills, sappy situations, and important information from people isn't how I like my drama to unroll. 

That's not to say I don't like romance or pairings in my stories. When done well, I love a nice sweet romance. I just want other outside factors to play a roll - like a dragon, scary ghost, or social issues that need to be confronted (*cough* LGBTQ+ *cough*). 

This is just a sampling of the books I like to read and doesn't include my (extensive) manga, graphic novel, or poetry collection. I've collected Astrix comics since I was a little kid and my collection continues to grow.  Yu Yu Hakusho and Fruits Basket (see I do read some Romance) were my jam in high school. In college is was Black Cat and Ronin Kenshin. Now, I've included the works of Junji Ito to my shelf, right next My Brother's Husband and Another. 

My poetry collection is a monster unto itself and I find that I like modern and traditionally studied poets.

The books I read in 2021 reflected my eclectic taste in literature. Some how, in the stressful 12 months that are currently a blur in my mind, I found the time to read 34 books - surpassing my goal of 32. This is 3 more books than 2020.

The books I read consisted of several Goodreads giveaways (mostly non-fiction, but there was a very long horror novel in there somewhere), a poetry collection that featured one of my poems (it needed editing), several graphic novels I found at used books stores, a lot of poetry, a novella that I beta-read for a friend (and I plan on rereading this year), a short novel about ghosts at one of my favorite railroad museums, a couple of classics, and one book about birds with lots of swear words (this one was a lot of fun to read before going hiking in the Shenandoah).

Some standouts from last year include: 

• Harpyness is Only Skin Deep, Hazelhearth Hires Heroes, and Love, Death, or Mermaid all by my friend D. H. Willison. His books and series, Tales of Arvia, are a lot of fun. They're episodic D'n'D style adventures that are engaging and funny. And guess what! He now has a merch store. Go check it out.
• Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas - probably my favorite read of 2021 this book is queer, Hispanic, and takes place around El Día De Los Muertos. It has ghosts, murder, mystery, fantasy, and (gasp) a great teenage romance. I highly recommend it.
• Your Corner Dark by Desmond Hall - a YA novel that takes place on Jamaica and deals with the struggles of poverty, racism, and gangs. 
• Living in Data: A Citizen's Guide to a Better Information Future by Jer Thorp - a mixed back of Thorp's incredible career, how to visualize data, and understanding how data shapes our world. I really liked it.
• Black Girl, Call Home by Jasmine Mans which was robbed of it's Goodreads award for best poetry of 2021.
• I am The Rage: A Black Poetry Collection by Martina McGowan.
• Doggolescence: Poems by Kyra The Staffy by Kyra The Staffy and her mama Rachel Oates - I bought this one because I like the YouTuber Rachel Oats and she ran into some trouble when another YouTuber couldn't handle the (very valid) criticism Rachel gave them. I wasn't expecting much, but found that I really liked reading poetry from a dog's point of view. 
• Some Things I Still Can't Tell You: Poems by Misha Collins - actor Misha Collins released a poetry collect? Why yes, I will be adding it to my collection. Fans of the actor will enjoy his poetry - that I can guarantee.

The above list is only a sample of the books I read. 

One of my goals for 2022 is to read 35 books (one more than 2021). I've already mentioned that I'm knee deep in Persephone Station, but I've also started Self-publish a Book in 10 Steps by Hank Quense who is a member of my writer's group in New Jersey. I received a copy in exchange for a review (which I'm happy to provide). 

I have a huge stack of books that need to be read next to my bed - not including all of the books recommended to me by my friend last night. Some are carry over books from last year I haven't gotten to. Some are books that have been in my "to read" pile for multiple years. 

Maybe this year, I can make a decent dent in the stake (before obtaining more books) and surpass my 35 book goal.

Happy 2022 everyone! May you find peace and joy in the new year.

Welcome to if Money Weren’t an Issue

 Have you ever thought about what you might do if money weren’t an issue? 

It wouldn’t take away my anxiety or quell my cautious nature, but it might lead to some awesome adventures and new experiences. I know money can’t solve all my problems, but they could help me achieve some goals and do some things.

If I didn’t have to worry about rent or other bills I think I would spend most of my time traveling the world and exploring as much as I could. I could impulsively go to Spain or Italy and then hop over to Algeria or Senegal. I’d go to Tierra del Fuego and charter a boat to Antartica. I’d go urban exploring in forgotten hotels and camp in every national park. I could be like Scrooge MacDuck, but give the lost artifacts to their original country’s people to keep.

Planning my trip around the world would be a lot easier if I didn’t have to worry about money.

Once I’m done traveling and exploring, I would go back to school and get PhDs until my mind was so full of facts it would float into the stratosphere. I’d take that knowledge and dive deep into the ocean floor to count the number of species in the twilight zone and help people to adapt to climate change.

In between these times, I’d volunteer as a gardener. Helping plants grow and feed my community with healthy, fresh produce. I might even have my own house (with a secret passage and a tower and a library) with a huge garden.

I’d spend my time reading and writing books. I’d see every movie I’m interested in. I’d take dance lessons and maybe a martial art or two. I’d paint and create art to my heart’s content.

There is so much to experience in life and I know that I might only experience a fraction of it. I’ve barely scratched the surface of all the amazing wonders life has to offer. My goal in life is to live live as much of a fulfilling life as possible. I don’t think I’ve done that just yet. There’s so much I want. So much I wish for.

 But this feels selfish of me. 

It’s not that I’d be lazy and idle with my time. No matter how much I imagine a carefree life with travel, education, and creativity, I can’t help feeling that I’m undeserving of such things.

There are so many people who have hopes and dreams like I do. So many people who have to chose between x and y despite needing both to survive.

We have one life (that we know about) to live and it’s a very limited existence. I find it frustrating that there is so much to do and hardy any time or resources to do them. I also am very fortunate to have been given a lot of helping hands to get to where I am now. Am I ungrateful for wanting more?

Or is wanting more an intrinsic conviction of our human lives?

What about you, reader, what would you do if money weren’t a factor? 

You’d still have a time limit. And the pandemic would still be going on. Would you try to find an end to COVID? All illnesses?

Would you buy a nice house? Would it be on the beach? 

Would you travel? Or build the most amazing home entertainment center so you would never have to leave your home again?

Would you write novels? Make movies? Further your education?

Would you spend your days volunteering to build houses or gardening?

Would you spend the rest of your days floating in outer space?

I’d say it’s unfair that some people can do these things without second thought or worry where their next meal might come from, but that’s a little on the nose for this post.

I have so many wishes that are unlikely to come true. But the again…

If wishes were fishes, we’d all eat like kings. And the fisherman would be free to do other things.

If you liked this post (or it really pissed you off -or maybe it confused you this time) like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope you like hearing from me.

Let me know in the comments what you would do if money weren’t an issue. Or maybe right a short story, then send me a link to where you publish it.

Until next week.

Welcome to the Reading Over a Year

 Last year I joined Goodreads to help me keep track of the books I've been reading. I really like the platform and am enjoying writing reviews for everything I've been reading. 

Now, I'm normally a slow reader. When I saw that there was a challenge to read a certain number of books, I opted to give myself an arbitrary number that seemed reasonable for me to achieve. That number was 20.

As time progressed, I found that I was reading a lot more than I thought I would (thanks to the pandemic and all). I kept upping the number of books I pledged to read until I settled on 30. As the end of the year approached, I wasn't sure I'd accomplish my reading goal (especially when the counter kept reminding me how many books I was behind). Good thing audiobooks count!

I managed to hit my 30 book goal plus one.

The books I read over 2020 were varied and didn't have any common themes what so ever. The majority of the books I read were poetry and manga - quick reads that I can finish in about a week. However, there were a few books that took me months to get through.

I'd like to share with you guys some of my favorite books that I read last year. I promise there won't be too many spoilers. 

1) Finding Your Harpy Place by D.H. Willison - This was the final book I finished in 2020 and put me at 31 books read. It's a fun fantasy adventure with Darin, the poor modern guy who ended up in a fantasy world where everything wants to kill him, and Rinloh, a harpy who really doesn't want to kill and eat a human to become a full fledged member of her flock. It's an unlikely friendship and an even more fun adventure.

2) The Girl and the Goddess: Stories and Poems of Divine Wisdom by Nikita Gill - I have so far loved everything Nikita Gill has written and this is by far my favorite of her work. This poetry collection is unique in that it tells a full narrative about a young girl growing up in India and then studying in the UK. I highly recommend it if you're a fan of mythology and poetry.

3) The Daphne and Velma books by Josephine Ruby and by Morgan Baden - This is the start of a not so average Scooby Doo series that heavily focuses on Daphne and Velma. Shaggy and Scooby do show up in both books (and have a somewhat larger role in the 2nd), but poor Fred gets barely any attention. That's okay because the books aren't just about the mysteries the girls are solving, but their relationships and personal growth. Both The Vanished Girl and The Dark Deception are worth a read if you're a fan of any version of the Scooby gang (and there are tons of references in the books). I can't wait for the third book to come out in February.

4) Princess Holy Aura by Ryk E. Spoor - I've been meaning to read this book for a while and 2020 was the perfect year to do so. If you loved Sailor Moon or any other magical girl manga or anime than this book is for you. All of the tropes are there, pointed out, and subverted all to save the world from Lovecraftian monsters. There's also a lot of reflection on identity (particularly gender as the main character was originally male and then became female), ethics, and what it means to be a hero.

5) Twain & Stanley Enter Paradise by Oscar Hijuelos - I was gifted this book from a friend. It was the longest to read (both in page number and time). It is historical fiction based on the actual friendship between two of the most famous people from the turn of the 20th century, Mark Twain and Henry Stanley. It was a fascinating take on speculated events. It prompted me to learn more about the two men and the events that shaped them. I have a lot of mixed feelings on Henry Stanley. He was a deeply flawed person and this book doesn't shy away from that.

6) The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin - My sister gifted me this book last Christmas and it was one of the first I read in 2020. Evidently she read it in school, though I never did. It's delightful and fun mystery to figure out. I can't wait to pass this book along to my younger cousin (when he's just a little bit older).

7) War / Torn by Hasan Namir - this is a tough poetry collection about a man facing homophobia in his home country. It's raw, depressing in place, and beautifully written. If you enjoy poetry on tough subjects (especially for the LGBTQ+ community) I recommend picking up this collection.

For 2021 I'd like to read at least one more book than 2020. I've already started my challenge with a poetry book and a longer Young Adult novel set in Jamaica. 

There are a lot of things I'd like to achieve in 2021. Many of those things depend on the pandemic going away or at least the risk of COVID greatly diminishing. Other goals require a lot more creativity to achieve. Reading 32 books feels doable in the current crazy climate. 

If y'all are on Goodreads let me know and I'll be happy to see about adding you as a friend. If you've got goals you'd like to meet in 2021, feel free to leave a comment on those as well. We may all be separated by necessity, but little things can bring us together without physically being close.

Until next week.

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope y'all like hearing from me.

Welcome to the 20s

It’s a new decade! 

Except for the people who seem to think that 2021 starts the new decade. These people seem to forget that years are counted as integers (that’s why BC years go backwards from zero like negative numbers) and that the first ten integer years are 0-9, not 1-10. 

Ergo 2020 does indeed ring off the new decade.

In the past few weeks, most of social media has been a buzz with reflections on the previous year and decade. Facebook especially seems to like reminding me of all the things that I have ever posted in the past 11 or so years. 

But the time for reflection is over. The roaring twenties are back - hopefully without the huge wealth gap (unlikely) and economic down turn at the end of it - and I want to focus on the future.

So here are some things I want to either experience, do, accomplish, or have happen while the twenties are still around:

• Bring back jazz and blues as major music movements - technically blues and jazz have never really disappear from modern music, but the two genres have been overshadowed for long enough. The Broadway play Hadestown is an excellent example of how jazz and blues are still relevant.
• Keep getting published - I have had a short story published and I will soon have a poem published. My family thinks it’s awesome and are extremely encouraging in my writing. I love writing and hope to have a novel out sooner rather than later along with other short stories and poems.
• Help the world - whether by doing more volunteer work or working in an industry that allows me to help the environment, people, or science in some capacity, I want to be more involved with the things I’m passionate about.
• Travel more - I want to see the world, meet new people, and experience new cultures. I want to document and record my explorations and inspire others to be open to new adventures.
• Go on an adventure - this one could tie in nicely with my goal to travel more, but adventures can happen everywhere, when I least expect them to happen. I live in the shadow of one of the most exciting cities in the world, so I don’t necessarily have to go far to find an adventure.
• Read more - recently I’ve gotten into poetry and I’m always up for a good cozy mystery book, but I also want to keep reading the classics, new authors - especially from communities that haven’t had the largest representation - and the occasional non-fiction book.
• Continue learning - I am a researcher by nature. I want to know things, I want to experience things, know how something works. I’m curious and a problem solver. I’m considering furthering my education, but as I’ve learned, nothing is set in stone.
• See more plays and live performances - since I live close to New York, I’m lucky enough to see a live performance. Last year I tried to see a play a month, and, while I didn’t quite make my goal, I still saw a lot of awesome performances. I’d like to include more dance and music shows if I can.

I admit that some of these things are a little vague. I do t even really have a set timeline for them. I just know that these are things I’m interested in. Some of these goals might take a little while longer than others. Some might not happen at all.

Writing this all down helps me visualize my goals. I feel one step closer to them being real. They’ll take time to accomplish and in a few years, I might change them around or add to this list. 

There’s a lot changing in my life and there are times when I feel a change affecting the world at large. Do you guys, my awesome readers, feel that too? What are some of your hope and goals for the twenties? I recommend writing them down or recording them somewhere. You don’t have to share them like I have, but it might help you live the life you want to in-between the parts we don’t like as much.

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope you guys like hearing from me.

Until next week.

Welcome to a New Year New You

I don't buy it.

I am absolutely certain that a new year will NOT automatically turn me into a new person. There's no magic spell or fantastical event that will change me from the person that I was at 11:59 PM on the 31st of December to a brand new person on 12:00 AM on the 1st of January.

The new year is not only a metaphorical change, but a social marker signifying that a change has happened. Gym and dieting ads are constantly popping about keeping up with your New Year's Resolution.

Instant change doesn't happen - no matter how much I sometimes wish it would.

Though I do think I've changed since the 1st of January 2018. The amount of things that can happen in 365 days is astounding and each event impacts my life in different ways. Whether that change has been for the better or worse is yet to be known (though typically upon reflection I'm more inclined to be annoyed with my younger self).

Change requires commitment and a plan of action. Resolutions are one way people try to establish that things will be different in the upcoming year. I've tried making New Year Resolutions in the past and I've stuck to them or remembered them by the time February rolls around.

Instead of making a resolution, I've desiccated that I'm doing trying a different tactic, one I am less likely to forget. I'm setting goals. Why am I setting goals rather than making resolution?

To put it bluntly, there isn't as much as a perceived pressure on me with setting goals as there is with making a resolution. A resolution bares a connotation that it is going to happen, a goal is more like an idealized destination that requires some sort of journey to get there. I don't necessarily have to meet these goals, but I'm going to have fun trying to meet them.

I have three main, somewhat easy, goals:

1. Read as much as I can - I've always been an avid reader, but lately I've been wanting to branch out into new genres and authors. 
2. Explore New York - I live near one of the greatest cities in the world. I haven't even scratched the surface of all the cool and unusual things I can do. My first adventure - seeing Wicked 
3. Live in the present - this one is going to be a lot harder than it sounds. I have this compulsion to plan things out. I'm always planning on what's going to happen in the future and it can cause me to miss things in the present. That's why I want to focus on mindfulness and being present in my day-to-day activities

Some of the books I plan on reading this year. One I've already finished.

Finally, I have set a reach goal for myself. It's not anything special, nor do I feel any pressure to attain it.

• Reach Goal - Have an adventure worth reading about

What do I mean by that?

I don't know yet, but I hope it's fun.

For many years I have lived under the assumption that I am the author of my life. However, I'm beginning to rethink this idea. 

An author/writer has complete control of the narrative. They are the gods of their creations. They can decide anything and everything from how a character reacts to bad news to the weather on a particular day. The only things I can control are how I react to the situation I am currently in. Ergo, I am not the author of my life at all, just another character on a fantastical journey who doesn't know how, when, or where the story will end.

Which is why if I'm going to have adventures, they might as well be worth reading about.

I hope all of you have had a wonderful holiday season and are ready for 2019.

Until next week.

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope you guys like hearing from me.

Welcome to a New Year!

Happy 2017 everyone!

I don't know if I am the only one who thinks this, but 2016 went by a lot faster than I expected. It was an eventful year for me. Hopefully 2017 slows down a bit (or at least enough for me to notice that two months have gone by). It's funny how time seems to be flying by a lot more quickly since I left school.

Looking back on everything that happened to me in 2016, I would probably say the theme of the year was of becoming a braver person. There were a lot of times where I was really nervous about doing something (like going to Iceland), but had to get over my fears and do it.

The new year is a time to look towards the future. I myself have a very long list of things I would like to do, but in reality probably won't get to for a few years yet. A New Years Resolution might be help me get on track (something like meditate more, keep everything organized, or clean more).

But what is it that I want to accomplish in 2017?

There are many things. I'd love to finish writing my second novel (and perhaps even edit this one too). I'd like to travel more. I'd like to publish a few short stories I've written. I'd like to have fun (but not so much fun that I forget to work hard too). I'd like to meet new people and explore more of the world around me. I'd like to spend some time with family. I want a self cleaning home. There are a lot of things I want from this year.

But there is only so much I can do in a year (same as a life time) and I need to prioritize my needs and wants. Some things I might not get to until 2018. Some things I might never get to (not for lack of trying).

A year seems like a long time, but it isn't really. Hopefully 2017 will be a memorable year full of good times and crazy adventures for all of us.

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope y'all like hearing from me. Until next week.

Welcome To Not Having Plans

So, if last week I wrote about how I like to have a plan, then it only makes sense to write about not having any plans this week. Right?

Though it's not really a secret (or at least I don't deny this fact), but since I graduated from college and got my first job, I haven't made any definite life plans. Oh I'll make short term plans, like where I want to go on vacation. I just haven't made any milestone plans.

Things like, getting married, buying a house, starting my own business, or taking over the world just aren't on my radar right now. They seemed really far away concepts.

Heck I don't even know "what I want to be when I grow up" still. Do I want to stay in research, try to become a successful author, should I try being a digital nomad? I don't know. I can't seem to figure out what my goals are.

Which means I can't make any long term plans to reach those goals.

That's a little scary.

I lack direction. I'm unsure of myself. I don't know what I want.

When I was still in elementary school, I made a goal to go to four year university. By the time I had finished middle school I had narrowed down which school I wanted to go to. As I went through high school, I made plans so that I would go to the college of my choice.

And I did.

When I got to college, I set the goal to graduate on time and get a job. Despite a few minor setbacks, I was able to do that too. I was able to do that by knowing what I wanted and planning out how to get that. I of course had a lot of help along the way.

Now I don't know what I want. Which means I can't make any plans.

I guess I just have to take life one step at a time until I can figure out what I want. Hopefully I don't take too long to figure it out. I like having a plan.

Until next week.

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope you guys like hearing from me.

Welcome to Planning Things Out

If there's one thing about myself that I know for certain, it's that I always need a plan.Without one, I admit that I am a little prone to panicking. That's not to say that I can't be spontaneous and suddenly change my plans or decide that I don't feel up to what I was originally planning to do. I am able to do stuff like that.

It's just that I like to have a plan.

 A plan gives me goals. If I do this, then I know that will happen. It's a simple statement. Shame that the world isn't as simple. A more accurate statement would be: if I do this, then that is most likely what will happen next. Unfortunately I can't control the future, but I can attempt to minimize changes to my plans.

Plans and goals change. Just because I want something right this second, doesn't mean that I'm going to want it tomorrow. This can cause my plans to change. I don't like changing my plans too often, especially if they involve other people and responsibilities. It's not very considerate for one thing. For another, I personally don't like the erratic nature of deviating from my plans.

It's one thing if I change my own plans. It's another when things beyond my control change my plans for me. The weather is one of those factors that no one can control. If I plan on going to the beach next weekend and it thunderstorms, I guess I have to chance my plans because going to the beach in a thunderstorm does not sound like a fun activity. The exception to that might be if I were an extreme surfer and even that's questionable.

The weather, illness, the washing machine exploding are all things that I can't always plan for. The weather person is sometimes way off. Illness can strike at anytime. I don't think anyone actually believes their washing machine will explode until it actually does. I can do things to minimize the risk of these things happening (check the weather reports for the week, wash my hands, pay attention to that odd clanking sound during the gentle cycle), but I can't predict everything.

I like having a plan. It gives me some sense of security and a purpose. It allows me to reach my goals in various steps. I might not be able to see the future, but you can bet I'll have three or four plans ready for whatever comes next. Unless that future is a hostile dolphine take over. I don't have a plan for that one yet.

Until next week...

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off), please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope you guys like hearing from me.

Welcome To Accomplishment

I did it!

New Year's Eve 2013 I made the goal that for 2014 I would complete the the writing for the first draft of a novel by the end of this year. This week I am pleased to announce that I accomplished this goal. I did it! I freakin' did it.

I spent over six months writing 63,000 (give or take a few hundred) words. I feel proud of myself.

However I can't just stop there. It's still only the first draft. I have to do one or two or maybe even a hundred rewrites before it's prefect. It won't be finished until it's in physical book form. Ergo, I might never be finished with writing it.

I believe it was Stephen King who said that you have to "kill your darlings" while writing the next few drafts. It's hard not to look at all my hard work with rose colored glass. However, that's what you got to do. You have to give yourself a critical eye. You have to identify your mistakes and be able to correct them.

You also can't get bogged down by all of the mistakes. It's sometimes also hard to stop yourself from saying everything sucks and ripping it all up.

I'm going to bask in finishing my first draft. At least until 2015. My new goal, rewrit it until I feel I can send it to an agent. 

And that's what I need to do. I need to keep setting goals that are challenging, push me just a little further and that I'm able to accomplish. It just takes a few more steps to get to that final (almost) unreachable goal.

If you enjoyed this post or it really pissed you off, please like, share, or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope you enjoy hearing from me. Until next week.