I don’t often post book reviews. It’s not that I haven’t found books I like (quite the opposite). It’s usually because as soon as I finish one, I’m on to the next. But today is different.

Today is all about the Sisters of the Salt.

I first came across Erin A. Craig at the end of 2019 when I randomly picked up her debut novel, House of Salt and Sorrows, on sale at my local Barnes & Noble. I was first drawn in by the cover (yes, I judged a book by it’s cover). But after reading the blurb, I knew the book was going home with me. HOSAS is a dark retelling of a fairy tale – The Twelve Dancing Princesses. It was the last book I read that year, finishing it in one day. I absolutely LOVED it.

When Craig’s second book – Small Favors – came out, naturally I had to read it. SF is a retelling of the classic tale of Rumpelstiltskin. Again, I devoured it, although it had a much different tone and setting.

So when I learned her newest book would be a return to the Thaumas sisters from House of Salt and Sorrows, I immediately pre-ordered. But when I found out I was approved to receive an ARC through Net Galley, I literally did a dance. I couldn’t wait to dive back into the world of the Sisters of the Salt.

What is House of Roots and Ruin About?

After years of mysterious deaths and tragedy, Verity Thaumas has seen most of her older sisters, the ones who survived anyway, move away from the Thaumas estate of Highmoor and build lives of their own. Now, as she comes of age, an invitation for a commissioned painting gives the young artist the opportunity to start her own life. However, when the oldest Thaumas sister, Camille, forbids her to leave, Verity takes her future into her own hands not wanting to believe her sister’s warning. In fleeing home, however, she wonders whether she’ll ever truly escape her family’s past.

House of Roots and Ruin is an epic coming-of-age tale of adventure, love, mystery, and family secrets. In this follow-up to House of Salt and Sorrows, Erin A. Craig returns readers to the shores of Salaan to discover what has happened to the Thaumas sisters in the years following the tragic deaths of several of the sisters. HORAR moves beyond the island waters to the lush gardens of Bloem. In true gothic style, the setting features large estate houses and atmospheric landscapes, both of which hold power over young Verity. Before leaving her home at Highmoor, Verity learns the truth of her forgotten childhood, a truth that still unknowingly haunts her. Despite Camille’s protests, Verity accepts a commission from the Duchess of Bloem, Dauphine Laurent, to paint a portrait of her son, Alexander. She flees Highmoor alone and makes her way to Bloem. Within hours of arriving, the beautiful surroundings draw her in. So too does Alexander Laurent. As a young romance begins to bloom, Verity feels her childhood tragedies being left behind.

Over the coming weeks, Verity and Alexander begin work on the painting and spend time getting to know each other. Alexander shares the history of his own family as they explore the grounds and manor. As their relationship grows, Verity doesn’t want to believe anything sinister about the strange sights and sounds she begins experiencing. She soon must accept, however, that growing closer to Alexander brings a growing fear that the curse of her childhood may have followed her.

Beneath the Ground (and Story)

In House of Roots and Ruin, Erin A. Craig weaves together elements of gothic fantasy and mystery to create a magical world full of beauty and intrigue. As she comes of age, Verity leaves behind the dark shores of Highmoor in favor of lush gardens and flowers all around Bloem. With any good mystery, though, she soon realizes these plants and flowers hold power beyond their beauty. The backdrop of the gothic estate with the lavish gardens creates a unique setting for Verity to start her new life. The grand manor house provides a sense of familiarity to her own home, but the gardens give her a new sense of life and growth. Surrounded by plants and flowers of all shapes and colors, Verity is drawn to learn more about them from the Duke of Bloem, a noted botanist. But, just as her own family is connected to the sea, Verity learns the Laurent family’s connection to their lavish gardens runs deeper than what she sees at the surface.

Craig’s storytelling skills give readers twists and turns throughout the novel. Early in the story, she sets the stage for Verity to tell her own story after revealing what happened to the other Thaumas sisters following the end of House of Salt and Sorrows. As Verity leaves Highmoor, the story shifts to Bloam where readers experience a different landscape and new families. It becomes clear that Craig did her homework. She uses rich descriptions of the plant life within the estate to draw readers’ eyes to what Verity sees. And ultimately, the plants become a significant part of the Laurent family story, a story that Verity must unravel as her relationship with Alexander blooms.

Things To Think About

House of Roots and Ruins explores themes of family, trauma, ethics of genetic engineering, and disability. Throughout the novel, Craig utilizes these themes to push Verity to the brink as she seeks the truth of the Laurent family’s secrets. As a Young Adult novel, the book is geared towards teens and up. While some younger readers might enjoy it, I would suggest parents read first and judge for themselves if appropriate for their child(ren) under 12 years old. There are some scenes that are dark and graphic related to death and violence.

While I would highly recommend reading House of Salt and Sorrows first if you haven’t already done so, House of Roots and Ruin can be read on it’s own. There will be some elements of Verity’s life that won’t fully make sense without knowing her family’s story from the first book. But the overall story of HORAR stands on it’s own. (But really, do yourself a favor and read Salt first just because it’s amazing.)

Ratings and Raves

My Rating: 5/5 stars… or flowers I should say maybe

My rating is based on the overall story, narrative structure, creativity, and unputdownableness (that’s a word…I’m sure of it). If you are a fan of fairy tale retellings, dark fantasy, and/or gothic mystery, you need to invest time in all of Erin A. Craig’s books.

I want to thank Net Galley and Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read the ARC version of this novel. And thank you, Erin A. Craig for writing such awesome books! I already can’t wait for the next one!

I encourage you to check out all of Erin’s work on her website and sign up for her newsletter to learn more and get updates.

House of Roots and Ruin is out now! You can purchase it at all major retailers or your favorite independent book store.

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To everything there is a season. Or at least that’s how the saying goes. Sometimes the new seasons in life are subtle and happen over time. Other seasons come at you fast and change everything. With Quarter 3 of 2022 underway, one of those fast moving, game changings seasons has arrived.

But first, let’s wrap up how Quarter 2 played out.

Season of Searching: Quarter 2 Review

Quarter 2 ended up being a roller coaster in some ways. Overall, I’m happy my progress, though.  I completely cleared my professional development goal, and almost cleared the projects for my personal goals. My writing goals, however, ended up taking a backseat this quarter. But there’s a reason for that.

Halfway through the quarter, I decided to take a couple graduate classes that I needed to review my teaching certificate. I hadn’t planned on doing this so didn’t build in any projects towards it. I was going to let my certificate expire as I don’t plan to go back into teaching. The week before classes started, though, I changed my mind. Having my certificate still looks good for other reasons.

 With taking classes, that meant a big pivot on my goals. I had to set aside editing my novel manuscript for a while so  I could focus on studying. I finished one class before the end of the quarter. The second class started last week. Lots of extra reading and computer time to complete the assignments.

My biggest accomplishment this quarter fell into my professional development goals. Long story short, I’ve been looking for a new full-time job for a while. Many of the projects for this goal centered around that process – updating business profiles, researching companies, applying for jobs, and a handful of interviews. A few weeks ago, I accepted a new job. It’s with a company I worked for years ago before I started my master’s degree. While this means a big change in my routines and schedules, I’m looking forward to getting back to a more regular routine. (And a regular paycheck). I started last week and am working on figuring out new morning and evening routines.

Season of Change: Moving Forward Into Quarter 3

Quarter 3 will be a season of change in more ways that one. The biggest change will be going back to work full-time in an office. While this will be a good change professionally and financially, it means less time to work on other goals. Because of this, I plan to scale back on projects this quarter. In addition to limiting what I work on, how I structure my goals will be changing a bit as well.

In past quarters, my three goals always included 1) Writing and creativity, 2) Professional Development (job, new skills, etc…), and 3) Personal (usually health and wellness related). With starting a new job, I don’t need the same kinds of professional development projects. I still plan to learn and continue to work on my professional mindset, but it will be in a different way this quarter. Also, I’m reframing my personal goal around a specific health target rather than general wellness.

1. WRITING & CREATIVITY – With the new job, I’ll have less time to work on my book and other creative projects. In a weird way, this could end up being a good thing. No matter how hard I try to be realistic with my time, I always end up being too optimistic about what I’ll get done and over-plan. This quarter, I am focusing on two primary projects – finishing the first major edits of my novel and developing my author website through new freebies and email list. There will be a handful of other small things, but these are one-time projects rather than ongoing things throughout the quarter. My hope is that by having less time to work on this goal, I’ll be better able to focus on a few key projects rather than trying to get a lot of little things done.
2. PROFESSIONAL/FINANCIAL – In past quarters, this goal including projects related to finding a new job, along with things like reading books on professional development, podcasts, and skill building. While some of that will stay, instead of the job search projects I no longer need, I’ll also be using this goal for some financial projects. Now that I’ll have a consistent paycheck again, I am setting targets budgeting and savings.
3. PERSONAL– This goal will still include some general wellness and self-care type things. I have targets for reading a certain number of books, working on hobbies, and some activities with friends. This goal has always included some health related things. But this quarter, I’m adding a more targeted approach to these. Instead of things like “walk at least five days per week,” it will be “walk at least 100 miles this quarter.” By having specific target numbers, I can better track my progress and have more clear expectations.

Seasons of Change

While this quarter brings some significant changes in terms of schedules and responsibilities, these new seasons offer a chance to evaluate your goals and become more focused. It will take me some time to get back into a traditional schedule. This new schedule also means less time for other goals. However, I’m choosing to see this as a good thing. With less free time comes the chance to really focus on which parts of my goals matter most. By scaling back, I can devote time to finishing the few important projects instead of bouncing around to a lot of small things.

I’m looking forward to seeing what Quarter 3 brings.

** What goals are you working on right now? What plans do you have in place to be successful? I’d love to hear your process.

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In case you hadn’t noticed, things are more expensive these days. A lot more expensive. Like most of you, I am feeling the money crunch. I started taking a hard look at my expenses to find ways to cut costs.

To help stretch my budget, I’ve decided to make Summer 2022 a No-Spend Summer.

My No-Spend Summer

When I say a no-spend summer, that doesn’t literally mean I won’t spend any money. Of course, there are bills to be paid and living expenses.

No-Spend Summer means finding as many ways as I can to cut down on what I do have to spend. And limit spending on any extra or unnecessary things.

On June 1, I started reviewing my monthly expenses. Things that are non-negotiables like rent and utility bills get priority. After that, I’m looking at everything that I currently pay for to see if there are ways to eliminate or cut back.  Also, I intend to limit as much impulse buying (ahem… Amazon) and all the random purchases I might otherwise make.

Necessary Expenses

Fixed Expenses – Each month, I have certain expenses that can’t be skipped. These include rent, insurance, cell phone, and internet service. These expenses get priority as they are either essential basic needs or are necessary for other parts of my life.

TIP: For things like cell phones and internet, review your plan to see if you can downgrade. You might not truly need as much data or speed as you think.  

Variable Expenses – There are some things every month that, while still needed, vary in how much they cost. For me, these bills include utilities, any charges on my credit cards, and groceries (more on that later). As an example, I know my electric bill will be higher from running the air conditioner this summer. To help offset that, I will be more mindful of making sure lights are turned off and trying not to use the oven as much. As for gas prices, thankfully I don’t have to drive much. But you can look for ways to save by carpooling and combining errands whenever possible.

Expenses I Can Contol

We all use a lot of services and products that we don’t think about often. But these daily or occasional expenses add up fast. Here are a few ways I can spend less on these kinds of services.

Television – I ditched cable a few years ago and use a streaming service. While it’s overall cheaper, there are additional expenses for each programming tier and special channels. I dropped all the extra movie channels I had, leaving only the two basic tiers. With using a Roku player, I also have access to other free apps and stations. Granted, most of these services only have older programs or obscure things, they provide additional viewing if needed.

Subscriptions – In addition to my streaming service for television, I have monthly subscriptions to other entertainment platforms. These include television/movies, sports, and audiobook providers. After reviewing how much each service cost, I evaluated how much content I consume on each platform. I ended up cutting several completely, and downgrading to basic packages on another.  (Disclaimer: This doesn’t include one-time subscription fees to things like computer programs/vendors I use for professional purposes.)

Groceries and Miscellaneous – I usually order my groceries online and have them delivered. While it’s convenient and does help cut down on some impulse buying, I sometimes order things I think I want without really having a plan for using them. Or I already have them in the freezer or cabinets. I’m going to start basic meal planning to prevent overbuying and/or buying things I already have. Also in the food category is dining out. I honestly don’t go to restaurants often other than an occasional special event with a friend. But the delivery apps make it way too convenient to order food. While this is okay once in a while, the fees and delivery tips add up fast if ordering frequently. I deleted all these apps from my phone. With other forms of online shopping or miscellaneous items, I’ll evaluate if I truly need it and/or if I already have it. I won’t buy any random or unnecessary items just because they’re fun, only things I really need.

Social Activities – I’m not someone who goes out every week to hang out with friends or who goes to every movie that comes to the theater. But I enjoy a night out for certain events. However, things like concerts and sporting events are expensive. I already have tickets to a handful of things this summer. So I won’t be buying anything more. As fun as going to these events can be, they aren’t an absolute necessity right now. My community has several free concerts and outdoor performances I can take advantage of if I want additional entertainment.

Books – As an avid reader, my To Be Read list is never-ending. I finish one book and find three more I want. I have a ton of books on my bookshelves (both physical and digital). So I definitely don’t need to buy any more books right now. I’ll use my summer to start reading books I already have. The one exception will be a new release from a favorite author. I have his full series in hardback, so want to be sure to add the new one to my collection.

Summer of Savings

As prices continue to go up, we will all be looking for ways to save money. Unfortunately, there are things we can’t adjust or skip. And we all have unexpected expenses for car repairs or doctor visits that can’t be planned. But there are a lot of little ways to save money by changing services and purchasing habits.

Sit down and go through your regular expenses. If you have a family, do this together so you can discuss needs and options. While cutting back can be tough at first, finding even a few things to let go or adjust will help. A few dollars here and there might not seem like much. But over time, those savings add up.

** Have you found it harder to make ends meet lately? You’re not alone. What are some ways you’re cutting back on expenses this summer?**

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Moments.

A brief period in time that changes everything. Some moments we celebrate. Some moments we mourn. And other moments are unimaginable.

That’s what happened to Amy Downs on April 19, 1995.

I’ve mentioned before that I lived in Yukon, Oklahoma in high school. On that spring day, I was a senior anxiously awaiting graduation. That morning as I left for school, I waved to my next-door neighbor, Kathy Finley. She headed to work at the Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City.

Two hours later, the front half of the federal building lay in rubble and smoke, brought down by a domestic terrorism attack. Kathy was one of the 168 people killed that day.

For Amy Downs, however, that day served as a catalyst for change. It became her defining moment.

Story of Survival

In April 1995, Amy Downs worked as a teller in the Federal Employee Credit Union in the Murrah Building. Kathy had first interviewed Amy, and ultimately became a friend as the two women worked together. But Amy’s life wasn’t happy. She felt like a failure – a college dropout, significantly overweight, and struggling in her marriage.

The morning of the 19^th, she was at work like any other day. But at 9:02 am, she felt herself falling three stories into a crater left by a truck bomb. In the immediate aftermath, she didn’t know if she was alive or dead. As the hours ticked by, her mind wandered through countless questions: What happened? Where am I? Is anyone going to find me?

Eventually, help did come. A rescuer found her and did his best to reassure her that she would be okay. But when a second bomb scare forced rescuers to leave, Amy again questioned if she would survive, or even if she should survive. After what seemed like an eternity, rescue workers returned and pulled her from the rubble.

Amy was one of the last people rescued from the building.

Hope Is a Verb

With her nephew’s help, Amy shared her story in her book, Hope Is a Verb. The book, however, really isn’t about the bombing. The book chronicles how the hours she spent trapped beneath the tons of rubble changed her life. When she interviewed with Kathy Finely at the credit union, Amy didn’t have the skills needed for the job. But one of the managers decided to give her a chance. And while she learned the job, she could not advance within the organization because she didn’t have the required education and certifications.

Outside of work, her personal life didn’t feel much better. At 350 pounds, Amy couldn’t enjoy time with her family and friends. Her marriage had begun falling apart. There was little in her life that excited her or gave her hope.

As she lay trapped, Amy faced the reality that she might die. This realization made her take stock of her life. And it wasn’t pretty.

“I was about to die and realized I had never truly lived.”

If she survived, Amy vowed she would make changes.

From Surviving To Thriving

Following the bombing, Amy knew she had to take advantage of her second chance. This required a complete mindset shift. Instead of thinking of herself as a victim, both of the bombing and previous life circumstances, Amy began thinking of herself as someone worthy of more.

She went back to school, taking one or two classes at a time, until she earned her bachelor’s degree. She began exercising and became more intentional about her health. Little by little, she started losing weight. Over time, she pushed herself to start riding a bicycle. And as she got healthier, her goals became greater. Amy would go on to become an Ironman triathlete. After her first marriage ended, Amy again found love with her second husband and raised her son. She went on to earn graduate degrees.

Today, Amy serves as the President and CEO of Allegiant Credit Union (formerly the Federal Employee Credit Union). In a conversation I had with her via her Facebook page, Amy told me she is now living in Yukon, in the same subdivision where Kathy Finley and I lived in back in 1995.

Through her experiences, Amy also became an advocate for redevelopment projects in Oklahoma City, as well as promoting citywide health initiatives. As a speaker and regular podcast guest, Amy shares her transformation to encourage others in their own journeys.

How Will You Define Your Moment?

While Amy Downs could never have imagined having to survive a domestic terror attack, that moment changed her life forever. Of course, experiencing such a traumatic event left physical and mental scars that will never go away. She still experiences waves of emotion especially around the anniversary of the bombing. But the moment she was rescued became her moment of triumph. She reframed her thoughts and took action to create a new life.

As part of her transformation, Amy developed a new mantra:  “You’re capable of more than you think.” This mindset shift didn’t happen overnight. But in the moment of darkness trapped beneath tons of rubble, she found a moment of hope.

For most of us, thankfully, life’s defining moments won’t be because of terrorism, war, or other violent acts. But for Amy Downs, 9:02 am on April 19, 1995, became a moment that began in darkness but brought about hope. It was in that moment where she decided to be more than just a survivor. She chose to thrive.

The question is, when you face a defining moment, will you choose hope?

The post Finding a Moment Of Hope During a Moment of Darkness: How Amy Downs Survived and Learned to Thrive After the Oklahoma City Bombing appeared first on Melanie Glinsmann - Notes From the Bookshelf.

April is the cruelest month.

These lines made famous by T. S. Eliot in his poem, The Waste Land, provide a bleak outlook of a post-World War I society. Even as spring brought about new growth in the surrounding landscape, Europe remained in the winter of war. Coupled with political and social changes in the first decades of the 1900s. Eliot’s poem painted a less than ideal picture.

While I could go on talking about literary criticism and Modernism, that’s not what this post is about. Let’s focus on a more hopeful view of what Eliot dubbed the cruelest month.

What Is Camp NaNo?

For most of us, April means springtime. It means growth and warming weather. And for writers, it means the first Camp NaNo event for the year.

So what is Camp NaNo?

You might be familiar with NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) that takes place every November. The challenge is to write 50,000 words on a new, original novel. During the spring and summer Camp NaNo challenges, participants set their own goals and projects.

Just like attending summer camp, participants decide on which activities they want to take on during the month. Whether you’re working on drafting, editing, poems, short stories, non-fiction, or any other writing projects, Camp NaNo is the place to be. Unlike the 50,000 words of a novel for the November challenge, at Camp NaNo, you pick the project. You set your own goals.

Instead of 50,000 words, you might set a goal of 25,000. Or, if you’re editing, you can set a goal to edit 10 pages a day.

For April 2022 Camp NaNo, I’ll actually be working on two projects. However, each part will have a small target. Due to a potential visit from my parents, I’m not sure how many days I’ll have time to work on these goals. So even though I’ll have two projects, the overall targets for each is minimal to allow scheduling flexibility.

Camp NaNo Project 1 – Developmental Draft

I am in the editing stage of my Young Adult novel. This process involves reading through the entire manuscript for a big picture overview of the story. With each chapter, I take notes for things that need to be fixed.

Once I finish the complete read through and developmental notes, I will begin the third draft of the book. This draft adds another layer to the narrative. The third draft incorporates the developmental editing notes, including plot holes, timeline issues, character arcs, and other story elements.

For Camp NaNo, I’m committing to at least 50 hours working towards completing the developmental editing draft. I anticipate spending half of this time on the read through and notes. Then, the rest of the time will be devoted to completing the next draft.

Camp NaNo Project 2 – Poem A Day

In addition to Camp NaNo, April is also National Poetry Month. While I read and write poetry occasionally, I admit it’s not a creative form to which I devote a lot of time. dHowever, I would like to get better.

Since National Poetry Month coincides with this first round of Camp NaNo, it’s a perfect time for me to practice. Putting together a poetry collection to publish isn’t high on my priority list. But practicing writing poems provides an opportunity to get better with word choices and imagery. This will ultimately help me as a writer overall.

For Camp NaNo, I’m committed to writing one poem each day. These will not be long or polished pieces. Writing a poem a day is simply a chance to practice the craft of writing poetry.

While April might have made T. S. Eliot ponder the big questions of life in a modern war-torn world, Camp NaNo gives writers a chance to focus on new projects and creative growth. If you’ve been stuck on a project, Camp can be the kick start you need to get going again. And if you want to start a new project, April’s Camp NaNo is the perfect opportunity to jump into the pool.

**Are you taking part in Camp NaNo?

If so, what project(s) are you committing to work on the month?

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Spring is springing.

Spring is a season of growth and renewal. As the calendar heads toward April, thoughts turn towards outdoor activities and home projects.  The warmer weather and longer days mean the chance to start fresh. Spring cleaning means letting go of things we no longer need to make more space for our priorities. The transition from winter to spring helps us look forward to the physical and mental renewal that comes with the changing seasons.

Depending on where you live, for most of us, winter usually means being inside a lot. It also means a time to slow down. Other than winter sports and holidays, there aren’t as many activities like concerts and community events, or travel. But when spring arrives, those types of things start picking back up. You probably start to feel the itch to get out and about again. Whether that means attending events, traveling, or just being outside, spring brings new opportunities to get back out into the world.

Spring Things I’m Looking Forward To

• Live Shows and Sports – I’ve attended a few theatrical performances in the last few months, but as the pandemic eases (fingers crossed), my calendar has filled up with more things. I have season tickets to the Broadway performances at the performing arts center. There are also some concerts I’m attending, along with the Nebraska spring football game.
• Walking Outside – The weather here in Nebraska is highly unpredictable. And most years, our winters mean lots of time inside. This year has been mild compared to most years, but the nicer weather means I get to take advantage of living near the city’s walk/bike path. My apartment complex also has a lot of sidewalks and green spaces, so it’s great to take walks to get a little fresh air.
• Working On My Deck – Along with taking walks, I enjoy spending time outside on my deck. I like to take my writing or whatever I’m working on and sit outside when it’s nice. My deck might not be fancy, but it’s a pleasant change of pace from my desk inside. It’s fun to write while listening to the birds and squirrels. And since I live across from a high school’s fields, I can sit on my deck and watch their soccer games.
• Camp NaNo – National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) takes place in November. But during the spring and summer, there are several months of Camp NaNo. These differ from the regular challenge in that during camp, you can work on whatever you want, as opposed to the 50,000-word challenge of writing a novel. For April, I plan to take on two projects: working on the third draft of my novel and writing a poem a day. (More to come on that in a later post).
• Baseball Season – I love baseball. It’s been an unfortunate offseason with Major League Baseball’s lockout. And my favorite team—the DEFENDING WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS Atlanta Braves — lost one of our beloved players to free agency. But spring training has started, and I can’t wait to watch this year’s team back on the field. I also love my Nebraska Huskers baseball. We’re off to a bit of a slow start, but with a young team, there could be some growing pains this season.
• Planting My Deck Garden – I’ve become obsessed with growing plants on my deck each spring/summer. I enjoy growing tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, and herbs. Hopefully, I can start my deck garden soon. But we sometimes have spring snowstorms, so I need to be patient.
• New Books – The spring and early summer often bring new book releases. I’m always on the hunt for debut releases. And some of my favorite authors announce new release this time of year. I’m looking forward to spending some quality reading time in the coming months.

Spring Things I’m NOT Looking Forward To

While there are a lot of good things about spring and the changing seasons, there are a handful of things that I’m not too anxious about.  

• Allergies – I have allergies year-round. But spring and early summer are the worst. As everything grows again, there’s pollen and dust everywhere. The drawback of walking outside and working on my deck is the itchy eyes and sneezing that comes from breathing in all the budding flowers.
• Tornado Season – I enjoy a good thunderstorm. But if the weather people start talking about tornadoes, I’m out. Having lived in Tornado Alley most of my life, I’ve been too close to some tornadoes to not get a little freaked out by them. And since I currently live on the second floor, I have to keep a Go Bag ready in case I have to go downstairs to a neighbor’s apartment if our county is placed under a Tornado Warning.
• Political Season – My state has our spring primary election in early May. This year will be especially contentious as we’ll be electing a new governor, along with several other significant races. The bombardment of commercials, mail, and campaign phone calls has already been ugly. I can’t imagine what things will be like as the primary gets closer.

**What do you like most (or least) about spring? Do you have any special events or projects coming up for this season?

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“What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”

What’s in a name? William Shakespeare pondered the question of names in one of his most well-known plays. For Romeo and Juliet, their family names didn’t define their desires and values. But for those who see or read the play, the names set the stage for the drama that unfolds.

Despite young Juliet’s statement, names are important. They identity who we are. And sometimes, we go as far as changing them to identify who we want to be. They follow us through life on school papers, job applications, and legal documents. Our names introduce us to the world.

It’s no wonder then, why authors struggle to create the perfect names for their characters.

PLAYING THE NAME GAME

But how do you go about picking the right names for your characters? Sometimes, a name pops up out of nowhere. For most characters, however, finding the perfect name takes time. As a writer, you get to know your character as you write. You can’t always see how their names fit into the bigger picture of your story and/or series when you first begin writing.

While deciding on a name can be tough, there are some things to consider that can help you narrow down your options. Choosing the right name includes finding one that fits the character’s age, family background, culture, and region.

AGE

Some names fall in and out of favor. While names like Jacob and Emma remain popular in the United States, you don’t see many children named Homer or Maude anymore. You need to decide if your character will have a common/popular name for their age. Depending on the family’s background, your character’s parents might prefer a name from past generation.

SPELLING

Another thing that changes over time is how people spell names. In recent years, at least in the United States (and I assume other English-speaking countries), spelling names in non-traditional ways has become more popular. Sidney becomes Sydney; Jamie become Jaymee; Michael becomes Mikel. Spelling changes also reflect a more gender-neutral approach to naming a child. Names like Devin/Devyn, Ryan/Ryne or Riley/Rylee provide more options for your characters.

FAMILY TIES

In some families, parents pass names down through the generations. Sometimes, a parent will give a child the same middle name as a grandfather. Other times, a mother’s maiden name becomes a first name for a child. While parents often name a son after his father (Tom and Tom Jr.), there’s nothing to keep you from naming a character after their mother if that’s what the family might do.

CULTURE/RELIGION

Authors should also consider culture and religious expectations in naming a character. Every region around the world has different names based on their language and/or ethnic history. And in some countries, a government committee must approve names. Do a little research into what would be acceptable. A character’s religious background also plays a role in their names. If your character and/or the family subscribes to a particular religion, consider if your character would have a name that conforms to those ideas.

BEST PLACES TO FIND NAMES

If a character name doesn’t jump out to you right away, there are plenty of resources. Some easy online searches, and even observations in your everyday life, can provide all kinds of options.

BABY NAME WEBSITES/BOOKS

Baby name websites and/or books give you instant access to thousands of names for your character. You can search for whatever qualities you want for your character – the most popular current names in a specific country/region, popular names in Victorian England, or names that have fallen out of the Top 100 lists.  

ACQUAINTANCES

You most likely know plenty of people from work, school, or community organizations. These people can be a great source to mix-and-match names. If someone you know has a great first name, use a variation of that. You can also take someone’s last name to pair with a first name you like. The key here is that you don’t use someone’s exact name. But taking a name from someone you know can be a good starting point. Then, adjust it with different first or last name, nicknames, etc… to fit your character.

OBSERVATIONS

When you meet someone you don’t know personally, be sure to note their name. If it’s something interesting, or even just a name you might not hear often, keep track of it. You never know when your server at a local restaurant or the grocery store clerk might find their way into your story.

MYTHS OR ANCIENT LANGUAGES

If you’re writing fantasy or similar genres, look for possibilities in the world of mythology and ancient languages. If your story is set in a place meant to resemble European fairy tales, look to myths and legends of those regions for ideas. Or, if there’s a name you like but doesn’t fit the fantasy genre, do a quick search to see what that name would translate to in a language that reflects of your setting.

SCIENCE TERMINOLOGY

If you write science fiction, it makes sense to turn to the sciences to name your characters. If you have aliens, robots, or even futurist humans, using science related terms can blend well into your story. Maybe your hero falls in love with someone from a human-like race named Nebula.

OTHER TIPS FOR NAMING BOOK CHARACTERS

• KEEP A LIST – A few years ago I started keeping a Names List. Any time I came across a name I liked of that had an unusual quality to it, I wrote it down in this little journal. Keeping an ongoing list of names can save you a lot of time. When you start a new project or introduce a new character, flip open the list and see if anything jumps out.
• THINK ABOUT OTHERS – When naming characters, you need to look both at the individual and collective group of characters. Unless you have a family where all the kids have names that start with the same letter, you want to look for repetition. Do too many names start with the same letter? Are there too many names that sound alike? Sometimes, this can be strategic depending on your genre and story. But if not, be sure to change things up.
• CHECK COPYRIGHT/TRADEMARKS – In general, names can’t be copyrighted or trademarked. However, there are some legal issues to consider. It’s best to steer clear of any well-known characters from either books or movies and television. You can absolutely use these for inspiration in naming your own characters but avoid using them directly. Instead of Luke Skywalker, maybe your hero is Lucas Starr. And while there might be thousands of real people named Harry Potter around the world, because the book and movie series carry licensing trademarks, you don’t want to name your character after the boy wizard.
• FAMOUS NAMES – Along with copyright and trademarked names, it’s best to avoid using names of celebrities, athletes, or other well-known figures. Again, while the names themselves cannot be copyrighted, it can be a slippery slope. There might be dozens of Bradley Coopers in one city. But naming a character with the same name might upset his legion of fans. And unfortunately, sometimes this could cause legal action against you should the person in question take exception to your book.
• GET PERMISSION – If you’re writing a memoir or other types of more personal non-fiction, when possible, it’s best to get permission to use someone’s real name. This doesn’t apply to general biography or historical accounts. But if you’re writing about legal issues, traumatic events, or anything that could be overly personal, getting permission to use a real name is important. This is especially true if there are family members or friends involved, or if you’re using a client’s story to illustrate a point. Sometimes, however, even if you have permission, it might be best to use a fictional name to protect privacy.

For most authors, your characters become family in some ways. You get to know them as they emerge throughout the story. So having the right name for them is important. However, don’t feel you must find the perfect name from the beginning. Often, names change as the story plays out.

As you write your story, use the many resources available for coming up with a perfect name. But don’t let finding the right one hold you back from doing the writing writing. Your characters will show up when they’re ready.

**What are your favorite book character names? For authors, do you have a favorite character name from one of your stories? How did you come up with the name?**

The post What’s In a Name?: How To Create the Perfect Name For Your Characters appeared first on Melanie Glinsmann - Notes From the Bookshelf.

“Always finish what you start.”

Have you ever had a parent or coach tell you that? You know, that time you thought you wanted to be the next great basketball player, joined a team, only to realize you didn’t enjoy it. But your parents made you finish the season to teach you about commitment and work ethic.

As an adult, however, you get to choose if you quit something you don’t enjoy. (Well, most things anyway.) One thing people quit more often these days is books they have started reading. More readers now say they will stop reading a book if it doesn’t grab their attention early on. Sometimes even within the first few pages, let alone the first chapters.

My Reading Philosophy

Trust me, I get it. There are millions of books but a limited amount of time in which to read them. People are busy and have a lot to pack into free time. It makes sense that if you’re not into a book to stop reading and find something else.

While I have stopped reading mid-book from time to time, I seem to be in the minority when it comes to finishing a book that isn’t a page turner. It takes something pretty big for me to not finish reading a book I have started. Unless there’s something that goes completely against my personal beliefs or utilizes extensive graphic or offensive content, I usually push through and finish reading.

Finding Reasons To Keep Reading

When it comes to finishing books that don’t necessarily inspire an all-night binge read, there are several criteria that keep me reading.

Reading As a Student

I’ve always loved to read, and especially reading with a critical eye regarding character, themes, and symbols. All those things your high school English teacher made you discuss. But after learning how to really study literature as an English major in college and graduate school, I truly love reading books not just for fun, but also as a study in genres, authors, and styles. I often get asked if studying literature as an academic pursuit changed my enjoyment of reading. In actuality, studying literary conventions has made reading more fun for me.

Learn From the good

As a (hopefully) future published author, I read a wide range of authors and genres to learn from them.  There are plenty of writing craft books and videos out there. But the best way to really learn how to write is to read what has already been written. When reading, I look for subtle techniques and styles within a book that I feel work well. I also take cues from how authors transition from scene to scene, organize chapters, and introduce characters’ unique stories. These lessons will help me in writing my own novels.

Look On the Bright Side

When reading a book I’m not necessarily drawn to, I can almost always still find at least one thing that keeps me reading. I might not like the overall plot, but there might be a character I enjoy. The characters might be boring, but the author might do a great job of creating the fictional world around those characters. I try to find things that do work rather than focusing on the bad. I know how hard it is to write a book and try to give authors the benefit of the doubt. We’re not always going to be great at everything, especially for newer writers. But by looking for at least one positive, I can read through the whole book to evaluate it fairly.

Learn From Others’ Mistakes

While I do try to find at least something that I like about a book, I also learn from the things that don’t work for me, Whether it’s flat characters, settings that don’t draw me in, or just plain boring plots, I learn things I don’t want to do in my own writing. By reading books others might put down after a few chapters, I develop my own sense of how to write my books that (hopefully) readers won’t feel they need to stop reading.

Badge of honor

Okay, I admit this one isn’t the best reason. But there’s something satisfying about finishing something that presents a challenge. When you complete something that requires a bit of perseverance, there’s a feeling of accomplishment. For me, this is the same with reading a book that I find boring or irritating. By finishing these kinds of books, I have that sense of accomplishment. Also, I feel I can give a more fair review than just saying “It was boring so I didn’t finish it.”

So which side of the book debate are you on? If you stop reading a book if you’re not enjoying, how long do you give it? A few pages? A few chapters? Or are you like me and try to power through in order to fully evaluate the book? Either way, you’re not wrong. Do what works for you.

The post To Read Or Not To Read?: Five Reasons I Try to Finish Reading a Book I Don’t Really Like appeared first on Melanie Glinsmann - Notes From the Bookshelf.

How are those reading goals for 2022 coming along?

I admit, I haven’t had time to get much reading in yet. But now that I’m settling back into a routine after the holidays, I look forward to diving back into my stack of books.

One way I add more fun to my reading goals is with monthly challenges. At the beginning of the year, I pick a theme – either a different one for each month or an ongoing one for the whole year. Then, each month, I read at least one book that fits that theme.

These types of monthly challenges provide several benefits. They help me read a wider range of books. By including specific themes, I force myself to branch into genres and authors I don’t normally gravitate towards. Also, using these monthly picks helps me check off a few books from my To Be Read list. I can tailor my themes around books I already have.

My 2022 Monthly Reading Challenge

While there are plenty of pre-made challenge lists out there, I decided to create my own themes for this year. I included different genres and authors, as well as seasonal themes. I already have books in mind for some of these. I look forward to seeing what titles jump out as I approach each month’s challenge.

Here’s my 2022 Reading challenge list:

• January – a Success book (something on leadership, self-development, inspirational, etc…)
• February – Fantasy or Fairy Tale retelling
• March – St. Patrick’s Day (something by an Irish author or set in Ireland)
• April – Classic
• May – Autobiography or memoir
• June –  Summer read (something light and fun)
• July –  New Release
• August – Historical Fiction
• September – Back To School (Young Adult)
• October – Scare Your Pants Off (something with scary creatures or psychological suspense)
• November – Something written by a Native American author or biography
• December – Winter Wonderland (something set primarily in the winter)

How To Create Your Own Monthly Challenge

The first part of incorporating reading challenges is choosing which themes you want to use. A quick search for monthly reading challenges online (Pinterest has a lot) will bring up lists from bookstores, libraries, authors, and fellow readers. Or, you can create your own based on your specific goals and interests.

You want to consider a number of factors as you decided on your themes. Do you want to try new genres and/or authors? Do you primarily read fiction or non-fiction? How many books do you normally read in a month? Are there genres you absolutely won’t read? Do you want to learn more about the subject or will it be just for fun?

If you want to create your own list, here are 10 suggestions you can add to your own monthly reading challenges.

1. Color Your World – For each month, pick a different color. Then, chose a book that somehow features that color. This could be a repeated color within the book, symbolism (green dress representing a jealous character), or even the predominant color of the cover art.
2. Classic Craving – Pick one classic book each month. Either revisit some of those old high school reading assignments or chose one from a Top 100 Classic Books list.
3. Trip Around the World – Each month, pick one book set in an exotic location or written by an author from a different country.
4. Take a Leap – Pick one book that challenges your current systems or understanding. For non-fiction, find books about your line or work or general business and leadership that expands on what you already know. Or, for fiction, read books that push the boundaries of your own experiences to learn from others.
5. History Has Its Eyes On You – Pick one book a month that focuses on historical events, characters, or eras. Choose from historical fiction or biographies and commentaries.
6. Superheroes – Heroes come in many forms, from classic superheroes in comics and graphic novels to novels with underdogs overcoming the odds. Or read about real-life heroes making a difference in the world through acts of courage, kindness, and faith.
7. Crime Spree – Choose a mystery or thriller each month to play detective and try to solve the case. Or read non-fiction books outlining the lives of notorious criminals and unsolved mysteries.
8. Choose Your Own Adventure – Pick 12 books from your To Be Read list and write each title on a small piece of paper, and put them in a container. Each month, pull out one title. This way, you make a dent on your TBR list without having to think through what book to read next.
9. Use Your Senses – Pick a book related to one of the five senses, either themes within the book, titles, or character traits. Examples include Sound and the Fury (title), All the Light We Cannot See (themes/title), or a biography of Helen Keller (subject).
10. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles – Choose books that incorporate some form of transportation as a significant theme. Think of The Woman in Cabin 10 set on a cruise ship or a biography of the Wright Brothers’ attempt to create the first viable aircraft.

BONUS: Time Traveler – Chose books related to time. These could be a sci-fi novel about time traveling, something that utilizes the passage of time as a theme, or even has a time in the title like 1984 by George Orwell.

Are You Ready To Set Your Challenge?

However you decide to set up your reading challenge, adding a specific focus each month can be a great way to spice up your reading life. They provide a running theme throughout the year. These challenges also help with narrowing down choices from your To Be Read list. But the best part of including a monthly reading challenge is that they expand your ideas, provide new forms of entertainment, and offer insights into different worlds.

If you haven’t already set a monthly challenge goal, I hope these suggestions will get you thinking about it. Even if you want to start with only doing four or five months to see how it goes, you can always add more challenges as the year goes on.

**Do you use monthly reading challenges? If so, what are your themes? If not, which theme could you choose for January to start your list?**

The post Ready, Set, Read!: 10 Ways to Achieve Your Reading Goals With a Monthly Challenge appeared first on Melanie Glinsmann - Notes From the Bookshelf.

Happy New Year!

While there are still a lot uncertainties heading into 2022, the new year gives us a chance to start fresh with new goals and new ideas.

And with new goals and ideas comes new planners.

Planning Ahead for 2022

As with past years, I set quarterly goals based on three categories: Writing, Professional/Skill Development, and Personal/Health. However, sometimes my goals were too broad or included unrealistic time expectations. This quarter, I narrowed things down to focus on more specific goals. After last quarter, I realized I need to have a clearer desired outcome and establish deadlines for each project.

Here are my Quarter 1 goals (at least the ones I can share):

Writing – This quarter I want to finish the edits on my first novel. I will have a couple rounds to work through, along with getting feedback from beta readers. But the general goal is to have my book ready for a professional editor and moving towards publishing by the early spring.

Professional – I am in the process of looking for a new full-time job. This involves updating resumes and doing a better job of utilizing online resources. As I restart my job hunt, part of this process will also include trying to improve my skills through reading and/or taking related courses.

Personal/Health – I won’t go into specifics on this one since it involves some personal things. But this goal incorporates both physical and mental health. It includes some benchmarks for activity and nutrition, as well as things such as hobbies, bible study, and even activities purely for fun.

Planner Lineup 2022

If you’re a planner person, I’m guessing you have also been in the process of setting up new layouts and brainstorming for 2022 goals. I spent the last week of December deciding on which planners to use and watching YouTube videos about planner set ups for new ideas.

While I do use multiple planners, I decided to keep my 2022 lineup simple. Like many creative people, I have stacks of notebooks. Instead of buying a bunch of new stuff for this year, I wanted to use more of what I already had. I only bought a handful of things so that I can start using up my stash and save money.

What’s New?

The only new items I purchased this year were those specifically dated for 2022. I have never used disc-bound planners before. But when looking for 2022 planners, I came across a couple that matched notebooks from my shelves.

• Writing and Social Media – I picked a Harry Potter themed planner to use as my writing and social media schedule. I already had a Marauder’s Map notebook, so I couldn’t resist a similar planner. The planner was undated, so used a small stamp set to add the dates. The daily pages included three vertical boxes which make it perfect to outline individual tasks for each day. I plan to use the notebook to track writing sprints, word counts, and random story ideas.
• Wellness – Each quarter, I have some sort of health related goal. In the past, I kept track of that in my regular daily planner. This year, I decided to use a separate planner since I’m expanding this goal into more of a total wellness thing. I found the cat themed Happy Planner and had to have it. Because cats. And I already had another small notebook to match. I’ll use the daily boxes for various physical health goals and the monthly page to track what I’m calling Growth. This includes anything creative or inspiring to help me grow spiritual and emotionally.

What’s Staying

There are a couple things I’ve been using for a while that will continue. I have used the same goal setting system for over a year now. And there are a few ongoing journals. While I did have to buy the planner pages for the quarter, they are a digital download I can print myself. Everything else,  I am continuing with my current notebooks.

• HB90 Method – This is my catch-all planner. It includes quarterly goal planning. But it also has weekly and daily pages. This system goes beyond a regular To-Do list. I also use the pages to track progress on my quarterly goals, time management, and future planning.
• Reading Logs – Last summer, I started keeping a log of the books I read throughout the quarter. I don’t do a full write up or annotations.. It’s just a one-page summery and review. Keeping this journal helps me to not only remember what I’ve read, but also allows me to offer suggestions when people ask for book recommendations.
• Quote Journal – I’ve been keeping a quote journal for some time. As I read non-fiction books, I try to write down favorite quotes or insights. This goes back to my academic days, but I like having quick access to key points from the book. Having this journal also helps when I need a quote or idea for an article or other writing project.

What’s Going

Last year, I used a planner for household things – chores, cleaning, shopping lists, and expense tracking. I realized that I didn’t need a separate planner for these. My life is pretty standard in that I don’t have kids’ schedules or home maintenance needs since I live in apartment. While going through my goals for the year, I decided to let go of this household planner. I added basic expense trackers and extra note pages for anything that might come up to my regular daily planner.

Gearing Up For 2022

While the motivation to start new goals is high at the beginning of the year, sometimes getting into a good routine takes time. This is especially true when making big changes. My big goals fit into the same basic categories as past quarters. However, with some changes to the specific goals, it will take a little time to develop good habits around working on them consistently.

As a visual person, using planners and journals has always helped me with both goal planning and planning the small daily tasks needed to make progress. I look forward to seeing how things unfold in the coming weeks.

**What are your 2022 goals? How do you plan out your goals and track progress?**

The post New Year, New Goals: How I’m Heading Into 2022 appeared first on Melanie Glinsmann - Notes From the Bookshelf.