IN THE PALM OF HER HAND by Lauren Carter

In The Palm Of Her Hand by Lauren Carter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've had this story on my phone for a bit and decided to read it tonight.

Brennan and Sophie are siblings who recently lost their mother and suspect she was killed...

This is a great short story told entirely via text messages. I love tales written in this way because telling a story through messages really introduces a great sense of tension. It kept my attention from beginning to end, and when the twist hit: 😳!!

Great fun, but it's also a lovely book. Between how the text messages are accurately shown on the page, to the lovely illustrations, I really enjoyed this eBook.


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Halfway Through Feb!

Happy Valentine's Day! 💕

Hey, how are you today? I hope you're staying sane in this unstable world of ours. Self-care and enjoying the things you love is always very important, but right now it's absolutely essential. So I hope you're all taking care of yourselves and each other.

I've spent most of this month reading. I have a pretty big TBR pile (it's really piles), but during February I've been finding myself going through my Paperwhite and randomly starting whatever catches my fancy. So I've now read a bunch of cool books that I'd forgotten I had and have thoroughly enjoyed most of them. If you're interested, you can read my reviews below.

So, asides from that I've been going for a lot of walks, have been hanging out with my husband, and we're enjoying the hell out of SEVERANCE. It's such a great show! Very cerebral. I always love watching movies and shows that make me think and encourage me to formulate theories. 

Do you remember the short story first draft (2,400w) I mentioned in my last post? Well, I actually worked on the final read-thru last night. The word count is now: 2,747.

I'm really happy with the finished product. The subject matter isn't fun, and at its core this is definitely a horror tale, but it's also a sharp slice of feminine rage. A violent dystopian that came out of nowhere but makes sense because of certain shitty things that are going on in the world right now.

That's not all I worked on last night. I also finished writing another short story that I started on my phone earlier this week. It's an idea that came out of nowhere and I managed to write the beginning, but then had to put it aside because it was missing something... So I couldn't move on until the answer came to me in the form of Joey Tempest.

After this missing piece of the puzzle landed in my head via a dream, and then came together during my afternoon walk, I was able to complete the first draft. That's 2,528 words. Who would've thought that a little Joey Tempest would help me complete this story? Well, teenage me might have. Or that I would write another apocalyptic shortie this week? Well, the state of the world could be responsible for that. 😁

Speaking of short stories, if you'd like a sample of the kinds of tales that I've written through the years, you can check out my very first short story collection HERE.

MELANCHOLY DELUSIONS already has some cool reviews on Goodreads.

OMG, another thing I've been doing is playing HELLO KITTY HAPPINESS PARADE on my Switch Lite. It's SO MUCH FUN and the songs are very catchy. Not to mention that the game is absolutely adorable. I love it!!

Well, that's it for now. I just wanted to drop in to post an update about what I've been doing lately. My husband is going to have a three-week break for the rest of the month, so I'm looking forward to hanging out with him.

Have an awesome weekend!

INK VINE by Elizabeth Broadbent

Ink Vine: A Gothic Sapphic Novella by Elizabeth Broadbent
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The weekend is almost here and I wanted to start a novella that I could read in one sitting. I'm glad that I picked this one.

Emmy Joiner lives in a trailer with her family in Lower Congaree. She works as a stripper and because of that, people like to make assumptions and throw out labels that don't apply. Besides, they don't know anything about her ambitions or what's in her heart. The day she meets Zara, her life takes an unexpected turn...

I really enjoyed this! The writing is as lush as the vegetation, and throws the reader into the middle of Emmy's life. The swampy landscape is inspiring and almost as dangerous as the people.

Emmy is such a great character with a very strong voice. A young woman who's only ever known poverty and the cruel words her mother continually spews her way. Still, she keeps going and aspires to become so much more. Yet, everyone is willing to judge her every action and call her names. But she doesn't let their opinions define her.

Another thing that I loved about this novella is the descriptions. Whether inside the strip club, in the deepest part of the swamp, or trapped within the tight walls of the trailer she calls home, I really got a sense of location and could picture everything vividly.

In many ways, this is a sad story about a woman trying to survive in a place where everyone pushes against her desire to grow. Only to find that the one part of herself she's kept secret is her real salvation.

I found the romance to be sweet and hopeful, even a little scary at times because of its intensity. The last bit is only because I suspected something otherworldly was going on, which was later confirmed.

This is a great Southern gothic tale.


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PUNK 57 by Penelope Douglas

Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was checking out the books on my Paperwhite yesterday and this one caught my eye. So, I started reading... and couldn't put it down.

Misha and Ryen have been penpals since they were kids. Maybe even best friends. Now they're both about to finish high school and when Misha decides he wants to break their self-imposed rule of not meeting in person, tragedy strikes and turns everything upside down...

Well, this book sure is awesome!

I honestly didn't expect to like this story as much as I did because I'd heard a little about the toxicity, and I don't usually like toxic assholes. But there was a lot more to Misha than being a total douche. The guy's dealing with a personal tragedy, and is still mourning a loss that made him so angry at the world that he took it out on those closest to him: friends, Ryen, his dad.

This is a peculiar tale because it's friends to lovers, but also enemies to lovers. It's also a contemporary YA crossed with NA about two young people who are trying their best to survive while prepping for the future. It's hard to condense all the inner workings of the relationship between Misha and Ryen because there's a lot going on. And I mean a LOT.

I really enjoyed the characterisation of the two main characters. Sure, there are a few tropey/cardboardish characters—Lyla and Trey, I'm looking at you—but because they were mostly bully background noise, it didn't really matter. Misha is one of those characters who acts the opposite to how he feels, and that can be frustrating at times. But then again, Ryen is the kind of person who acts like she belongs with the popular bullies, which is at odds with who she really is.

I think both of these characters have a great character arc that is fun, interesting, and even heartbreaking.

And another thing, this book is raunchy. Yikes! The chemistry between these two is:🔥! I also didn't expect the final Misha twist at the end. 😫

Anyway, I loved this!


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CYNDI LAUPER: A Memoir by Cyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper: A Memoir by Cyndi Lauper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cyndi Lauper is an artist that I loved when I was a kid. I never forgot the first time I heard/saw the music video for Girls Just Want to Have Fun, because I loved the catchy tune and cool video. I loved her style and how different she was to other singers. And of course she was involved with wrestling, so it mixed two of my favourite things. Not to mention that she also did the song for The Goonies.

So yeah, she was a big part of my childhood in the 80s, and I still listen to her now.

I wanted to read her memoir because she's always seemed interesting. Plus, I wanted to hear all about her life directly from her. Cyndi's voice shines through every experience she shares. She doesn't hold back.

Another thing I really enjoyed was how her story follows a linear timeline, but at the same time goes off in little tangents that reveal insightful, inspirational, funny, and even sad experiences.

She's quirky and zany, and very creative. I love how much she appreciates art, music and fashion, how she's always combined all of these to make beautiful music and fun, bright visuals. In everything she does.

Her narrative voice is also very interesting and kept me glued all the way through. I remembered a lot of the stuff she covered, but was also surprised by so much of what she revealed. I would've liked to know more about Kinky Boots, but I guess she ran out of room. It's quite a hefty book already. ☺️

Anyway, if you're a Cyndi Lauper fan, you'll definitely enjoy this memoir. It's inspiring because of her creative process and activism, full of surprises, and includes some of the sadder things in her life.

 

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FIGHT CLUB by Chuck Palahniuk

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

My introduction to Tyler Durden was back in 1999 when we went to the movies to watch Fight Club but had to leave because the fire alarm went off halfway through and had to go back to watch it from scratch. 😳

Anyway, I've always wanted to read the book, and decided to check it out this week.

We all know the deal. The first rule of fight club is: you don't talk about fight club. It's a place where men who want to prove something to themselves, through violence, go to hang out with other men. But at the root of this little shindig is a lot more. An insomniac who wants to find meaning in his life soon starts a pathway to anarchy...

Well. Okay. I expected it to be dark and feature an unstable narrator, but... there are a lot of things about this story that bug me.

Let's start with the cool stuff. I actually really enjoyed the repetitive writing style, and how the story moves forward and back, only to return to the present. It established a sense of disorientation throughout, and fits the voice of someone who is slowly radicalising himself into anarchy via missed sleep.

I found the first half of the book quite interesting because watching a disillusioned man begin a personal quest to get some sleep soon morphs into an anti-capitalist agenda via underground violent—and let's be honest, juvenile—fights. It seemed like he was just trying to fill a void and found it in other men, which is fine.

But then, Project Mayhem enters the story and takes over everything. Now we've got a bunch of bruised and brazen guys who want to destroy civilization and co-ordinate acts of vandalism all over the place just because they're not fulfilled in their own lives, while still fighting like idiots. *yawn*

I read somewhere that this is an allegory for homosexuality. Well, I don't agree. I think it's an allegory about toxic masculinity and how mediocre white men always think they're owed shit and when they don't get it, cause mayhem. It's pretty much the equivalent of a toddler tantrum, which we see in society all the time.

And don't even get me started on the fact that in a book packed full of dudes, there was only space for one woman. And she happens to be a flaky cardboard cutout who's also a liar. Or that being raised by single mothers is apparently bad and makes men miss the father/man who left them and they spend their whole lives chasing a father figure. 🙄

Anyway, like I said, the first half was cool but the story got progressively worse as it neared the end. So much that when the twist reveal happened I didn't even care. And it wasn't because I already knew from the movie.

I don't know. Maybe it's because I'm older. Or maybe it's because white male tears don't impress me. It could even be that in a world where men are already so ridiculously violent, we don't need a story crying about how hard it is for them to find their way in the world.


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BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of those books that I've wanted to read for ages, but kept putting off. I'm glad I finally got stuck into it because I really enjoyed it.

In the World State, from the moment of creation, everything and everyone is engineered, controlled, and psychologically manipulated in every way imaginable. Everyone has a job and a purpose, and share everything—including each other. The conditioning to conform is introduced from the beginning of life via sleep-learning and other techniques. Yet, there's always going to be someone who starts to question everything and longs for more...

Okay. Yikes. That was quite a ride.

I love how this story starts from a very technical POV to introduce a cold, dystopian world in an almost text-book style. This introduction not only sets the stage for the antiseptic ways of the world, but also explains everything in great and clinical detail so the reader understands exactly how these people exist. Then, before you realise it, several characters insert themselves into the narrative and their intertwined stories take over.

Bernard is a psychiatrist and outwardly appears to have the same attitude as the people around him, but his height and frame have always set him apart from the others. And now he starts to wonder about things. Lenina is devoted to her work in the Hatchery, but has a tendency to hook up with one guy more than once.

When these two go on a holiday together, they get swept up by what they discover in the Reservation. And then return to their city with unexpected guests that cause quite a bit of trouble to this 'stable' world.

And that brings me to John (or Savage). A character that I initially felt sorry for but then found myself not liking much. It's strange how the workings of the story end up affecting how you feel about the characters and their motivations, interactions, and attitudes.

So much about this tale is awful and uncomfortable to read, even rage-inducing. It's a clinical glimpse at a possible future where the rights of people are stripped before they're even born. A society that keeps people busy with work and then rewards them with drugs (soma) and casual sex. It's also a well written captivating story about what control and forced conformity can do to society. No matter what, human curiousity eventually prevails in some way.

I really enjoyed this book. A lot more than I thought I would. It's thought-provoking, certainly highlights a lot of issues within our own society, and ends in a way I didn't expect, but wasn't surprising. Tragic.


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February is here!

Can you believe that January is finally over?! Yikes. I mean, didn't January feel like it went on forever? One week felt like one month, and for a while there it felt like it would last the whole year. 😳

How are you? I hope you're still finding some happiness in this terrible world. I can't believe that this year has started in such an awful way, but I suppose that's what happens when people vote against their best interest. Or don't bother to really listen when someone tells them they're a fucking asshole. Or can't be bothered voting. Or maybe, just maybe, they let their hate and racism win over common-fucking-sense.

I could go on and on about this, but with every theory we'll all get angrier and depressed about the fact that our society is getting dumber by the moment.

So, let's move on.

Since I finished my latest WIP a few weeks ago, I've been catching up on a few things. I read and blurbed two very cool upcoming books. They were awesome, and I enjoyed the hell out of both. I also updated my domain name because having my own website is very important to me. And started sorting out several clustered areas around the apartment that are starting to weigh on me mentally.

Does that happen to you? I can usually function just fine with piles of small clutter, but eventually it starts to bug me. I'm nowhere near done, but the only way to do this is to tackle one bit at a time. I actually like sorting through stuff, but it's mentally exhausting.

I've also read a few books:

SHOCKAHOLIC by Carrie Fisher

CATS LIKE CREAM by Renee Miller: 

WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS by Grady Hendrix

And I'm halfway through BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley. I'm also totally addicted to HELLO KITTY HAPPINESS PARADE. My husband found this game on special the other day, and I've been playing it ever since. 😅

Oh, and the coolest thing that happened this week is that my debut short story collection was released on Tuesday!!! OMG. I'm SO excited.

I mean, look at this beautiful book:

I absolutely adore this cover because it captures the vibes of my tales perfectly. Luke Spooner/Carrion House did such a fantastic job! 😍

Here's the summary: A dark gathering of 17 melancholy horror tales where mothers, lovers, friends and monsters intersect with disastrous and tragic consequences.

These are horror stories that I've written and rewritten several times through the years until they became the best versions, which is what you'll find within these pages. 😊

There are already quite a few reviews on Goodreads and I love finding out which story each reader prefers. It makes me very happy.

If you're interested in grabbing a copy, it's available on Kindle, paperback and KU.

Asides from reading and celebrating a new release, I wrote a 2,400-word short story on my phone the other night. It's a slice of rage. A violent dystopian horror tale that came out of nowhere. I'd like to revise it sometime this week. I didn't plan to write anything because I'm supposed to be taking a mental break, but I don't question when the words strike. 😁

We also watched a few movies: NOSFERATU (aesthetically stunning, dark and Lily-Rose Depp was amazing, but it was just okay), SMILE 2 (cool horror story that makes you question everything that's happening), and THE LOST BOYS (to celebrate finishing another vampire first draft). And we started watching SEVERANCE, which is fantastic. Can't wait to see more.

Anyway, that's about it. Just thought I'd post a bit of an update.

Hope you have an awesome week! ☺️