Reading and Writing

I've been reading a LOT of great books: DAD IS FAT by Jim Gaffigan is such a hoot. I was thinking, the guy is crazy living in NYC with his big family, but he loves it. I propose you get this for the fathers in your lives.  

Thanks to Faith Hough for introducing me to historical fiction by Michaela McColl. Prisoners of the Palace: How Princess Victoria became Queen with the Help of her Maid, a Reporter, and a Scoundrel was especially good. I learned so much about the teenaged Victoria from her diaries! Can you imagine having to write in pencil before your mother approves it? I have some of her other books but they need to wait ...


I purchased a couple of books for my research for a little book I'm working on and loving it. My head is full of little facts that I've been telling Michael and the kids and they know just to say uh-huh. I've taken to reading to the kittens as well. But working on a manuscript is hard with them demanding attention, sitting on my notes and pouncing upon the screen. I have come upon a trick since they prefer to sit on my papers where my attention is, instead of the blanket -- I have two sets of papers, one from on old research project and the one I currently need and get them settled on the old papers :) 






And last but not least, I am loving Lisa Cron's Story Genius. A proper review will follow, but for now, I just want to say that if you are writing a novel, do yourself a favor and get a copy (because I am not parting with mine). I love her method of identifying misbeliefs of a character early on. I've been using it to revise my historical and it's given me so much more to think about with regard to my main character's emotional arc, her belief system. 

Wishing you all happy reading and writing days. Remember: everything is research :)