I am in the in-between upside-down state of solo parenting and traveling and solo parenting while traveling and am hoping and waiting for time to stop so that I can get back to my days as planned.
But time won’t stop, and I’ll continue to contend with a toddler sleeping on my head while I try to extract myself at 5:00 in order to get the 20 minutes of writing done before one to three still-developing people need me to help them keep developing.
I have four recommendations for you. I don’t like that number, but that’s where I’ve settled.
The first:
A novel. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin, published in 2022, gets a 5 out of 5. 100%. A+. The tone of the whole 416 pages was uplifting and hopeful. I was sad to be done. The characters are video game programmers, and Zevin wrote worlds within worlds inside this novel. The characters are refreshing and the relationships were surprising. Loved it.
The next three:
An awesome short story by Brenna Hosman, published in Electric Literature, called “Shadow on the Moon.”
The podcast Wooden Overcoats. Yes, it ended in 2022, but who cares? It’s serialized British fiction. Two funeral homes compete for business. One of them is run by the Funn family.
Yet another podcast, Steal the Stars. The tagline from their website: “Forbidden love, a crashed UFO, an alien body, and an impossible heist.”
That’s it for now.
What’s next: another installment of “Cleave” and a CNF something-something coming this week.
And remember, I invite you to let me keep you accountable. I am happy to work with you on meeting your deadlines and keep you moving toward what you wanna get done. Sometimes (a lot of the time), writing is lonely, and especially when you’re starting out, you might feel like nobody really cares what you’re doing or when you’re doing it. I hear that. If you need a partner to keep you moving, I can help. Reply or comment here, or reach me on Instagram @everythingerinlunde as you’re able. I have two spots left.
I love Gabrielle Zevin! Thanks for the nudge!