By Tessa Pulyer Posted on

Sunday Post 44 | A Quiet Week Has Me Thinking About NaNoWriMo

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

It was a very quiet week, this week. I preordered the new iphone and will be excited to get that at the end of the week or so. I’ve gone longer than normal with this last upgrade, which just makes it more exciting.

I’ve been participating in NaNoWriMo for the last two years, and I completed one half of a rough draft year one and the second half year two, then decided to put the whole thing on the back burner for now. So, I was going to skip NaNoWriMo this year. I’ve been so crazy busy with my reading/review schedule that creative thoughts could not find their way in at all. So, I had no ideas or couldn’t remember any.

Until my dear friend, the wonderful Diana Peach (D. Wallace Peach) who writes incredible fantasy stories, put out a post about writing retellings. The suggestions for how to make a retelling fresh and new really inspired those creative juices to flow once again. So I may do NaNoWriMo after all. I’m in the porocess of researching stories to retell, and then I will see if I can come up with a plot like I have an idea to do. It’s always exciting when I start the reseach process.

NetGalley Book Haul

all book covers are linked to NetGalley

Dylan Farrow’s Veil is the thrilling sequel to Hush, one of the most talked about YA fantasies of 2020. Shae’s entire world has been turned upside down, and everything she’s ever believed is a lie. More determined than ever, she sets out to the mysterious land of Gondal—a place forbidden to mention and resigned to myth—in search of a dangerous magical book that could alter the fabric of the world. Following the trail of Ravod, the boy she thought she knew and trusted, Shae discovers there is far more to the young man who stole the Book of Days than she ever realized. Together, with her friends, Mads and Fiona, and a newfound ally in her fierce former trainer, Kennan, Shae crosses the borders of the only home she’s ever had and into a world ruled not by magic, but technology and industry—one fraught with perils of its own. In a world shrouded in lies, Shae is desperate for answers and to restore peace, but who will lift the veil?

I also bought book #1, Hush, because I haven’t read that yet but remembered hearing great things about it.

Hazel Sinnett is a lady who wants to be a surgeon more than she wants to marry. Jack Currer is a resurrection man who’s just trying to survive in a city where it’s too easy to die. When the two of them have a chance encounter outside the Edinburgh Anatomist’s Society, Hazel thinks nothing of it at first. But after she gets kicked out of renowned surgeon Dr. Beecham’s lectures for being the wrong gender, she realizes that her new acquaintance might be more helpful than she first thought. Because Hazel has made a deal with Dr. Beecham: if she can pass the medical examination on her own, Beecham will allow her to continue her medical career. Without official lessons, though, Hazel will need more than just her books—she’ll need corpses to study. Lucky that she’s made the acquaintance of someone who digs them up for a living. But Jack has his own problems: strange men have been seen skulking around cemeteries, his friends are disappearing off the streets, and the dreaded Roman Fever, which wiped out thousands a few years ago, is back with a vengeance. Nobody important cares—until Hazel. Now, Hazel and Jack must work together to uncover the secrets buried not just in unmarked graves, but in the very heart of Edinburgh society.
From princesses warring in space, to the all too-near devastation of climate change, to haunting ghost stories in Argentina, and mermaids off the coast of the Caribbean. This is science fiction and fantasy that breaks borders and realms, and proves that stories are truly universal. Authors include Vita Ayala, David Bowles, Daniel José Older, J.C. Cervantes, Sara Faring, Romina Garber, Isabel Ibañez, Anna-Marie McLemore, Yamile Saied Méndez, Nina Moreno, Circe Moskowitz, Maya Motayne, Linda Raquel Nieves Pérez, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Lilliam Rivera and Zoraida Córdova.
“This thought-provoking apocalypse noir fires on all cylinders.” –Publishers Weekly starred review From the author of Road Out of Winter, winner of the 2021 Philip K. Dick Award, comes a resonant, visionary novel about the power of art and the sacrifices we are willing to make for the ones we love A few generations from now, the coastlines of the continent have been redrawn by floods and tides. Global powers have agreed to not produce any new plastics, and what is left has become valuable: garbage is currency. In the region-wide junkyard that Appalachia has become, Coral is a “plucker,” pulling plastic from the rivers and woods. She’s stuck in Trashlands, a dump named for the strip club at its edge, where the local women dance for an endless loop of strangers and the club’s violent owner rules as unofficial mayor. Amid the polluted landscape, Coral works desperately to save up enough to rescue her child from the recycling factories, where he is forced to work. In her stolen free hours, she does something that seems impossible in this place: Coral makes art. When a reporter from a struggling city on the coast arrives in Trashlands, Coral is presented with an opportunity to change her life. But is it possible to choose a future for herself? Told in shifting perspectives, Trashlands is a beautifully drawn and wildly imaginative tale of a parent’s journey, a story of community and humanity in a changed world. “A harrowing tale that is a natural extension of our current climate crisis…. Highly recommended.” –Booklist, starred review

For those of you who are Dan Brown fans like me, I have a great new show for you! Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol on the Peacock app. I have no idea where and how you can get this if you are not in the US but it’s defintely worth researching to figure out if it’s available in your country.

  • Monday, September 13th: Book Review of Lies Like Wildfire by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ 1/2 (YA Thriller)
  • Tuesday, September 14th: Book Review of Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ (Psychological Thriller)
  • Wednesday, September 15th: WWW Wednesday
  • Thursday, September 16th: Book Review of The Necklace by Matt Witten ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️☀️ (Thriller)
  • Friday, September 17th: Book Blogger Hop
  • Monday, September 20th: Book Review of This Is Why We Lie by Gabriella Lapore ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ (YA Mystery/Thriller)
  • Tuesday, September 21st: Book Review of Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️☀️ (YA SciFy/Fantasy)
  • Wednesday, September 22nd: WWW Wednesday
  • Thursday, September 23rd: Book Review of The Stowaway by James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ (Thriller)
  • Friday, September 24th: Book Blogger Hop

How was your week – bookish or otherwise?

27 Replies to “Sunday Post 44 | A Quiet Week Has Me Thinking About NaNoWriMo”

  1. jessicabookworm says:

    Haha decisions, decisions! If you do decide to take part in NaNoWriMo, I hope it will be a success and lots of fun! As for my week, it has mainly been made up of work and early nights, except for a well deserved hair cut. I have also continued to read Miracles by C.S. Lewis and started watching The Serpent, on Netlfix. And ooo I do like Dan Brown, but not sure how I could watch that in the UK?! Take care and happy reading! 😃

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      I did some digging and Peacock is supposed to be available on SkyTV at some point, as both networks are owned by the same parent company. There’s also a bunch of articles about using a VPN app because it tricks the app by not making it aware you are in the UK. Definitely be on the lookout 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      I got my BA degree in English because I always wanted to be a writer. But once I finished college, life took over and though I’ve been lucky to be hired for positions that allow me to experience various aspects of writing – from advertising copywriting to writing articles for the city’s newspaper & teaching journalism, etc… – it was only a few years ago that I was actually able to take the time and work at what I always wanted to do – write fiction. So I’ve been dabbling ❤️. Thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. stargazer says:

        Ah, that’s an interesting story! I hope you will find the time to write fiction – and enjoy it! I’ve never had any ambitions of writing. If I were ever to produce something, it would most certainly be nonfiction. You must keep us updated if you proceed with the retelling idea.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. dinipandareads says:

    Good luck if you participate in NaNoWriMo! 😃 You’ve got so many cool looking titles from NG! That cover for Anatomy is absolutely STUNNING though! Wowzer 😍 Hope you have a great week ahead!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Louise H says:

    I hope you find that inspiration for NaNoWriMo, I do love a good retelling of a story. That looks like a great Netgalley haul – enjoy them!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Lisa Mandina says:

    You got some great books this week as well! I’m going back and forth on whether to do NaNoWriMo myself. Actually the year I did a Cinderella retelling, a YA contemporary romance actually, is the one year I actually finished a whole novel in November. But I’ve been feeling down about my writing and thinking maybe I should just stick to reading and blogging. But then I have a writing virtual conference I signed up for next Saturday and we’ll see if it puts me back in a writing mood. Hope that you have a good week!
    Lisa Loves Literature

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Mareli Thalwitzer says:

    I am a Dan Brown fan yes! I saw there is an adaptation for The Lost Symbol, but I haven’t seen it yet. Will definitely take a look though.

    Have a good week and happy reading!

    Elza Reads

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      Peacock is NBCs online streaming app and it can be found in other countries who have stations that work in conjunction or are owned by the parent company. It is very good. I hope you can find it ❤️

      Like

  8. D. Wallace Peach says:

    Thanks for the shout out, Tessa, and I’m just Thrilled that the post inspired you to at least think about a new story and diving into Nano. There are so many fairy tales, folk tales, legends, and myths to choose from – picking one almost seems like the hardest part. And great haul. The cover of Veil caught my eye. And thanks for “The Lost Symbol” recommendation. I like Dan Brown quite a bit. Have a great week!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      There are many to choose from. I’ve been reading over a bunch and narrowing my choices ❤️ I love the cover of Veil. It’s so cool. Have a great week!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. WendyW says:

    Best of luck with NaNoWriMo, I hope you do it. I don’t think I will, but you never know. I get the Peacock channel, so I might check out The Lost Symbol. Thanks!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Teri Polen says:

    I’m definitely looking into The Lost Symbol – can’t believe I haven’t heard about this. I read Hush, but it just wasn’t for me. Hope you have a better experience with it. I also have Anatomy A Love Story waiting for me. I vote you take the dive into NaNo this year, Tessa!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      I have the free version of the Peacock app and they sent me an email which I totally sat up and noticed. I can’t believe it’s not part of the paid plan, though I would totally subscribe to watch it. Enjoy!

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Grab the Lapels says:

    When I read the words “Appalachia” and “Coral” in the synopsis of your third book, I laughed out loud. All I could think of was how everyone makes fun of the actor who plays Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead because he’s British but using a Georgia accent (sort of) and calls his son “Coral” instead of “Carl.”

    Liked by 1 person

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