Weekly Words - SoulAce Day and Writing Update

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!

A post on a Monday? Why yes, because I forgot to post Friday, which actually turned out well for today.

Today is SoulAce Day: a day created by Black asexuals to acknowledge and celebrate the creativity of the ignored A in LGBTQIA (because it does NOT stand for ally). 

A few of us contributed to an e-zine about Black Asexual Culture, which you can support by downloading and/or donating to those who contributed at the link below. 

https://blackaceculture.itch.io/black-ace-culture-a-digital-zine

And now for a quick writing update: I was finally able to write, "To be continued..." in the sequel to Fractured Princess, officially titled Broken Princess! I'm so relieved that I made it. In about a week, I'll start editing and once I'm done, I'll send it to my beta readers. More news to come in the next few months!

Weekly Words: Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle

 

Happy Friday!

Two weeks ago, I had what I'm almost sure was a sinus infection from being in the office while they were painting (I wasn't supposed to be there at first, luck of the draw), and I was in bed from Thursday night into Monday. I don't remember what I was doing last Friday, but for the most part, I spent these past two weeks recovering.

If you follow me anywhere else, you'll know I did make time to start the big countdown to FRACTURED PRINCESS's re-release, which is now 18 days away! Pre-ordering for the Kindle is live. The paperback will be available May 30th at Midnight (if I do it correctly. The first go-round, I accidentally released it a day early haha), and the **hardcover**. Will be available shortly after that, so keep an eye out!

This past week, I also started a new book! I'm excited about this one because it is a black ace romance!

 

I absolutely. Love. This cover. Pink and purple are my favorite colors, so I'm biased, but also, just the way he's looking at her and how she's touching his arm. And the "Solid Gold" lettering is a bonus. I can't wait to see how this turns out. It's a romance, so it will most likely be a HEA (happily ever after), but the important part of romance novels is the journey to it. From how it's started, I think it may be a bit emotional.

Here is the blurb for your reading pleasure:

Prince Jones is the guy with all the answers—or so it seems. After all, at seventeen, he has his own segment on Detroit’s popular hip-hop show, Love Radio, where he dishes out advice to the brokenhearted.

Prince has always dreamed of becoming a DJ and falling in love. But being the main caretaker for his mother, who has multiple sclerosis, and his little brother means his dreams will stay just that and the only romances in his life are the ones he hears about from his listeners. Until he meets Dani Ford.

Dani isn’t checking for anybody. She’s focused on her plan: ace senior year, score a scholarship, and move to New York City to become a famous author. But her college essay keeps tripping her up and acknowledging what’s blocking her means dealing with what happened at that party a few months ago. And that’s one thing Dani can’t do.

When the romantic DJ meets the ambitious writer, sparks fly. Prince is smitten, but Dani’s not looking to get derailed. She gives Prince just three dates to convince her that he’s worth falling for. Three dates for the love expert to take his own advice, and just maybe change two lives forever.

 

I'm extra biased because Dani is a writer. *heart eyes* I hope she makes it big.

What are you reading this week?

Wednesday Words: Solitaire by Alice Oseman

 

It has been a while for one of these!

It is the 2nd Wednesday of the month, and that usually means I share with you all what I am reading. I'm finally back into reading, almost at my normal pace again, so I can finally share my current read! That lucky book is Solitaire by Alice Oseman.

This is the cover for the e-book. I'm actually close to the end, and the blurb up top is a bit misleading. For the most part we follow Tori and Michael, though I have a hankering suspicion about Lucas and his dealings with the mysterious prankster group known as Solitaire.

This is Alice's first book. I read Radio Silence last year, and it was amazing, so I could see where she grew. This story lacked a little direction, and Tori isn't a very likable protagonist, so I had to ignore her for the most part. I can't wait to see how this ends, though.

Here is the book description: In case you're wondering, this is not a love story.

My name is Tori Spring. I like to sleep and I like to blog. Last year - before all that stuff with Charlie and before I had to face the harsh realities of A-Levels and university applications and the fact that one day I really will have to start talking to people - I had friends. Things were very different, I guess, but that's all over now.

Now there's Solitaire. And Michael Holden.

As I said, I'm close to the end, and I'm around the point where she "doesn't have friends" anymore. I don't think she ever did, just people she hung out with because her best friend did, and she didn't even really like her!

Speaking of which, here is a line from page 68 that I found very interesting, the opening to Chapter 12:

There is a line that you cross when making relationships with people. Crossing this line occurs when you transfer from knowing someone to knowing about someone, and Michael and I cross that line at Becky's seventeenth birthday party.

It's a warm point in the story that I appreciate, though it's also surrounded by the millionth time that Tori hates something. Maybe it's because of that that I like it.

What are you reading?

February Writing Update

This will be a short post. February is moving much more quickly that January, I believe. It's already the 3rd Wednesday of the month, which means I share a writing update. As of yesterday, I have successfully done the following:

• written 1326 words in Divided Princess
• written 460 words in my asexual romance WIP

Winning!

I'm glad the brain juices are flowing again, and hopefully once my treatments are done, I'll eventually get back to full gear. I'm halfway there, and I feel like this experience will turn up in a story, too. I would just like to be far away from it if it does.

One of the things I'm trying to work out for DP is the meat of the plot. I know what's happening and partially why, but I need to figure out the underlying why that brings it all together. I have A and Z. I just need the rest of the letters to fall in line.

Welp, that's all for this week! What are you working on?

Wednesday Words: The Black Veins

Welcome back to Wednesday Words!

On second Wednesdays, I wear pink. No, just kidding. I share what I've been reading. We're currently behind a week, because I forgot that IWSG was on the 2nd Wednesday this month, but that's okay. This week, it is independent author Ashia Monet's The Black Veins!

This cover is intriguing. I love the color scheme. I mentioned meeting Ashia at the Ace/Aro Conference I went to during my July Monthly Review. She's aromantic, and she wanted to write a romance-free book where the relationship focus is familial and platonic. We don't get to see that often, so I was glad for it. There is also a list of trigger warnings and what pages they're on, so that's good for people who do have traumas. Here is the blurb:

In a world where magic thrives in secret city corners, a group of magicians embark on a road trip—and it’s the "no-love-interest", found family adventure you’ve been searching for.

Sixteen-year-old Blythe is one of seven Guardians: magicians powerful enough to cause worldwide panic with a snap of their fingers. But Blythe spends her days pouring latte art at her family’s coffee shop, so why should she care about having apocalyptic abilities?

She’s given a reason when magician anarchists crash into said coffee shop and kidnap her family.

Heartbroken but determined, Blythe knows she can’t save them alone. A war is brewing between two magician governments and tensions are too high. So, she packs up her family’s bright yellow Volkswagen, puts on a playlist, and embarks on a road trip across the United States to enlist the help of six strangers whose abilities are unparalleled—the other Guardians.

I just realized I never read the blurb. I recently reached the kidnapping scene and wasn't prepared. So far, I'm intrigued by what will ensue. Blythe is about to leave in the Volkswagen, so the story is really about to move forward.

I don't want to go too far ahead in this one and spoil anything, so I'll share a line from an early page using random.org: page 23.

Frost Glade sounds amazing, it really does. She would rather see it with her family, where her mother can fall in love with that place again, than be trapped on its shores because the Trident Republic wants to kill her.

What are you reading this week?

Wednesday Words: Summer Reading Goals

Happy Wednesday!

We're halfway through June already, but there's still time for me to try to read! I have 2 or 3 stories left in How Long 'Til Black Future Month?, so I have nothing to share with you all, except that this book is AMAZING!

What I will do is share what I plan to read this summer (and unfortunately, the tags are too long, so I suppose I will just put the titles and not the authors in there). Links are below the covers, by which I'm judging these books today.

Jala's Mask, Michael and Rachel Grinti

I'm a little iffy about this one. I was really excited to see black characters on the cover, but at the same time, this is not an own voices narrative. I do wonder what made Mike and Rachel Grinti decide to write what looks to be a tribal pirate narrative (already problematic), but I'll see how authentic it feels, or if it's just white characters in blackface.

Reign of the Fallen, Sarah Glenn Marsh

I've wanted to read this one ever since I saw the cover. I have to remember Sarah Glenn Marsh is not Sarah J. Maas, who I am also interested in reading (and Sarah G. looks like the main character on Sarah J.'s Throne of Glass books except the first one, which might actually BE Sarah J., but either way that adds to my confusion quite a bit). Anyway, THIS COVER. I love skulls, and a skull with a crown on it just piques my interest to the utmost.

An Ember in the Ashes, Sabaa Tahir

Someone said my writing style is like Sabaa's, so I've wanted to read this one for a while now, too. This one has a lot of different covers. I'd never seen this one until I searched my library catalog. There are little details I only notice by looking for a long time. It's a very interesting choice. I haven't read a book whose setting is inspired by ancient Rome, I don't think, so I can't wait to see what happens here.

Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree, Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani

This piqued my interest because I have an infatuation with baobabs. On the flip side, this book is based on the kidnappings in Boko Haram, a much scarier narrative than the cover gives away. Maybe it's the alliteration that made me think, "ooh fun," but obviously, this will not be a "fun" read. I can't imagine what some of those families are going through, as many of the girls are still missing.

A Natural History of Dragons, Marie Brennan

DRAGONS! This is marked as historical fiction, so I believe Lady Trent is a real person I will have to look up. This cover is so cool, though. I'm sure people thought this woman was a little crazy. The closest thing we have to dragons are komodo dragons, and I don't know if they really count. I can't wait to see what's in this "memoir."

June 19th update: Two more books came in from the library that I forgot I put on hold! -_- I want to read more books with asexual representation, and the following two were on the list. The cover I'm used to seeing for Radio Silence is really pretty (girl in tv static colors), but this one is okay, too. The 27 Hours cover, though: MAGICAL!

27 Hours, Tristina Wright

Radio Silence, Alice Oseman

What are you reading this Summer?

Wednesday Words: Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Ormsbee

Happy Wednesday!

On the 2nd Wednesday of the month, I share with you all what I am reading this month. I finished A Crown of Wishes Saturday, so I'm finally into something new and will hopefully start reading more than one book a month.

Yesterday, I started Kathryn Ormsbee's Tash Hearts Tolstoy. First off, I love this cover. The juxtaposition of Tolstoy with the girly hearts and font is hilarious, but also the white, pink, and yellow on black really pops (and y'all know I love pink).

The premise is below:

After a shout-out from one of the Internet’s superstar vloggers, Natasha “Tash” Zelenka finds herself and her obscure, amateur web series, Unhappy Families, thrust into the limelight: She’s gone viral.

Her show is a modern adaptation of Anna Karenina—written by Tash’s literary love Count Lev Nikolayevich “Leo” Tolstoy. Tash is a fan of the forty thousand new subscribers, their gushing tweets, and flashy Tumblr GIFs. Not so much the pressure to deliver the best web series ever.

And when Unhappy Families is nominated for a Golden Tuba award, Tash’s cyber-flirtation with Thom Causer, a fellow award nominee, suddenly has the potential to become something IRL—if she can figure out how to tell said crush that she’s romantic asexual.

Tash wants to enjoy her newfound fame, but will she lose her friends in her rise to the top? What would Tolstoy do?
I'm also on the romantic asexual spectrum, and one of my goals this year is to read more books featuring asexual characters. I actually hadn't read the blurb until I'd already started reading, so when I opened up to a page that looked like credits, I was intrigued. I already connect with Tash, who hints that her sister is the prettier, smarter one. I usually feel that way myself. I'm excited to see if she gains more self-confidence as the story progresses.

There are 400 pages in this book, and Random.org chose page 262, so here is an excerpt from that page:

After a week of what I call our "social media fast," Jack and I get back online with a new plan: We will weed through notifications in an efficient manner, disregarding the hate as best we can and responding only to fellow web series accounts or very pressing questions. It isn't ideal, but we agree it's the only way to stay sane.

It's also interesting to read such a modern book. I don't usually read contemporary YA novels, so when I see a character mention Youtube or Justin Beiber, I have to remember the setting is here and now.

What are you reading this week?