Season Summary: Summer 2023
- My visual piece “Eye” was released with Quibble’s Snake Eyes issue in August.
- You can find my artwork “Word” in Cool Beans Lit’s Autumn 2023 issue.
- New posts are up on my blog. You can continue to expect a series of short fiction reviews, posts on writing craft, updates and more!
Updates & Work in Progress: Autumn 2023
- I am shaping my brand and messaging. You will notice gradual changes on my website, blog, and Twitter account.
- With a few scene tweaks, I’ve pulled my manuscript out of the YA category and back into the realm of millennial fiction. Really, the adult characters took the story in a new direction all on their own. You will see fewer updates from me this season. I am pulling-back on writing time to conduct additional market research.
- I’m looking to add more content in video form. I’ve set-up a Rumble account and am deciding whether to use YouTube. Please comment with your recommendations.
What I’m Reading: Autumn 2023
- I spent the summer reading Jules Verne. If you only read one of his stories, I recommend “From the Earth to the Moon,” as it is unexpectedly humorous. In addition to having been ahead of its time, the characterization is excellent and contains social commentary on human behavior that is applicable to the present day.
- Speaking of translated works, I also re-read Gaston Leroux’s “The Phantom of the Opera.” I first read it in seventh grade. Reading it later in life is a far different experience. I appreciate how everything surrounding the mystery of this Opera Ghost comes to a climax, not only with Raoul searching for his love Christine, but as the culmination of all the foul play that effects the new managers, the stage hands, and others. This isn’t the semi-cute lovesick phantom characterized in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical of the same name. He is 100% bad guy. Read it for yourself and see what I mean.
- I am reading Elizabeth Hay’s “Snow Road Station.” This is a sequel to “His Whole Life,” although it isn’t specifically advertised as such. The narrative follows Lulu Blake who, in the previous book, was a supporting character grappling with her unstitched relationship with her brother, Guy, while also attempting to get her alcoholism under control. In “Snow Road Station,” we see Lulu confronting the reality of childlessness as she progresses from middle-age into her sixties. You see, while death is a certainty in life, motherhood is not. Hay captures this tragic realization in a well-woven tale of love and friendship.
And that’s it. Enjoy autumn. Please share your comments below. Stay tuned for my next blog post. Wanna get it in your email inbox? Subscribe to stay informed of my newest articles, story reviews, updates, and more.
Cover Image: Photo by Ameruverse Digital Marketing Media on Pexels.com
Pauline Shen 