Happy Friday, everyone! And with May comes the growing summer heat, which makes me always just want to stretch out under a fan and read a book about somewhere cold. Which I'm doing! I'm also writing, and researching, and getting right into the meat of everything.

What I'm Writing

Oof. Quite a few things on the ol' word processor docket.

Let's talk nonfiction first. I've been working on a Folklore and Taylor Swift essay, where I explore the connections between traditional storytelling, folklore, and Taylor Swift's fanbase. I've been enjoying it a lot, and hope to maybe expand the idea into a whole book about the connections of mythology and Taylor Swift for the Swifities. I've also been working on some research and proposals to see what may come up next for any larger projects down the line.

For the fiction side of things, I'm working on some edits for the novel and still querying. But in the meantime, I'll be writing some short stories, which I'm filming for the writing vlogs for anyone interested. My latest is all about a magic tea shop!

What I'm Reading

Remember how in summer I like to try and re-live the cold? Well, I've been reading Tom Hindle's Death in the Arctic.

Tom Hindle has been a bit hit or miss with me. I don't think he's quite the "heir to Christie" that I see plastered on the covers on his books, but they're fun enough. And this one is based on an airship flying over the arctic, which is quite fun.

But I'm also looking into some nonfiction/research spaces for reading as well. I've been doing some digging into Anglo-Saxon runes for an upcoming video essay, with some much helpful guidence from my very brilliant mother-in-law. Hopefully I'll have some actual notes for you soon.

What I'm Enjoying

Speaking of folklore, when I've been mentally in the right place to enjoy it, I've been playing South of Midnight, and absolutely loving it. It reminds me so much of my life before this one, where I lived in the bit of Florida that was still a part of the American South. With haints, and hoodoo, and Southern Gothic vibes, I'm just having a wonderful time, and highly suggest this one.

And that's it for this time. I'll be back closer to the end of the month with a montly recap. In the meantime, let me know what kinds of things you're writing, reading, and enjoying! And, as always, be good to one another!

Everything best,

Vivian