Last weekend we took our daughters to their first concert: Ed Sheeran. We all had an incredible time. I was inspired by his description of gigging in pubs in London, being ignored by all the customers until eventually one turned around, then another, then another. He built his audience one by one and now he’s playing to 80,000 people at a time in stadiums all over the world. Be like Ed and keep going!
🇬🇧 Fun fact: Ed and I are both from Suffolk in the UK. Possibly the only thing I have in common with the mega pop star.
Reading this week
📖 Built to Move* - I love to walk and workout but this book is giving me food for thought on how to keep my body strong and functional for life.
📕 The Wishing Game* - a reclusive children’s book author sets up a game for four fans. The prize? The only copy of his next book. I’m only about a third of the way through but I’m enjoying it so far.
📚The Twyford Code* - a bookseller recommended this one to me since I like epistolary books. Instead of letters, this is written as transcribed audio recordings. It’s about a children’s book author (apparently a theme right now for me) who has left a code in her books. Newly out of prison, Smithy investigates the mysterious disappearance of his school teacher that happened when he was a kid while trying to figure out the code. Again, I’m only about one third in so I’ll update when I finish it.
Writing Tip of the Week
If you’re looking for mentor texts but you’re on a budget, check out your local library. And if you’re in California, did you know you can get a library card to any library in the state? This TikTok has the details: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPR7Y1ASU/
Or go to: www.library.ca.gov
You will probably have to go to the library in person to complete your application by showing your ID but it varies from library to library.
Writing Prompt
Write a poem, short story, or picture book including these words: flashlight, magnolia tree, red sweater, shadow.
News
I got sent the Turkish editions of The Wish Library Snow Day in May - Dilek Kütüphanesi – Mayısta Kar Yağışı! Looks like it’s available here and here among other places online.
I love receiving the foreign editions of my books. Evelyn the Adventurous Entomologist has been translated into Chinese, Korean, and Turkish so far.
Until next week, happy writing and reading. Let me know what you’re thinking about this week.
Christine
P.S. links marked with a * are affiliate and may earn me a small percentage of the sale at no cost to you.