Rachael Arsenault's Blog - Posts Tagged "books"
SHE WHO RISES! Out now!
She Who Rises, the first in the A New Age of Magic series, is out in ebook format on Amazon! Huzzah!
She Who Rises
Even better, it's on sale for $0.99 CAD until Tuesday, May 21st! And it will be available FREE through Kindle Unlimited indefinitely! :D
You can still read a free excerpt in this blog post if you wanna check it out before you buy it.
To keep up with my future projects, follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
She Who Rises
Even better, it's on sale for $0.99 CAD until Tuesday, May 21st! And it will be available FREE through Kindle Unlimited indefinitely! :D
You can still read a free excerpt in this blog post if you wanna check it out before you buy it.
To keep up with my future projects, follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
Upcoming Sale!
Hey everyone!
Black Friday is nearing and so are all the Black Friday sales - including a sale on one of my books! From November 27th to December 4th, She Who Rises will be on sale on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. If you haven't had a chance to check it out yet, this will be the perfect time to do so.
You can read an excerpt from She Who Rises over on a previous blog post here.
Enjoy!
Black Friday is nearing and so are all the Black Friday sales - including a sale on one of my books! From November 27th to December 4th, She Who Rises will be on sale on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. If you haven't had a chance to check it out yet, this will be the perfect time to do so.
You can read an excerpt from She Who Rises over on a previous blog post here.
Enjoy!
March Wrap-Up
I’ve decided to try a little something new this month. It’s an idea I’ve kind of been toying with a for a while, though originally I had envisioned it as something I could do for journaling, sort of as a way to help myself remember what I read, watched, and created throughout the year. But I’ve also been wanting to make better use of this blog space and was trying to think of a sustainable way to do it. I decided to combine the two ideas, and now I can present you with the first of my monthly wrap-ups.
What I’ve Enjoyed:
Books:
A Blade So Black by L. L. McKinney
Absolutely loved this book. It’s funny, emotional, action-packed, and masterfully blends the real world with the magical world in a way that makes me a little envious. Alice is a fantastic lead, the Black Knight is an intriguing antagonist, and all the other characters are lovable in their own way – especially when they’re all playing off each other. Definitely a full 5/5 from me.
Love Beyond Body, Space, and Time by Hope Nicholson (editor), et al.
I was so excited when my husband got me this anthology for my birthday. It’s full of a great variety of stories, though I particularly enjoyed the cute and sweet pieces like Né łe, which is about lesbians and puppies in space. I mean, what’s not to love?
Articles:
Star Wars fan with R2-D2 bionic arm has a big fan in Mark Hamill
This little story just checks all the boxes for me. Cool but practical technical advancements? Check! A community coming together to help a disadvantaged person improve their life? Check! A celebrity reaching out to and supporting a fan? Check! Just a sweet little feel-good read.
New Caledonian Crows Are Even Smarter and Scarier Than We Thought
I think crows are amazing animals, especially for their intelligence and playfulness. Learning that they’re even smarter than we previously thought just fills me with joy – even though crows’ intelligence is apparently scary to some people.
20 Slang Terms from World War I
I love language, etymology, and history, so this article was right up my alley. So many neat little tidbits and words we use casually without ever thinking about where they come from, as well as some terms and phrases I had never heard of before.
The Unsolved Case of the Most Mysterious Song on the Internet
In the digital age, we’ve all gotten fairly accustomed to being able to find information with a quick Google search. So it’s deeply frustrating and fascinating when something that seems like it should be straight-forward to identify is, in fact, an enigma. And sometimes you need a reminder that there are still enigmas in the world.
German Forest Ranger Finds That Trees Have Social Networks, Too
A super, super neat piece about how trees connect in more human ways than we expect. It may or may not contribute to how I write certain characters in the future…
Other:
Legend of the Dragoon
Technically I was enjoying this last month, too, but I wasn’t doing wrap-ups then and my husband and I are still working our way through it, so shhhh. In any case, this game is an oldie but a goodie. I had vague memories of playing this as a kid (might have been 8 or 9 at the time), but I didn’t get very far on account of the fact that I sucked at the combat system. Getting to properly take in the story and the worldbuilding while my husband plays through it (he absolutely loved this game as a kid) is pretty special. This game deserves way more hype.
Work I’ve Done:
Articles:
The Inventiveness and Ingenuity of South/Mesoamerican Indigenous People
I wrote this piece because I see a lot of misconceptions about indigenous people around the world, who are often portrayed as backward or primitive. This article is far from comprehensive, particularly because it only focuses on a specific region of the world, but I wanted to draw attention to the incredible skill and intelligence found in indigenous cultures. The ahistorical barbarian is a lie we need to do away with.
If You’re Angry About a Protest, Don’t Blame the Protestors
The public discourse around protestors and protests has always frustrated me, so I wanted to write a little piece highlighting the misconceptions/misinformation that often spreads about them, drawing especially on my own education on the subject.
What Can We Endure: Trans Representation in YA Fiction
For this, I wanted to explore a conundrum I’ve been facing when it comes to supporting diversity in fiction, with trans representation in YA fiction as a specific example. The issue I keep coming against is problematic or overly stereotyped portrayals, and the question of whether to support these works in the hopes that we get more trans characters who will hopefully be better written, or if supporting subpar representation begets more of the same problem.
Said is Not Dead
As a writer, I’ve seen a lot of different writing advice floating around the writing community. One popular tip is to avoid or limit using “said” in dialogue. I’ve always found this advice misguided, which is what I explore and explain in here.
YouTube Recommendations for While You’re Self-Isolating
With the outbreak of corona virus and surge of preventative closures, cancellations, and calls for social distancing, I’ve seen a lot of people on Twitter listing book recs, movie recs, Netflix recs, etc. So I figured I’d add my two cents and offer some YouTube recommendations, especially for those who want something to watch but don’t have Netflix.
Defeating Grand Dragons on Disc One of Final Fantasy IX
I’m not gonna lie: This is pretty much pure self-indulgence. I love FFIX – it and FFVIII were a big part of my childhood – and slaying Grand Dragons on the first disc is a must-do undertaking for every playthrough. So I figured I would share my methods for doing so!
That's what I've been enjoying so far this month. Any recommendations on what I should check out next month?
What I’ve Enjoyed:
Books:
A Blade So Black by L. L. McKinney
Absolutely loved this book. It’s funny, emotional, action-packed, and masterfully blends the real world with the magical world in a way that makes me a little envious. Alice is a fantastic lead, the Black Knight is an intriguing antagonist, and all the other characters are lovable in their own way – especially when they’re all playing off each other. Definitely a full 5/5 from me.
Love Beyond Body, Space, and Time by Hope Nicholson (editor), et al.
I was so excited when my husband got me this anthology for my birthday. It’s full of a great variety of stories, though I particularly enjoyed the cute and sweet pieces like Né łe, which is about lesbians and puppies in space. I mean, what’s not to love?
Articles:
Star Wars fan with R2-D2 bionic arm has a big fan in Mark Hamill
This little story just checks all the boxes for me. Cool but practical technical advancements? Check! A community coming together to help a disadvantaged person improve their life? Check! A celebrity reaching out to and supporting a fan? Check! Just a sweet little feel-good read.
New Caledonian Crows Are Even Smarter and Scarier Than We Thought
I think crows are amazing animals, especially for their intelligence and playfulness. Learning that they’re even smarter than we previously thought just fills me with joy – even though crows’ intelligence is apparently scary to some people.
20 Slang Terms from World War I
I love language, etymology, and history, so this article was right up my alley. So many neat little tidbits and words we use casually without ever thinking about where they come from, as well as some terms and phrases I had never heard of before.
The Unsolved Case of the Most Mysterious Song on the Internet
In the digital age, we’ve all gotten fairly accustomed to being able to find information with a quick Google search. So it’s deeply frustrating and fascinating when something that seems like it should be straight-forward to identify is, in fact, an enigma. And sometimes you need a reminder that there are still enigmas in the world.
German Forest Ranger Finds That Trees Have Social Networks, Too
A super, super neat piece about how trees connect in more human ways than we expect. It may or may not contribute to how I write certain characters in the future…
Other:
Legend of the Dragoon
Technically I was enjoying this last month, too, but I wasn’t doing wrap-ups then and my husband and I are still working our way through it, so shhhh. In any case, this game is an oldie but a goodie. I had vague memories of playing this as a kid (might have been 8 or 9 at the time), but I didn’t get very far on account of the fact that I sucked at the combat system. Getting to properly take in the story and the worldbuilding while my husband plays through it (he absolutely loved this game as a kid) is pretty special. This game deserves way more hype.
Work I’ve Done:
Articles:
The Inventiveness and Ingenuity of South/Mesoamerican Indigenous People
I wrote this piece because I see a lot of misconceptions about indigenous people around the world, who are often portrayed as backward or primitive. This article is far from comprehensive, particularly because it only focuses on a specific region of the world, but I wanted to draw attention to the incredible skill and intelligence found in indigenous cultures. The ahistorical barbarian is a lie we need to do away with.
If You’re Angry About a Protest, Don’t Blame the Protestors
The public discourse around protestors and protests has always frustrated me, so I wanted to write a little piece highlighting the misconceptions/misinformation that often spreads about them, drawing especially on my own education on the subject.
What Can We Endure: Trans Representation in YA Fiction
For this, I wanted to explore a conundrum I’ve been facing when it comes to supporting diversity in fiction, with trans representation in YA fiction as a specific example. The issue I keep coming against is problematic or overly stereotyped portrayals, and the question of whether to support these works in the hopes that we get more trans characters who will hopefully be better written, or if supporting subpar representation begets more of the same problem.
Said is Not Dead
As a writer, I’ve seen a lot of different writing advice floating around the writing community. One popular tip is to avoid or limit using “said” in dialogue. I’ve always found this advice misguided, which is what I explore and explain in here.
YouTube Recommendations for While You’re Self-Isolating
With the outbreak of corona virus and surge of preventative closures, cancellations, and calls for social distancing, I’ve seen a lot of people on Twitter listing book recs, movie recs, Netflix recs, etc. So I figured I’d add my two cents and offer some YouTube recommendations, especially for those who want something to watch but don’t have Netflix.
Defeating Grand Dragons on Disc One of Final Fantasy IX
I’m not gonna lie: This is pretty much pure self-indulgence. I love FFIX – it and FFVIII were a big part of my childhood – and slaying Grand Dragons on the first disc is a must-do undertaking for every playthrough. So I figured I would share my methods for doing so!
That's what I've been enjoying so far this month. Any recommendations on what I should check out next month?
April Wrap-Up (+ a free book!)
April has been a strange month for me, one in which I found it hard to read or create as much as I normally would. But everyone has ups and downs, and there was still quite a lot I enjoyed this month, so here's my second monthly wrap-up.
What I've Enjoyed:
Books:
Moonflower by Sabina Laura
I cannot recommend this poetry collection enough. I love short, free-verse poems but always have a hard time finding ones that actually manage to be vivid and emotional within just a few lines. Sabina Laura does that masterfully, and I definitely see myself coming back to these poems over and over to bask in their beauty.
Articles:
The Woman Who Smashed Codes: The Untold Story of Cryptography Pioneer Elizabeth Friedman
There are a lot of unsung women who were hugely important to their fields but are largely forgotten by history – or outright erased. This article is about one such woman, Elizabeth Friedman, giving an overview of her life and her accomplishments, while also pointing readers to where they can learn more about her.
Why Cats Do the ‘Slow Blink’ at Their Owners
Look, I’m a simple woman: I see cute cat facts, I click. This is one I had already heard a little bit about before, but it’s nice to reconfirm my understanding of how cats communicate. Plus, the article includes some cute cate pictures. Who doesn’t want to look at cute cat pictures?
Beyond Dungeons & Dragons: A Guide to the Vast, Exciting World of Tabletop RPGs
About three years ago, I started playing D&D with my husband and was almost instantly hooked. It’s an awesome game for someone like me, who loves storytelling and magic and fantasy, but it is admittedly a bit overwhelming when starting out. This article has a great list of recommendations for games to check out if you’re new to RPGs, or even if you’ve been playing for a while but want to try out something different. Definitely taking note of some of the games listed here.
An Open Letter to Women in Tech
I’m not in any STEM career myself, but this was still an encouraging read and full of important tips and reminders for all women in all fields.
What Is It About Yawning?
There’s a lot of oddities in human behaviour that we don’t quite understand, including – apparently – yawning. I like seeing the hypotheses for weird stuff like this, even when it’s still unresolved – and the inclusion of studies about yawning in dogs is just bonus points.
Beyond Ishtar: The Tradition of Eggs at Easter
This article does a nice job debunking the commonly spread myth that Easter eggs and bunnies and even the name Easter itself come from the fertility goddess Ishtar. It explains the importance of eggs in a variety of different creation myths, which – as someone who likes history and mythology – is pretty cool.
Why 40% of Vietnamese People Have the Same Last Name
The title drew me in, and boy did the article deliver. I knew Nguyen was an extremely common last name, but I didn’t realize how common, nor did it ever occur to me how different the function of surnames is in other cultures. If you have any interest in etymology or history, this is a great read.
Remembering Nüshu, the 19th-Century Chinese Script Only Women Could Write
When I first saw the title for this article, I expected something clandestine and badass and amazing. A secret language! Just for women! What’s cooler than that? But instead, Nüshu was actually very mundane and commonly known – it wasn’t kept secret from men at all. And in some ways, that’s cooler. This script was a normal part of everyday life for women in Jiangyong, and there is art and stories and personal letters written in it, detailing and highlighting women’s experiences from the time it was still commonly used. The fact that it’s a dying script is bittersweet: It’s good that women have no need for it anymore now that they aren’t largely excluded from formal education, but it’s sad to see something with so much cultural and historical resonance falling out of use.
Other:
Harvest by Rebecca Roanhorse
I absolutely love the Sixth World series by Rebecca Roanhorse, so when I saw her announce on Twitter that one of her short stories was available online for free, I immediately went to read it. Harvest certainly didn’t disappoint, though fair warning: It’s graphic. I won’t say more, lest I spoil it.
What I’ve Created:
Books:
She Who Rises [A New Age of Magic]
This wasn’t published this month – it actually came out last year – but it is on sale right now! More specifically, it’s available for free for the next several days, so if you’ve been wanting to check it out but haven’t had the means to buy it, now is the perfect time to grab a copy.
Articles:
The Badass Histories of 3 Warrior Queens
I’ve been trying to make a point of writing fun, short little articles like this focusing on historical women, and the theme as of late has been warrior-types. I would be remiss not to include brief examples of a few of history’s incredible warrior queens, and hence this piece was born. I may write a sequel of sorts later, because there have been a LOT of incredible queen’s throughout history.
10 Famous Bisexual People From Throughout History
There were a lot of people in history who kept their sexuality a secret, as well as those who were publicly bisexual but have had their sexuality covered up/erased by history books. Just like I enjoy looking back and learning about awesome women throughout history, I love to learn about queer people from the past, too.
Does Metagaming Have a Place in Dungeons and Dragons?
I’ve played at a variety of D&D tables over the last few years, and in that time I’ve noticed some discrepancy in how different parties play the game – and sometimes that involves metagaming. So I have some thoughts on metagaming’s place in D&D and how to navigate different play styles at the table.
That's what I've been creating and enjoying this month. Any recommendations on what I should check out next?
What I've Enjoyed:
Books:
Moonflower by Sabina Laura
I cannot recommend this poetry collection enough. I love short, free-verse poems but always have a hard time finding ones that actually manage to be vivid and emotional within just a few lines. Sabina Laura does that masterfully, and I definitely see myself coming back to these poems over and over to bask in their beauty.
Articles:
The Woman Who Smashed Codes: The Untold Story of Cryptography Pioneer Elizabeth Friedman
There are a lot of unsung women who were hugely important to their fields but are largely forgotten by history – or outright erased. This article is about one such woman, Elizabeth Friedman, giving an overview of her life and her accomplishments, while also pointing readers to where they can learn more about her.
Why Cats Do the ‘Slow Blink’ at Their Owners
Look, I’m a simple woman: I see cute cat facts, I click. This is one I had already heard a little bit about before, but it’s nice to reconfirm my understanding of how cats communicate. Plus, the article includes some cute cate pictures. Who doesn’t want to look at cute cat pictures?
Beyond Dungeons & Dragons: A Guide to the Vast, Exciting World of Tabletop RPGs
About three years ago, I started playing D&D with my husband and was almost instantly hooked. It’s an awesome game for someone like me, who loves storytelling and magic and fantasy, but it is admittedly a bit overwhelming when starting out. This article has a great list of recommendations for games to check out if you’re new to RPGs, or even if you’ve been playing for a while but want to try out something different. Definitely taking note of some of the games listed here.
An Open Letter to Women in Tech
I’m not in any STEM career myself, but this was still an encouraging read and full of important tips and reminders for all women in all fields.
What Is It About Yawning?
There’s a lot of oddities in human behaviour that we don’t quite understand, including – apparently – yawning. I like seeing the hypotheses for weird stuff like this, even when it’s still unresolved – and the inclusion of studies about yawning in dogs is just bonus points.
Beyond Ishtar: The Tradition of Eggs at Easter
This article does a nice job debunking the commonly spread myth that Easter eggs and bunnies and even the name Easter itself come from the fertility goddess Ishtar. It explains the importance of eggs in a variety of different creation myths, which – as someone who likes history and mythology – is pretty cool.
Why 40% of Vietnamese People Have the Same Last Name
The title drew me in, and boy did the article deliver. I knew Nguyen was an extremely common last name, but I didn’t realize how common, nor did it ever occur to me how different the function of surnames is in other cultures. If you have any interest in etymology or history, this is a great read.
Remembering Nüshu, the 19th-Century Chinese Script Only Women Could Write
When I first saw the title for this article, I expected something clandestine and badass and amazing. A secret language! Just for women! What’s cooler than that? But instead, Nüshu was actually very mundane and commonly known – it wasn’t kept secret from men at all. And in some ways, that’s cooler. This script was a normal part of everyday life for women in Jiangyong, and there is art and stories and personal letters written in it, detailing and highlighting women’s experiences from the time it was still commonly used. The fact that it’s a dying script is bittersweet: It’s good that women have no need for it anymore now that they aren’t largely excluded from formal education, but it’s sad to see something with so much cultural and historical resonance falling out of use.
Other:
Harvest by Rebecca Roanhorse
I absolutely love the Sixth World series by Rebecca Roanhorse, so when I saw her announce on Twitter that one of her short stories was available online for free, I immediately went to read it. Harvest certainly didn’t disappoint, though fair warning: It’s graphic. I won’t say more, lest I spoil it.
What I’ve Created:
Books:
She Who Rises [A New Age of Magic]
This wasn’t published this month – it actually came out last year – but it is on sale right now! More specifically, it’s available for free for the next several days, so if you’ve been wanting to check it out but haven’t had the means to buy it, now is the perfect time to grab a copy.
Articles:
The Badass Histories of 3 Warrior Queens
I’ve been trying to make a point of writing fun, short little articles like this focusing on historical women, and the theme as of late has been warrior-types. I would be remiss not to include brief examples of a few of history’s incredible warrior queens, and hence this piece was born. I may write a sequel of sorts later, because there have been a LOT of incredible queen’s throughout history.
10 Famous Bisexual People From Throughout History
There were a lot of people in history who kept their sexuality a secret, as well as those who were publicly bisexual but have had their sexuality covered up/erased by history books. Just like I enjoy looking back and learning about awesome women throughout history, I love to learn about queer people from the past, too.
Does Metagaming Have a Place in Dungeons and Dragons?
I’ve played at a variety of D&D tables over the last few years, and in that time I’ve noticed some discrepancy in how different parties play the game – and sometimes that involves metagaming. So I have some thoughts on metagaming’s place in D&D and how to navigate different play styles at the table.
That's what I've been creating and enjoying this month. Any recommendations on what I should check out next?
May Wrap-Up
Another month, another wrap-up. Let's go!
What I’ve Enjoyed:
Books:
Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman
This is a sequel to Seraphina, a book I read last year and absolutely adored. Though it took me a lot longer than I expected to get through this one, it didn’t disappoint – I just wasn’t in the ideal headspace to dig into something this long. But Hartman delivered exactly what I expected and wanted from this series, with continued political intrigue, deceit and mind games, plenty of twists, and so much more of that incredible world-building and gorgeous prose. This is one of those books that leaves me pining for the author’s skills, because damn. I definitely want to reread this series sometime in the future.
Articles:
Top 10 Design Flaws in the Human Body
Listen, the human body is a fascinating nightmare and I love learning about all its oddities. This is a great little exploration of that.
How the Ballpoint Pen Killed Cursive
History is weird and complicated and often develops in unexpected ways that, even looking back, we misunderstand. This not only explains how the difference between ballpoint pens and fountain pens contributed to a shift from cursive writing to print, but also gives an overview of how ballpoint pens came to be and rose in popularity. Let me tell you, I did not expect the British Air Force to have an important role in that story.
"The First One That Died Sure Unnerved Me."
I don’t normally read a lot of epidemic-related writing, especially not right now – it’s part of every conversation I’ve been having lately and inescapable on social media, so I usually want my reading to be an escape from that. But this article intrigued me. And I’m glad I read it. Lutiant offers an interesting perspective on a dark period in history, and insight into a situation that is now repeating in our time. It feels like looking in a mirror and something about that makes this situation feel more… human, maybe? It’s a strange sort of comfort.
How 25 London Neighbourhoods Got Their Names
I’ve never been to London, but I’m still a sucker for history and etymology. Plus, stuff like this makes for great research/inspiration when it comes to creating my own worlds and naming places within them.
How the 18th Century Gay Bar Survived and Thrived in a Dangerous Environment
I know the queer community has always been around and has a long, proud history and culture, but it hadn’t occurred to me that gay bars, specifically, dated all the way back to the 1700s in London. While this isn’t exactly a happy story (because queer men had to hide who they were, and because of what happened when they and their molly houses were discovered), it is an interesting one, and certainly one we should be careful not to forget.
Pompeii Ruins Show That the Romans Invented Recycling
History. Is. WILD. There are so many things that seem very modern but turn out to have ancient roots, and recycling, apparently, is one of them. It also makes it so much more obvious that we can do better with reusing the goods we throw away, given how much our tools and know-how have grown in the thousands of years since Vesuvius erupted.
Other:
Mighty Vibes Vol 1: Lo-Fi Beats to Doodle To
This actually came out last month, but I’ve found myself listening to it over and over again during May. Not only is the animation adorable and full of awesome little Easter eggs for Critical Role fans, but this mix is perfect for helping me focus when my brain doesn’t want to work. I actually listened to it while reading some of the articles I include in this list!
Volume 2 came out near the tail end of the month – I haven’t had a chance to listen to it as much as the first one, but I love it, too, and look forward to having it on in the background as I plug away at creative projects.
What I’ve Created:
Books:
Those Who Fall (A New Age of Magic #2)
This book isn’t out quite yet, but it is available for pre-order and I am super excited for it to release in July. There’s an excerpt you can read in my previous blog post if you’re interested!
Articles:
Is Fanfiction a Valid Form of Writing?
Fanfiction has long been disparaged by authors and critics alike, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to find the dismissiveness irritating. I delve into that a little bit here, explaining how all writing can build skills, as well as providing some examples of professional fanfiction. If you’re a huge fan of fics or just don’t understand the appeal, maybe give this article a look.
Did My Cat Just Hiccup?
Research for this was part concern and part genuine curiosity. I was looking after my sister-in-law’s cat one night when she made a strange noise in her throat, so I starting looking into what it could be and if I should worry. The cat is fine, thankfully, and I was able to put together this little article from my research.
The Laws and Conventions of Naming Children
I don’t usually pay much attention to celebrity news, but seeing Elon Musk’s, uh… creative name choice for his son made me question how there aren’t stricter regulations on baby names. Turns out, there are – but it varies from country to country. And thus, this was born!
That's all for May. What have you been reading or creating? Any recommendations?
What I’ve Enjoyed:
Books:
Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman
This is a sequel to Seraphina, a book I read last year and absolutely adored. Though it took me a lot longer than I expected to get through this one, it didn’t disappoint – I just wasn’t in the ideal headspace to dig into something this long. But Hartman delivered exactly what I expected and wanted from this series, with continued political intrigue, deceit and mind games, plenty of twists, and so much more of that incredible world-building and gorgeous prose. This is one of those books that leaves me pining for the author’s skills, because damn. I definitely want to reread this series sometime in the future.
Articles:
Top 10 Design Flaws in the Human Body
Listen, the human body is a fascinating nightmare and I love learning about all its oddities. This is a great little exploration of that.
How the Ballpoint Pen Killed Cursive
History is weird and complicated and often develops in unexpected ways that, even looking back, we misunderstand. This not only explains how the difference between ballpoint pens and fountain pens contributed to a shift from cursive writing to print, but also gives an overview of how ballpoint pens came to be and rose in popularity. Let me tell you, I did not expect the British Air Force to have an important role in that story.
"The First One That Died Sure Unnerved Me."
I don’t normally read a lot of epidemic-related writing, especially not right now – it’s part of every conversation I’ve been having lately and inescapable on social media, so I usually want my reading to be an escape from that. But this article intrigued me. And I’m glad I read it. Lutiant offers an interesting perspective on a dark period in history, and insight into a situation that is now repeating in our time. It feels like looking in a mirror and something about that makes this situation feel more… human, maybe? It’s a strange sort of comfort.
How 25 London Neighbourhoods Got Their Names
I’ve never been to London, but I’m still a sucker for history and etymology. Plus, stuff like this makes for great research/inspiration when it comes to creating my own worlds and naming places within them.
How the 18th Century Gay Bar Survived and Thrived in a Dangerous Environment
I know the queer community has always been around and has a long, proud history and culture, but it hadn’t occurred to me that gay bars, specifically, dated all the way back to the 1700s in London. While this isn’t exactly a happy story (because queer men had to hide who they were, and because of what happened when they and their molly houses were discovered), it is an interesting one, and certainly one we should be careful not to forget.
Pompeii Ruins Show That the Romans Invented Recycling
History. Is. WILD. There are so many things that seem very modern but turn out to have ancient roots, and recycling, apparently, is one of them. It also makes it so much more obvious that we can do better with reusing the goods we throw away, given how much our tools and know-how have grown in the thousands of years since Vesuvius erupted.
Other:
Mighty Vibes Vol 1: Lo-Fi Beats to Doodle To
This actually came out last month, but I’ve found myself listening to it over and over again during May. Not only is the animation adorable and full of awesome little Easter eggs for Critical Role fans, but this mix is perfect for helping me focus when my brain doesn’t want to work. I actually listened to it while reading some of the articles I include in this list!
Volume 2 came out near the tail end of the month – I haven’t had a chance to listen to it as much as the first one, but I love it, too, and look forward to having it on in the background as I plug away at creative projects.
What I’ve Created:
Books:
Those Who Fall (A New Age of Magic #2)
This book isn’t out quite yet, but it is available for pre-order and I am super excited for it to release in July. There’s an excerpt you can read in my previous blog post if you’re interested!
Articles:
Is Fanfiction a Valid Form of Writing?
Fanfiction has long been disparaged by authors and critics alike, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to find the dismissiveness irritating. I delve into that a little bit here, explaining how all writing can build skills, as well as providing some examples of professional fanfiction. If you’re a huge fan of fics or just don’t understand the appeal, maybe give this article a look.
Did My Cat Just Hiccup?
Research for this was part concern and part genuine curiosity. I was looking after my sister-in-law’s cat one night when she made a strange noise in her throat, so I starting looking into what it could be and if I should worry. The cat is fine, thankfully, and I was able to put together this little article from my research.
The Laws and Conventions of Naming Children
I don’t usually pay much attention to celebrity news, but seeing Elon Musk’s, uh… creative name choice for his son made me question how there aren’t stricter regulations on baby names. Turns out, there are – but it varies from country to country. And thus, this was born!
That's all for May. What have you been reading or creating? Any recommendations?
June Wrap-Up
I feel like these months keep getting shorter, but I'm going to stop making excuses for it. Sometimes I read and write a lot; sometimes I don't. These wrap-ups aren't about meeting an arbitrary quota - I just want to share what I've enjoyed so other people can enjoy it too.
So, without further ado: Let's dig into June!
What I’ve Enjoyed:
Books:
Maiden, Mother, and Crone: Fantastical Trans Femmes by Gwen Benaway et al.
It took me longer to get around to reading this than I would have liked, but I loved it once I dug into it. Literally about a third of the stories in here could be considered my favourites, which says a lot about the quality of work presented. Plus, I just love being able to read a variety of stories about such an underrepresented group. I definitely gotta find more collections like this.
I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
Listen. Sometimes, your brain needs a break. You want to read, but you don’t want to deal with heavy stuff or stressful topics – you want fluff. And this book does a good job of that, especially since I’ve read it before and already know what to expect as I read. I will probably be reading more fluff like this in the near future, so be warned.
Articles:
Why Do Dogs Love Us? Science Explains
What did we do to deserve dogs, honestly? They’re an endless source of cuteness and love, and now we can say that’s scientifically proven.
Thoughts on Hysteria
It shouldn’t come as any surprise at this point that women and their problems are routinely dismissed as irrational and/or trivial, and the history of hysteria shows that quite well. While it’s funny to think about 19th century physicians prescribing orgasms to treat hysteria, it’s also disheartening to remember that hysteria was not a silly little thing – it was regarded as a serious condition, to the point that accusing a woman of hysteria could paint even the most rational and justified behaviour as completely illogical and deluded.
The Ancient Peruvian Mystery Solved from Space
So, the title of the article obviously hooked me in. Native American history? Check. Bizarre and weirdly specific premise? Check! But I obviously couldn’t exactly predict what the article itself would be about – and I was pleasantly surprised. It discusses puquois, these massive, spiralling holes whose exact age is uncertain and whose purpose has only recently become clear: They allow reliable access to water from aquifers, which is of critical importance in the extremely arid region. This means the Nasca people who invented them had incredible knowledge of geology and engineering, and I, for one, LOVE seeing indigenous ingenuity properly spotlighted.
Eleanor Roosevelt and the Soviet Sniper
I read this while doing research for one of the articles I wrote this month (it won’t be hard to guess which one once you see the titles), and it made me fall a little in love with Lyudmila Pavlichenko’s steadfastness, wit, and unwavering determination. I love learning about women who forced history to make room for them.
What I’ve Created:
Books:
She Who Rises
This book came out last year, but the sequel releases July 15th, plus it’s currently available for free download, so I wanted to share the link and give a heads up to make sure anyone whose interested doesn’t miss out on the sale. The deal ends on July 3rd.
Articles:
4 Cute and Chaotic Cats from Mythologies Around the World
There’s a lot of weird folklore throughout the world, which I love, and there’s a lot of different kitties around the world, which I also love. So I combined those two awesome things into one cute, quick little piece here, for your reading pleasure.
Storytelling in Critical Role: What We Can Learn, and What Can’t Be Replicated
I’m a nerd. A big, big nerd. And one of my biggest nerdy obsessions over the last three years has been Critical Role. I fell in love with D&D a few months before I started watching this show, and the love of the game combined with the amazing acting, storytelling, and shenanigans of the cast is just a match made in heaven. I could gush about this for hours, so it was hard to condense my thoughts on CR’s storytelling into just a short article. There is a none zero chance that I will write more of this in the future. Especially since they’re FINALLY BACK FROM HIATUS! (Just pretend there’s an explosion of confetti, okay?)
Badass Women Who Killed Nazis
The rise of fascism, neo-Nazis, and the alt-right is equal parts disheartening and infuriating, and sometimes you need to read about killing Nazis for some catharsis.
That's it for June. What have you guys been enjoying this month?
So, without further ado: Let's dig into June!
What I’ve Enjoyed:
Books:
Maiden, Mother, and Crone: Fantastical Trans Femmes by Gwen Benaway et al.
It took me longer to get around to reading this than I would have liked, but I loved it once I dug into it. Literally about a third of the stories in here could be considered my favourites, which says a lot about the quality of work presented. Plus, I just love being able to read a variety of stories about such an underrepresented group. I definitely gotta find more collections like this.
I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
Listen. Sometimes, your brain needs a break. You want to read, but you don’t want to deal with heavy stuff or stressful topics – you want fluff. And this book does a good job of that, especially since I’ve read it before and already know what to expect as I read. I will probably be reading more fluff like this in the near future, so be warned.
Articles:
Why Do Dogs Love Us? Science Explains
What did we do to deserve dogs, honestly? They’re an endless source of cuteness and love, and now we can say that’s scientifically proven.
Thoughts on Hysteria
It shouldn’t come as any surprise at this point that women and their problems are routinely dismissed as irrational and/or trivial, and the history of hysteria shows that quite well. While it’s funny to think about 19th century physicians prescribing orgasms to treat hysteria, it’s also disheartening to remember that hysteria was not a silly little thing – it was regarded as a serious condition, to the point that accusing a woman of hysteria could paint even the most rational and justified behaviour as completely illogical and deluded.
The Ancient Peruvian Mystery Solved from Space
So, the title of the article obviously hooked me in. Native American history? Check. Bizarre and weirdly specific premise? Check! But I obviously couldn’t exactly predict what the article itself would be about – and I was pleasantly surprised. It discusses puquois, these massive, spiralling holes whose exact age is uncertain and whose purpose has only recently become clear: They allow reliable access to water from aquifers, which is of critical importance in the extremely arid region. This means the Nasca people who invented them had incredible knowledge of geology and engineering, and I, for one, LOVE seeing indigenous ingenuity properly spotlighted.
Eleanor Roosevelt and the Soviet Sniper
I read this while doing research for one of the articles I wrote this month (it won’t be hard to guess which one once you see the titles), and it made me fall a little in love with Lyudmila Pavlichenko’s steadfastness, wit, and unwavering determination. I love learning about women who forced history to make room for them.
What I’ve Created:
Books:
She Who Rises
This book came out last year, but the sequel releases July 15th, plus it’s currently available for free download, so I wanted to share the link and give a heads up to make sure anyone whose interested doesn’t miss out on the sale. The deal ends on July 3rd.
Articles:
4 Cute and Chaotic Cats from Mythologies Around the World
There’s a lot of weird folklore throughout the world, which I love, and there’s a lot of different kitties around the world, which I also love. So I combined those two awesome things into one cute, quick little piece here, for your reading pleasure.
Storytelling in Critical Role: What We Can Learn, and What Can’t Be Replicated
I’m a nerd. A big, big nerd. And one of my biggest nerdy obsessions over the last three years has been Critical Role. I fell in love with D&D a few months before I started watching this show, and the love of the game combined with the amazing acting, storytelling, and shenanigans of the cast is just a match made in heaven. I could gush about this for hours, so it was hard to condense my thoughts on CR’s storytelling into just a short article. There is a none zero chance that I will write more of this in the future. Especially since they’re FINALLY BACK FROM HIATUS! (Just pretend there’s an explosion of confetti, okay?)
Badass Women Who Killed Nazis
The rise of fascism, neo-Nazis, and the alt-right is equal parts disheartening and infuriating, and sometimes you need to read about killing Nazis for some catharsis.
That's it for June. What have you guys been enjoying this month?
August Wrap-Up
What I’ve Enjoyed
Books
Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
The stakes have started ramping up in the series now, with this being the first book that has a real major plot twist. Definitely one of my favourites in the series, and I’m looking forward to digging into the next one.
Articles
Why A Medieval Woman Had Lapis Lazuli Hidden in Her Teeth
The way we find out stuff about past societies and peoples is really wild to me sometimes. I never would have imagined it was possible to figure out someone was a painter by the particles in their teeth, but that’s what happened when examining the teeth of this medieval nun. And that means a lot of really interesting things! People always talk about monks as being involved in high-quality book production, but this new evidence helps show that nuns were involved, too, and that they were highly-skilled in their own right.
Teaching Indigenous Star Stories.
Astronomy has been a largely Eurocentric field for a long time, and it’s exciting to learn that efforts are being made to incorporate more diverse knowledge bases, such as indigenous star stories and teachings. Oral histories are often dismissed as myths or unreliable narratives, but these stories are often centuries or millennia old and can carry really important, interesting insights – for example, a lot of stories about great disasters line up with evidence of actual geological events. Stories about the night sky and its constellations are no exception to that.
Babies Prefer the Sounds of Other Babies to the Cooing of Their Parents
I know, I know – I’ve had some serious baby-brain lately. But this is also just a genuinely interesting article with some useful info for new parents or parents-to-be who want to help their little gremlins with early language development.
How the Library of Congress Unrolled a 2,000-Year-Old Buddhist Scroll
I never thought I would find it nerve-wracking to read about someone unrolling a piece of paper, but oh boy, did parts of this make me feel tense. It’s absolutely mind-boggling the lengths experts can and will go to in order to both preserve and study artifacts like this, and I can’t even wrap my head around how much history would be lost to us if they didn’t.
Bessie Coleman, the Black Cherokee Female Pilot Who Made Aviation History
I’ll never get over the incredible perseverance and accomplishments that go unacknowledged or deliberately hushed up throughout history, especially when it comes to women and people of colour. Bessie Coleman should be a household name, just as much as Amelia Earhart is.
Other
Woman dancing ‘on a river’ finds fame online in China
I don’t have a lot to say about this except that it’s really, really cool and beautiful to watch. I hope this unique tradition is preserved for generations to come.
Castle in the Sky
I remember seeing the trailer for this film when I was super young – I think it was one of the previews included on the Lion King VHS. I was fascinated by it and always wanted to watch it, but I was never actually able to until early this month. And I loved it! It’s such a cute movie, with beautiful animation and whimsical world-building. Definitely need to watch me some more Ghibli in the near future.
What I’ve Created
Articles
Don’t Talk to Me About My Stretch Marks
Just some thoughts that have been percolating in my mind recently.
A Study of Scarlet: Storytelling on Social Media
As I writer, I love storytelling in all its forms, and I especially love seeing how less conventional mediums tackle narrative. That also means I’m more sensitive to when those types of stories fail to deliver, which, unfortunately, is the case with Scarlet.
Plotter, Pantser, Plantser: What Are They, and How Do You Know Which Type You Are?
I’ve come across some people in the writing community who expressed confusion about the difference between plotters, pantser, and plantsers, and how to tell which they are, so I thought it might be helpful to explain it all in one little article.
Books
Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
The stakes have started ramping up in the series now, with this being the first book that has a real major plot twist. Definitely one of my favourites in the series, and I’m looking forward to digging into the next one.
Articles
Why A Medieval Woman Had Lapis Lazuli Hidden in Her Teeth
The way we find out stuff about past societies and peoples is really wild to me sometimes. I never would have imagined it was possible to figure out someone was a painter by the particles in their teeth, but that’s what happened when examining the teeth of this medieval nun. And that means a lot of really interesting things! People always talk about monks as being involved in high-quality book production, but this new evidence helps show that nuns were involved, too, and that they were highly-skilled in their own right.
Teaching Indigenous Star Stories.
Astronomy has been a largely Eurocentric field for a long time, and it’s exciting to learn that efforts are being made to incorporate more diverse knowledge bases, such as indigenous star stories and teachings. Oral histories are often dismissed as myths or unreliable narratives, but these stories are often centuries or millennia old and can carry really important, interesting insights – for example, a lot of stories about great disasters line up with evidence of actual geological events. Stories about the night sky and its constellations are no exception to that.
Babies Prefer the Sounds of Other Babies to the Cooing of Their Parents
I know, I know – I’ve had some serious baby-brain lately. But this is also just a genuinely interesting article with some useful info for new parents or parents-to-be who want to help their little gremlins with early language development.
How the Library of Congress Unrolled a 2,000-Year-Old Buddhist Scroll
I never thought I would find it nerve-wracking to read about someone unrolling a piece of paper, but oh boy, did parts of this make me feel tense. It’s absolutely mind-boggling the lengths experts can and will go to in order to both preserve and study artifacts like this, and I can’t even wrap my head around how much history would be lost to us if they didn’t.
Bessie Coleman, the Black Cherokee Female Pilot Who Made Aviation History
I’ll never get over the incredible perseverance and accomplishments that go unacknowledged or deliberately hushed up throughout history, especially when it comes to women and people of colour. Bessie Coleman should be a household name, just as much as Amelia Earhart is.
Other
Woman dancing ‘on a river’ finds fame online in China
I don’t have a lot to say about this except that it’s really, really cool and beautiful to watch. I hope this unique tradition is preserved for generations to come.
Castle in the Sky
I remember seeing the trailer for this film when I was super young – I think it was one of the previews included on the Lion King VHS. I was fascinated by it and always wanted to watch it, but I was never actually able to until early this month. And I loved it! It’s such a cute movie, with beautiful animation and whimsical world-building. Definitely need to watch me some more Ghibli in the near future.
What I’ve Created
Articles
Don’t Talk to Me About My Stretch Marks
Just some thoughts that have been percolating in my mind recently.
A Study of Scarlet: Storytelling on Social Media
As I writer, I love storytelling in all its forms, and I especially love seeing how less conventional mediums tackle narrative. That also means I’m more sensitive to when those types of stories fail to deliver, which, unfortunately, is the case with Scarlet.
Plotter, Pantser, Plantser: What Are They, and How Do You Know Which Type You Are?
I’ve come across some people in the writing community who expressed confusion about the difference between plotters, pantser, and plantsers, and how to tell which they are, so I thought it might be helpful to explain it all in one little article.
September Wrap-Up
What I’ve Enjoyed
Books
Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter
Still on this series, still really enjoying it. Once again, this book is a lot more intense than earlier installments of the series, but it still has the same charm and distinct narrative voice that I love.
Articles
Why This Charming Gay Fairy Tale Has Been Lost for 200 Years
It’s no secret that there has been a long history of LGBTQIA+ people and their stories being silenced or covered up (shoved into the closet, so to speak), but it still surprises and excites me when I come across stuff like this. A gay fairy tale! From at least the 1800s! That’s amazing! Now we just need a faithful, animated adaptation and other retellings so it can become common public knowledge.
In the Land of Kush
A fascinating read about an ancient Sudanese society whose true nature and accomplishments has long been forgotten, dismissed, or overwritten by historians. Plus, the article is full of gorgeous photos.
Can You Tell an Author’s Identity by Looking at Punctuation Alone? A Study Just Found Out
This is super nerdy, I know, but I honestly just wanna read more about it. There are a lot of implications in a study like this, and I’m curious to see if and how its expanded upon in the future.
12 Old Words That Survived by Getting Fossilized in Idioms
I now know why “go” conjugates to “went” and why we call it a “nickname” and it all makes so much sense! Weird language quirks and the history behind them are one of my favourite things, in case you’re new to these wrap-ups or somehow didn’t pick up on that in the previous ones. And this article definitely delivers on that love!
The ‘Flying Feminist’ Who Was The First Woman to Design, Build, and Fly Her Own Plane
I think the thing I love most about this article, aside from the obvious joy of seeing women in history spotlighted for their accomplishments, is that Bland led such a long and varied life. She dedicated time and effort to creating and flying her own biplane, but that was far from her only ambition or achievement. To her, it was just a check in the box, another adventure completed – and I think that’s incredible and deeply admirable.
Other
Princess Mononoke
Another Ghibli movie! My husband and I are trying to make it a point to watch one of these films when we have a Saturday to ourselves, and I’m loving it so far. Princess Mononoke was definitely a lot darker than Castle in the Sky, but it was an incredibly powerful, beautifully animated story.
What I’ve Created
Books/Short Stories
Aether & Ichor
This is technically an old publication – it came out in January – but its inclusion on the Internet Speculative Fiction Database is new! The Beasts of Legend issue of Aether & Ichor features my short story, One-Tenth Merperson and can be read online for free.
Articles
Is It Possible to Play a Pacifist in D&D?
I’ve been missing playing D&D during the pandemic, and nerding out about the game helps sometimes. I saw a fellow D&D nerd online ask about the feasibility of designing a pacifist character, which I thought was a really interesting idea, so I wrote a whole little article about it.
Descriptive Writing: How Much is Too Much?
I’ve started poking around in some online writing communities recently, and a question I came across the other day was about knowing when you’ve described enough in a scene. I thought this was an interesting and complicated question, which made it great material for a quick little article.
How to Find Prenatal and Parenting Classes During a Pandemic
Life during a pandemic and being pregnant bring their share of stresses and uncertainties, and experiencing both at the same time only amplifies that. One problem I found myself grappling with was figuring out where to find classes for first-time parents. So, to save other new parents the same stress and hassle, I put together this little article to hopefully offer some insight and guidance.
Books
Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter
Still on this series, still really enjoying it. Once again, this book is a lot more intense than earlier installments of the series, but it still has the same charm and distinct narrative voice that I love.
Articles
Why This Charming Gay Fairy Tale Has Been Lost for 200 Years
It’s no secret that there has been a long history of LGBTQIA+ people and their stories being silenced or covered up (shoved into the closet, so to speak), but it still surprises and excites me when I come across stuff like this. A gay fairy tale! From at least the 1800s! That’s amazing! Now we just need a faithful, animated adaptation and other retellings so it can become common public knowledge.
In the Land of Kush
A fascinating read about an ancient Sudanese society whose true nature and accomplishments has long been forgotten, dismissed, or overwritten by historians. Plus, the article is full of gorgeous photos.
Can You Tell an Author’s Identity by Looking at Punctuation Alone? A Study Just Found Out
This is super nerdy, I know, but I honestly just wanna read more about it. There are a lot of implications in a study like this, and I’m curious to see if and how its expanded upon in the future.
12 Old Words That Survived by Getting Fossilized in Idioms
I now know why “go” conjugates to “went” and why we call it a “nickname” and it all makes so much sense! Weird language quirks and the history behind them are one of my favourite things, in case you’re new to these wrap-ups or somehow didn’t pick up on that in the previous ones. And this article definitely delivers on that love!
The ‘Flying Feminist’ Who Was The First Woman to Design, Build, and Fly Her Own Plane
I think the thing I love most about this article, aside from the obvious joy of seeing women in history spotlighted for their accomplishments, is that Bland led such a long and varied life. She dedicated time and effort to creating and flying her own biplane, but that was far from her only ambition or achievement. To her, it was just a check in the box, another adventure completed – and I think that’s incredible and deeply admirable.
Other
Princess Mononoke
Another Ghibli movie! My husband and I are trying to make it a point to watch one of these films when we have a Saturday to ourselves, and I’m loving it so far. Princess Mononoke was definitely a lot darker than Castle in the Sky, but it was an incredibly powerful, beautifully animated story.
What I’ve Created
Books/Short Stories
Aether & Ichor
This is technically an old publication – it came out in January – but its inclusion on the Internet Speculative Fiction Database is new! The Beasts of Legend issue of Aether & Ichor features my short story, One-Tenth Merperson and can be read online for free.
Articles
Is It Possible to Play a Pacifist in D&D?
I’ve been missing playing D&D during the pandemic, and nerding out about the game helps sometimes. I saw a fellow D&D nerd online ask about the feasibility of designing a pacifist character, which I thought was a really interesting idea, so I wrote a whole little article about it.
Descriptive Writing: How Much is Too Much?
I’ve started poking around in some online writing communities recently, and a question I came across the other day was about knowing when you’ve described enough in a scene. I thought this was an interesting and complicated question, which made it great material for a quick little article.
How to Find Prenatal and Parenting Classes During a Pandemic
Life during a pandemic and being pregnant bring their share of stresses and uncertainties, and experiencing both at the same time only amplifies that. One problem I found myself grappling with was figuring out where to find classes for first-time parents. So, to save other new parents the same stress and hassle, I put together this little article to hopefully offer some insight and guidance.
October Wrap-Up
What I’ve Enjoyed
Books
Out of Sight, Out of Time and United We Spy by Ally Carter
The finale of the series, and all the twists and grim changes definitely hold up on a second read through. I loved seeing Cammie get her happy ending, especially with all the trauma and hardship she had to endure to get there.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit and other stories by Beatrix Potter
My husband picked up a whole little collection of these books earlier this month in preparation for us having our first baby, and he’s taken to reading them out loud to my stomach. Not only is this very sweet (and exciting to baby, if the kicks I got are any indication), but the stories themselves are adorable and beautifully illustrated.
Articles
A Brief History of Traveling With Cats
There was a lot of stuff in this I already knew – Egyptians revered cats, cats were often brought aboard ships as mousers, cats are not technically fully domesticated even to this day – but there were still a lot of details and nuances that I wasn’t aware of going into this article. Having the whole timeline laid out neatly and fairly succinctly like this helps make sense of exactly how cats became the furry house companions we love today – and including pictures of cats from throughout history certainly doesn’t hurt.
10 Types of European Breads with Fascinating Stories
Reading this mostly filled me with a mix of wanderlust and hunger, but it also taught me some snippets of history, so I’d say it’s all in balance. Now I just need an excuse to go to Europe…
The World’s Most Efficient Languages
When I was younger, I wanted to learn a language from every continent. I’m less ambitious now, but I still find language fascinating and love learning all the oddities and nuances of different tongues, especially how they can say the same thing in wildly different ways. This article explores and explains those differences beautifully.
Invisible No Longer
Reclamation and revitalization of traditional practices is, unfortunately, a common experience for many indigenous cultures around the world. That the moko kauae of the Māori almost disappeared due to the pressures and cruelties of colonization is, without question, a tragedy and the result of the many atrocities committed by European settlers – but seeing it return can be a source of hope and pride, especially for the Māori women who wear these sacred tattoos.
There’s Drama in the Queer Penguin Community
Sometimes you just need a light-hearted story, and gay penguins stealing eggs from their lesbian penguin neighbours definitely fits that bill.
Other
How These Cycling Dogs are Delighting Islanders during COVID
What’s better than dogs? Dogs in goggles. This adorable, wholesome story is straight from the Island that raised me. Makes me miss walks through Victoria Park.
What I’ve Created
Articles
Your Body is a Canvas – But You Aren’t Always the Painter
This is a more personal piece than my usual fare, as it explores my experience of being diagnosed with cancer when I was 19 and learning to accept the scars that left me with. Writing helped me a lot during that time, and this is no exception. I also entered this piece into the Body Art contest on Vocal, so it would mean a lot to me if you liked and shared it. <3
Writing for an Audience vs. Writing for Yourself
This is a discussion I’ve seem over and over for years – even back in middle school when I was browsing the Writers’ Forum on Gaiaonline (yeah, that’s a throwback), I saw people debating over this. So I put together some of my own thoughts and advice on the matter.
The Nova Scotia Fishing Dispute and Canada’s Systemic Racism
This one is close to home, both because I’m an Atlantic Canadian and because I wrote my thesis on systemic racism against Canada’s indigenous people. Seeing that same history continue to repeat itself is infuriating and disheartening, and writing this was my small way of contributing to the cause and trying to support the Mi’kmaw nation.
Ontario in the Eyes of a Small Town East Coaster
I wrote this on a whim one evening – I totally meant to chill out and take it easy, especially since I had just completed another article earlier that day, but I was hit with a sudden wave of inspiration. I’ve learned over the years not to ignore that sort of feeling, so I sat down and wrote. 2500 words later, I had this piece. It was fun to write, and kind of cathartic to reflect on such a happy, free time after spending so many months cooped up and wracked with anxiety. I hope reading it provides as much relief and escape as writing it did.
Books
Out of Sight, Out of Time and United We Spy by Ally Carter
The finale of the series, and all the twists and grim changes definitely hold up on a second read through. I loved seeing Cammie get her happy ending, especially with all the trauma and hardship she had to endure to get there.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit and other stories by Beatrix Potter
My husband picked up a whole little collection of these books earlier this month in preparation for us having our first baby, and he’s taken to reading them out loud to my stomach. Not only is this very sweet (and exciting to baby, if the kicks I got are any indication), but the stories themselves are adorable and beautifully illustrated.
Articles
A Brief History of Traveling With Cats
There was a lot of stuff in this I already knew – Egyptians revered cats, cats were often brought aboard ships as mousers, cats are not technically fully domesticated even to this day – but there were still a lot of details and nuances that I wasn’t aware of going into this article. Having the whole timeline laid out neatly and fairly succinctly like this helps make sense of exactly how cats became the furry house companions we love today – and including pictures of cats from throughout history certainly doesn’t hurt.
10 Types of European Breads with Fascinating Stories
Reading this mostly filled me with a mix of wanderlust and hunger, but it also taught me some snippets of history, so I’d say it’s all in balance. Now I just need an excuse to go to Europe…
The World’s Most Efficient Languages
When I was younger, I wanted to learn a language from every continent. I’m less ambitious now, but I still find language fascinating and love learning all the oddities and nuances of different tongues, especially how they can say the same thing in wildly different ways. This article explores and explains those differences beautifully.
Invisible No Longer
Reclamation and revitalization of traditional practices is, unfortunately, a common experience for many indigenous cultures around the world. That the moko kauae of the Māori almost disappeared due to the pressures and cruelties of colonization is, without question, a tragedy and the result of the many atrocities committed by European settlers – but seeing it return can be a source of hope and pride, especially for the Māori women who wear these sacred tattoos.
There’s Drama in the Queer Penguin Community
Sometimes you just need a light-hearted story, and gay penguins stealing eggs from their lesbian penguin neighbours definitely fits that bill.
Other
How These Cycling Dogs are Delighting Islanders during COVID
What’s better than dogs? Dogs in goggles. This adorable, wholesome story is straight from the Island that raised me. Makes me miss walks through Victoria Park.
What I’ve Created
Articles
Your Body is a Canvas – But You Aren’t Always the Painter
This is a more personal piece than my usual fare, as it explores my experience of being diagnosed with cancer when I was 19 and learning to accept the scars that left me with. Writing helped me a lot during that time, and this is no exception. I also entered this piece into the Body Art contest on Vocal, so it would mean a lot to me if you liked and shared it. <3
Writing for an Audience vs. Writing for Yourself
This is a discussion I’ve seem over and over for years – even back in middle school when I was browsing the Writers’ Forum on Gaiaonline (yeah, that’s a throwback), I saw people debating over this. So I put together some of my own thoughts and advice on the matter.
The Nova Scotia Fishing Dispute and Canada’s Systemic Racism
This one is close to home, both because I’m an Atlantic Canadian and because I wrote my thesis on systemic racism against Canada’s indigenous people. Seeing that same history continue to repeat itself is infuriating and disheartening, and writing this was my small way of contributing to the cause and trying to support the Mi’kmaw nation.
Ontario in the Eyes of a Small Town East Coaster
I wrote this on a whim one evening – I totally meant to chill out and take it easy, especially since I had just completed another article earlier that day, but I was hit with a sudden wave of inspiration. I’ve learned over the years not to ignore that sort of feeling, so I sat down and wrote. 2500 words later, I had this piece. It was fun to write, and kind of cathartic to reflect on such a happy, free time after spending so many months cooped up and wracked with anxiety. I hope reading it provides as much relief and escape as writing it did.
November Wrap-Up
A bit of a quiet month, but in the end I’m happy with the work I turned out and the stories I consumed. I know December is likely to be busy with baby prep, and that once baby is born my reading will probably go on a bit of a backburner, so I’m trying to just take my time and enjoy some quiet reading moments when I can.
What I’ve Enjoyed
Books
Girl Squads by Sam Maggs.
I looooved this book. It was a gift from a friend, and a very apt one at that. I knew about almost none of the amazing groups explored in this book, and every single one of them was super awesome – for their bravery, for their friendship, for their unabashed womanhood. Definitely a recommended read if you want to see more women in your history.
Articles
The Long Linguistic Journey of Dagnabbit
Language is so flipping weird and I absolutely love it. Also, knowing about taboo deformations and how words get restructured offers a lot of potential inspiration for world-building.
As If the Platypus Couldn’t Get Any Weirder
Sometimes I think the platypus was deliberately placed on Earth to make us question reality and all our taxonomic classifications.
10 Inventors Who Came to Regret Their Creations
The atomic bomb I expected – it’s a weapon of mass destruction, and I learned enough about it in school to know that at least some of the people involved in its creation were horrified by what they had done. But Comic Sans? Double slash? That’s kind of funny.
8 Facts About the Animals of Chernobyl
Chernobyl is unquestionably a tragic and terrifying story about human innovation gone horribly, horribly wrong. Learning about nature recovering from that devastation, and especially about animals thriving in what was thought to be a forever uninhabitable region, is pretty heartwarming.
What I’ve Created
Books/Short Stories
She Who Rises – Now in Paperback!
That’s right: Paperback copies of the first book in my A New Age of Magic series are now available! You can order them through Amazon (as linked above), but since I set up printing through Ingram Spark, you should also be able to ask physical bookstores and libraries to order in copies. It’s so weird and exciting to be able to hold my book in my hands! If you get a copy yourself, don’t hesitate to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram so I can see my little book in the wild: @rachaellawrites
Articles
9 Tips for Self-Publishing
A relative recently asked me for some advice on how to go about self-publishing for the first time, and that gave me the idea to turn those quick bullet points into this full article. After all, if I can help more people get started on this journey, why not?
Top Videos I’ll Miss After The Inevitable Death of Unus Annus
By the time I post this wrap-up, the Unus Annus YouTube channel has long since been deleted, and the videos I’ve discussed here are no longer accessible. But if you’re interested in some out-of-context reminiscing and my own personal written time capsule, then definitely check this out!
”I don’t really think he counts as a guy.” Queerness in the House of Night Series
I actually started working on this way back in 2018, but I’ve taken several long breaks from it. Having a project go on for so long and then finally finishing it feels strange, but I’m super proud of how it all came together in the end. This has definitely been a passion project, and I hope to do more long essays like this in the future.
And that’s it for November! What did you read this month? And what are you looking forward to in December? I bet there are a lot of holiday book purchases on the horizon – whether you’re receiving them from a loved one or buying them as a gift for yourself. ;D
What I’ve Enjoyed
Books
Girl Squads by Sam Maggs.
I looooved this book. It was a gift from a friend, and a very apt one at that. I knew about almost none of the amazing groups explored in this book, and every single one of them was super awesome – for their bravery, for their friendship, for their unabashed womanhood. Definitely a recommended read if you want to see more women in your history.
Articles
The Long Linguistic Journey of Dagnabbit
Language is so flipping weird and I absolutely love it. Also, knowing about taboo deformations and how words get restructured offers a lot of potential inspiration for world-building.
As If the Platypus Couldn’t Get Any Weirder
Sometimes I think the platypus was deliberately placed on Earth to make us question reality and all our taxonomic classifications.
10 Inventors Who Came to Regret Their Creations
The atomic bomb I expected – it’s a weapon of mass destruction, and I learned enough about it in school to know that at least some of the people involved in its creation were horrified by what they had done. But Comic Sans? Double slash? That’s kind of funny.
8 Facts About the Animals of Chernobyl
Chernobyl is unquestionably a tragic and terrifying story about human innovation gone horribly, horribly wrong. Learning about nature recovering from that devastation, and especially about animals thriving in what was thought to be a forever uninhabitable region, is pretty heartwarming.
What I’ve Created
Books/Short Stories
She Who Rises – Now in Paperback!
That’s right: Paperback copies of the first book in my A New Age of Magic series are now available! You can order them through Amazon (as linked above), but since I set up printing through Ingram Spark, you should also be able to ask physical bookstores and libraries to order in copies. It’s so weird and exciting to be able to hold my book in my hands! If you get a copy yourself, don’t hesitate to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram so I can see my little book in the wild: @rachaellawrites
Articles
9 Tips for Self-Publishing
A relative recently asked me for some advice on how to go about self-publishing for the first time, and that gave me the idea to turn those quick bullet points into this full article. After all, if I can help more people get started on this journey, why not?
Top Videos I’ll Miss After The Inevitable Death of Unus Annus
By the time I post this wrap-up, the Unus Annus YouTube channel has long since been deleted, and the videos I’ve discussed here are no longer accessible. But if you’re interested in some out-of-context reminiscing and my own personal written time capsule, then definitely check this out!
”I don’t really think he counts as a guy.” Queerness in the House of Night Series
I actually started working on this way back in 2018, but I’ve taken several long breaks from it. Having a project go on for so long and then finally finishing it feels strange, but I’m super proud of how it all came together in the end. This has definitely been a passion project, and I hope to do more long essays like this in the future.
And that’s it for November! What did you read this month? And what are you looking forward to in December? I bet there are a lot of holiday book purchases on the horizon – whether you’re receiving them from a loved one or buying them as a gift for yourself. ;D
