Happy Friday!

Somehow it’s almost November and well into autumn! Although there isn’t much fall left, I love this season so much that I definitely wanted to hop in on this tag. Why does autumn vanish so quickly?

Thanks to Kate at Once Upon An Ordinary and Katja at Little Blossoms for Jesus for bringing this tag to my attention! Click/tap their blog names to go read their lovely posts.

The QuestionsWhat project or book are you most excited to work on this fall?

Perfect question to start with! November is dedicated to my newest WIP, a fairy tale retelling that will feature a guarded princess, a dedicated prince and his pet lizard, and themes of worth, hope, and nobility. I’m finishing the outline now, and aim to complete the first draft by the end of November at the latest.

Describe your dream fall writing/reading setup.

Hmm, my dream set-up probably includes a water bottle and a warm drink beside me, a fuzzy blanket and a snuggly cat (or two) on my lap, and music playing much too loudly in my headphones, haha. Although if I’m reading, I’d usually omit the music. All the coziness for this chilly weather!

Share a snippet of your current work/read (just a few lines!) that you’re most excited about.

This is tricky, since I haven’t written more than a few random drabbles in the WIP yet. Let’s go with this tiny snippet of dialogue I greatly enjoyed writing:

“How foolish of me not to mention it. May I introduce Sir Peaton Pernelius Petter . . . the third.” 

“The third?”

“Certainly. He hails from a long line of esteemed lizards.”

What’s your favorite fall drink or snack to have while writing/reading?

Water is always good with me, but for something special, I usually have coffee (hazelnut lately), a fruit tea, or apple cider. I’ve been enjoying the opportunity for warm drinks recently.

What author, book, or story first inspired you to write/read?

Such a good question that I don’t have a good answer for. My parents used to read to me and my siblings at night, and I have fond memories of so many stories from that period of my life. I can’t recall any one particular author or book that inspired me, but stories have been a huge part of my life since I was very young, and I think it was inevitable that I’d fall in love with creating them too.

Describe the ultimate fall setting you’d love to include in your writing/reading.

I would absolutely love to set a story in a thick, whimsical forest in the height of autumn, where the leaves are colorful, the air is crisp, and the nights are cold. I love forests, and have included them in a few of my books, but never set in autumn. Now that I think about it, I’m surprised I haven’t yet! Time to change that.

How do you prepare for a month of intense writing/reading (like NaNoWriMo)?

This year I’m running on what creativity and energy I can scrape from life’s craziness, haha, but most years, I prepare by taking in a lot more stories shortly beforehand. Reading more books, watching good movies, listening to beautiful songs…filling the creative well any way I can. I also like to try and prepare some easy meals, and schedule any social media posts for the month ahead of time. This year, I haven’t had the time for much prep, but I’m doing the best I can to squeeze in those strategies to some degree.

What’s one song on your current writing/reading playlist?

At this very moment, I’m listening to Woodland Dreaming by Alisa Marie. I’ll drop it below for you! Such a peaceful, perfect for fairy tales song.

What are some themes you find yourself exploring in your fall projects/TBR?

Like I mentioned above, themes of worth and true nobility are very prominent. Some of the themes are weightier, such as dealing with depression and hopelessness, but the story ultimately points back to hope.

Do you have a fall reading list? (If so, share a few titles)

I have far too many books to read in the next couple of months, but here are a few I’m really looking forward to reading (or rereading):

~ On the Edge of the Forgotten Sea by Alissa J. Zavalianos (releases November 5th!)
~ Wishtress by Nadine Brandes (I’m rereading this one again, and it’s so perfect for this season)
~ Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson (I started this one recently and it’s very fun)
~ Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk (another reread that seems appropriate for this time of year)
~ Maxine Justice: Public Offender by Daniel Schwabauer (releases November 4th!)

What is one piece of advice you’d give to other readers/writers this season?

Work with what you have. I often find more creativity and desire to write during this cozy season, but I know some people really struggle with the cold and darkness, and find their writing stride during warmer weather instead. Don’t be hard on yourself if you can’t write as much right now. If you’re feeling inspired and able, embrace the opportunity, and if you’re not, give yourself grace. Be kind to yourself, whatever that looks like for you in this season.

What is one goal you have for your writing/reading before the year ends?

I want to finish at least the first draft and some editing of this latest fairy-tale WIP, and maybe work on a short story for release in the next few months. I also still need to read 22 more books to meet my reading challenge for the year.

Which book has left a lasting impact on you?

This seems impossible to answer, but I’ll go with a fall-themed one that I’m currently re-reading — Wishtress by Nadine Brandes. I mentioned it above, but it’s one that I absolutely love. The fall/wintery setting, the unique premise, the developed and fascinating characters, the character growth that inspires me to grow too…it’s a favorite of mine and has really affected how I see some hard aspects of life.

Tag someone whose fall writing/reading vibes you admire.

I’ll tag Virginia over at Books by Virginia. Her reading vibes and reviews are always so much fun to read!

Thank you so much for joining me! This is such a fun fall tag, and if you’d like to join in, please feel free to answer the questions on your own blog, or in the comments below. I’d love to read your answers!

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