Jean Oram > Recent Status Updates

Definitely about his addictions. A little confusing at times because he’ll say he’s earning $5000 a week and then he goes to Vegas with friends and wins $2600, which he says is more than any of them has ever seen. I think there is a bit of assumed knowledge about what being in rehab is like as well. Like why are they now giving him 1800 mg of OxyContin if he is supposed to be getting off stuff?

Ooph. If you have the flu maybe start a different book. There are different timelines before and during the war and several protagonists that are easy to confuse if your brain is fuzzy. I’m curious about where it is going to go though!

I started 52 Ways to Reconcile today, and can’t wait to dive into some indigenous-made movies for week one. I loved Smoke Signals back in the day, and adore the new CBC show North of North.

Do you have any recs for week one’s activity—movie night?

“As Debra Cameron once said, “Teaching young women to accommodate to the linguistic preferences, aka prejudices, of the men who run law firms and engineering companies is doing the patriarchy’s work for it.” It accepts the idea that “feminine“ speech is a problem, rather than the sexist attitudes toward it.”

Today’s food for thought from the book:
“…because without realizing it, something as simple as an address term or curse word might be reinforcing a power structure that we ultimately don’t agree with.”

“…criticisms of women's voices…they speak with too much vocal fry, overuse the words like and literally, and apologize in excess. …pseudo-feminist advice aimed at helping women talk with "more authority" so they can be "taken more seriously." … keeping women in a state of self-questioning-keeping them quiet—for no objectively logical reason other than that they don't sound like middle-aged white men.”

So far a LOT of brain science and not a lot on how that all impacts a young adult and what parents can do to help them out. I’m hoping it will become actionable tips soon. So far, make tasks simple. Don’t give them too much at a time. Distractions leads to accidents. They’re all amped up and don’t always have access to the “this is dangerous, therefore stop” part of their brain.

I love how (in the middle of the book) Billy is the way Nick was at that age—sweet and kind and natural with other people. It echos Nick and the beginning of the book. I also love how Billy is slowly bringing Nick back to his former self.

Page 82 and still not sure about Olive. She’s stolen items from her son’s new bride. Feels a bit unhinged…

I’m not sure how this book is going to go the character Olive has been introduced and she doesn’t seem like a very happy character that you want to spend a couple hundred pages with. But it’s a big prize winner so it must get good!

Learning a ton!

Quite liking it though. Straight on approach. Learning some things to watch for.

The sweeping generalizations that writers are “idiots” when it comes to contracts and don’t care is a bit hard to take. Especially since the readers of this book have invested in this book on contracts with their money and time… Sorta suggests otherwise.

Read over half. Then it left the story and had pages and pages of the secret revolution party’s handbook which is basically a very lengthy diatribe on history and class. A difficult book to get into.

“At the end of the day—I don’t like him, but I love him.” This line really resonated with me. She’s talking about family, and I think many of us can think of someone who may fit this quote.

I’ll admit I did a little dance of joy when I discovered I had a Little Bridge novel on my ereader that I hadn’t read yet. Still hoping Meg will write more more more!

DNF

Funny! I want to binge this one.

“…the rising string process deepens our wholeheartedness, but it often feels like a good, heart tired.” Amen

RE: …”the unavoidable uncertainty, vulnerability, and discomfort of the creative process.… absolutely no amount of experience or success gives you a free pass from the daunting level of doubt that is an unyielding part of the process…”

So incredibly true.

This one is a little frustrating. It keeps referring me to the app to learn how to do something, but the app no longer exists. It’s very USA focused—to be expected. And at 600 pages it keeps telling me how important something is and that I’ll learn about it later in the book but I’m halfway through and already forgotten what I’m waiting for.

Life has a way of moving on without you when you are in, as she says, the kingdom of illness. As well, accepting your body‘s limitations and instead of railing against all of the things you can’t do and you might be missing out on, making the shift into savouring where you are and seeing the gift that it could be.

While this is a sad tale in many ways, I can identify with the way an illness changes your life and who you are. You can no longer assume what you are capable of. And it’s not just illness, sometimes being the caregiver of someone who is drastically ill can have that same impact. When it is over you aren’t sure who you are any longer and if your “real“ life is still there.

I’m excited to announce that I have a secret book out! The Gingerbread Cafe is a FREE book on ProlificWorks right now! Find it on their homepage or get your exclusive link from the Sweet and Swoony Facebook page! Simply search on Facebook. The dive into this sweet romance.It’s part hockey/part small town along with a secret office relationship. You’ll also see fav Sweetheart Creek characters!

The book is ready! Just waiting for release day which is Feb 23, 2021! I can't wait to share this fake relationship romance that is so chalk full of true love it will make your heart warm and leave a smile on your face. <3

It's a sexy book!

I’m loving this one so far. The heroine is a strong athlete and has finally found a man who can handle and celebrate and encourage that. I love that he’s bringing out her strength! (I want to meet this author and make her my friend! We need more heroines like Dani.)

It's gone to my editor! We're getting close to sharing Cole's story with the world!

Guess who just sent invitations to her beta readers to look at this book before it goes to my editor? YES! Cole's book is SO close to done. Time to celebrate!