Monthly Roundup Vol. 23

I watched so many movies and a book altered my brain chemistry (in a bad way)

Before we get to the paywall, I wanted to share a couple of things I’ve done lately. First, I had the absolute honor of interviewing THEE Sarah MacLean for Kirkus’s Summer Reads issue. I suspected she would be wonderful to talk to, as I’ve only heard great things about her, and I was right. I loved how excited she was to talk up books by other romance authors—no one knows as much about romance as she does, and she’s so generous toward other authors. Being able to interview writers and put together these profiles has been a real treat for me—like, I had no idea I would love doing this, but I do! I’ve spent my career doing all sorts of writing—novels (duh), blogging, essays, book reviews, business writing about the restaurant industry, copywriting, and research/writing for a nonprofit curriculum development company (at one point I wrote an entire pamphlet about the law of diminishing returns, and topic I could not explain to you at length right now even if you paid me). But this is a new one, and it’s a lot of fun…and dare I say it, more fun than business writing! Consider my FOR HIRE sign posted—I am here for writing work because I really do enjoy it.

Also, I was so lucky to be a guest on Meg’s Reading Room. Meg is such an inspiration for me—she has a whole day job and two children, and she somehow manages to put out this wonderful, comforting podcast. How does she do it?? I literally don’t know! There’s a lot of overlap in our reading taste, and it was such a joy to talk books, Full House, and raising boys with her. I hope you’ll check out the episode but also all her other episodes, too! I often listen to her when I’m feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated.

With all that said, let’s get to what I’ve been watching, reading, and listening to over the past month. It’s, honestly, an absurd amount of movies. I didn’t realize I’d watched so many. Also discussed: I was able to sign books at the new B&N, I started watching YouTube videos while I cook and clean the kitchen and I can’t decide if this is a bad habit or a good one, my Jens Lekman phase became a Jens Lekman lifestyle, my son knows who John Mulaney is now, and something I would only share behind a paywall…I read a thriller that enraged me so much that I kind of changed my entire life because I was afraid my brain was going to disintegrate and leak out of my ears. Okay, let’s get to it!