Justin looking at computer monitor with hand on joystick mouse
Accessibility (#A11y), Writing

Best Fiction Books I Read in 2020

From coming-of-age to science fiction and mystery, I have to say that I have been a reader this year. So here it is: the top five fiction books or series I loved this year: Of course, A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green is by far my favorite read in sci-fi. Read the post about… Continue reading Best Fiction Books I Read in 2020

Justin with hand on joystick mouse at computer
Accessibility (#A11y), Writing

Learning with Skillshare

What am I doing to learn to better my craft of writing and how to market me and my books even though I don’t have a book out? Recently I wrote about taking some Coursera courses which have been interesting. I’ve also been interested in trying out Skillshare for a while because it features a… Continue reading Learning with Skillshare

First Avenue crowd on main floor
Writing

What am I…

The thing is, you might be sick of the politics. That is why I bestowed it upon myself to write fun alongside writing political.  So, when not obsessing about politics, what am I doing? What am I reading right now? I’ve started rereading this political book…damn…I wanted to keep politics out of this post. It… Continue reading What am I…

A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor bookcover
Writing

A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor: NO SPOILERS REVIEW

How do I describe this book I read in two days and have been waiting for two years? 3 words: GET IT NOW! It’s brilliantly written…OOPS! I’m so excited that I forgot to say that it is a sequel to An Absolutely Remarkable Thing (AART) by Hank Green and if you haven’t read AART, where… Continue reading A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor: NO SPOILERS REVIEW

Justin with mask on face
Advocacy, Health, Political, Writing

2020202020202020202020202020

It’s been a difficult 2020. I would say that it’s been a difficult couple of years for me personally in figuring out what to do with my life and dealing with medical issues. But 2020 just added a whole new meaning to difficult. Thoughts on COVID I am at high risk of catching this virus… Continue reading 2020202020202020202020202020

tshirt that says Imagine
Advocacy, Political, Writing

Time for change

 I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me.  Ralph Ellison There are so many places I would have rather been this week – like rallies, protests, volunteering to help in some way. George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis and I live in the Twin Cities. This was hard for me to not… Continue reading Time for change

Justin looking at computer monitor with hand on joystick mouse
Accessibility (#A11y), Writing

Books to read

These are the books that I have read or am reading while staying home: I Am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall is a survival story about a teenager who is trying to survive the Alaskan wilderness alone. It’s a brilliant book if you like the Hunger Games and if you want to read about… Continue reading Books to read

Justin smiling on floor at Palace Theater
Accessibility (#A11y), Advocacy, Health, Music, Political, Writing

4-year anniversary of Justin Smith Writes

Guess what? Today is my four-year blog-versary. So, I have changed the theme, design, whatever it is to the website. The reason why I changed my design is it felt like a change was needed. And, what else to do when I’m stuck at home. Tour of the new site I created a static home… Continue reading 4-year anniversary of Justin Smith Writes

Smiling Justin in front of stage
Health, Music, Writing

I’M ALIVE

So I just finished reading Frankenstein. Just to be clear, Frankenstein is the doctor who created a monster, not the monster. Check out John Green's Crash Courses on Frankenstein - great resource for all of those learning at home: Don't Reanimate Corpses! Frankenstein Part 1 Frankenstein, Part 2: Between reading good books, I’ve been editing… Continue reading I’M ALIVE