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
Category: 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
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
Almost there
I’m on my last read through of my book before sending it to the beta readers. I have some people handpicked for the first round of reading. I’m nervous about sharing my work. I’m thinking this might be the scary part of being an author – opening yourself up to criticism. Not really like my… Continue reading Almost there
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
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
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
Frequently asked and unasked questions about writing, social media, etc.
Are you ever going to get something published? Maybe I will, might take a while to get this book published. I have started editing and that can take a while. This is technically my second book. I trashed my first book. Writing anything else? No, I’ve started outlining the next one and I am focusing… Continue reading Frequently asked and unasked questions about writing, social media, etc.
Just super
A couple thoughts for this week. I’m stuck I’m not exactly endorsing any democratic presidential candidates for one reason: TOO MANY CANDIDATES with things I like and dislike about each of them! I think I’ll be deciding when I get to the voting booth on Super Tuesday. No matter who you support, show up and… Continue reading Just super
Plotter or pantser?
I have started planning the next book and I mean that quite literally. I say that because I pantsered the last two books. Although I didn’t know this, I think that I might actually be more of a plotter. Wait, what is a pantser and plotter? Ok, when I wrote my first two books, I… Continue reading Plotter or pantser?