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- it's time to get spooky 👻
it's time to get spooky 👻
III. preptober, my favorite holiday but make it books, and the best season
Hello and welcome to another round of books, writing, and animals, in which I attempt to find my way through the forest of creativity and do something with my love of books. We have reached arguably the best month of the year because it's October and that means Halloween month!
In This Issue
Books to get you in the spooky spirit
Some seriously aesthetic book covers for upcoming releases
Unplanned detours in writing and NaNoWriMo
And the joys of cooler weather
Books
book recommendations
All book covers are linked to the book's listing on Bookshop.org. These are affiliate links and I do make a small commission off any purchases that go toward maintaining this newsletter!
fantasy horror
This fabulously dark fantasy will have you questioning everything around you, just like Immanuelle Moore. Set on a path to uncover the secrets of her rigid, puritanical community, she learns not everything is as black and white as the Prophet says, and perhaps there's space for Immanuelle's secrets too. A witchy story, part self-discovery, part acceptance, this book is difficult to put down and perfect for those looking for a story that turns religion on its head.
historical mystery
Someone's haunting the streets of London and it's up to Miss Audrey Rose Wadsworth, an individual in possession of an unusual talent involving cadavers and blood, to solve the case. A story riddled with mystery and gore, SJTR is a trip back in time and I loved following along in the mystery of who is Jack the Ripper. This book isn't for the faint of heart, though, and you'll want a strong stomach for some of the twisted things going bump in the night.
horror
The trees are creeping ever closer. Closer. Closer. Can you hear them creak? This book changed my view on reading horror and is still the reason I'm willing to read the genre (on occasion). It's hard to talk about without spoilers but we have a character drifting into madness and you feel it. Each section, each chapter, twisted the world ever closer to the depths of Silla’s mind. She’s the voice inside your head when the lights go out, when the wind beats against the walls and the floors creak in the halls. If you like the thrill of psychological horror mixed with the supernatural, read this book.
science fantasy
I knew little of this book going in other than it had some serious cosmic horror elements (which it does!). In true Jemisin fashion, we get beautifully layered and immersive worldbuilding with horror elements in the form of the nameless Enemy and its minions attempting to kill New York City. For this is a place that truly never sleeps, that has come alive through avatars of its boroughs. Definitely one to pick up for its strong characters and interesting premise as cities are born into being in this world.
anticipated upcoming releases
October is another busy book month and my pre-orders are going to be hitting my bank account hard this time around
A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow (October 5, 2021) is a feminist re-telling of Sleeping Beauty and the combination of a fairy tale retelling and the dark and twisted vibes I get from this one immediately put it on the list!
Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson (October 5, 2021) also had to be on here because I'll read anything Rogerson writes. I loved her first two books, An Enchantment of Ravens and Sorcery of Thorns, and have high hopes for this one too.
As for Jade Fire Gold by June C.L. Tan (October 12, 2021), honestly this just sounds fabulous. Chinese mythology inspired, slow-burn romance, MAGIC. I really don't need much more than that and can't wait to get my hands on a copy!
Another by one of my auto-buy authors, Little Thieves by Margaret Owen (October 19, 2021) promises another twisted fairy tale ("The Goose Girl") with a darker edge and that is exactly the sort of book I want to be reading, especially in the spooky season!
Nightwatch on the Hinterlands by K. Eason (October 19, 2021) was more of a cover add for this list but I've been looking for sci-fi standalones to dive into and this one has a murder mystery with a horrific edge. Exactly the sort of Spooktober book I want to fall into.
Finally, there's That Dark Infinity by Kate Pentecost (October 19, 2021). I adored Pentecost's debut Elysium Girls and knew I needed to read anything else she writes. Plus this one has mystery, MONSTERS, curses, and all sorts of tension!
Writing
currently writing…
For nearly the entire month of September I put Project Thistle's draft on hold and returned to the outline. This book has been a lesson in why I'm a plotter through and through. Pantsing the story as I went without a firmer scene structure only led to spinning out and a lot of unknowns later on in the story. While this draft is taking what feels like forever, I think it will ultimately be in much better shape once I'm done.
So no "official" draft update this time around but hopefully next month I'll have good news on that front!
Preptober + NaNoWriMo
The start of October marks the beginning of Preptober in anticipation of NaNoWriMo and I am ready to go! Though I'll still be working on Thistle and putting most of my focus into that, I'm also getting my next project ready to start writing November 1st.
Every year, I follow the tradition of starting a new project for NaNo and as this will be my 13th NaNo event (not counting any of the Camps) I don't want to break my streak!
My NaNo project is going under the name of Thornback and will be a historical/fantasy romance. All my favorite elements of historical romances... but with magic! I've had it floating around in my head for a while so I'm looking forward to really getting into the story and characters.
Everything Else
Happy October!
Summer is (thankfully) on its way out and we're finally getting all that lovely cool autumn weather. I'll miss the summer storms but I'm more than ready to escape the humidity of August and September and embrace the chilling nights of October.
Some of our flowers are doing quite well with the temperature changes and are pushing out lots of flowers before the frosts start rolling in. I couldn't resist grabbing some photos before they started dying off for the year. This was also all of 5 seconds before the cats came running through and trampled half of them...
I'm more than ready for Fall, even if I'm less than eager for the winter to follow. But this is my favorite season and I plan to fully enjoy it. The cats have been enjoying the cooler temperatures too, or at least those that go outside (Marlowe likes to chill under his chair and play with all the toys).
I also got some gorgeous new rocks that I can't wait to put on display... when I have the space (for now, they're in a plastic container, not nearly as exciting).
currently…
reading… Never Say You Can’t Survive by Charlie Jane Anders
listening… “Defying Gravity” (cover) by Matt Copley
watching… Castlevania
have a spooktacular october!
💜 austine
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