I can’t believe yet another month has passed us by. While January was a slow crawl, February zoomed by. Somehow, we’re already a week into March now. Continuing the trend of an emotional rollercoaster, the last few weeks have been filled with ups and downs.
For instance, on one hand, I got to see that a collection of short stories that I curated and edited for Epic Originals’ series Animal Rescue Friends will be published later this year! The book is called Learning New Tricks and features talented creators like Megan Kearney, Gillian Goerz, Barbara Marquez Perez, Katie Longua, and so many more. I’m beyond proud of the work I did on this project and I can’t wait for people to get their hands on it.
On the other hand, this marked the last bit of editorial work and story consulting that I’m doing with Epic for the time being. It’s been one of my most beloved projects for the last two years and I’m mourning the comfort and stability of that right now. Even while being so happy, proud, and fulfilled. Nevertheless, stay tuned for more details on that project and the launch of it.
While I still don’t have a lot of updates for other projects I’ve been teasing for a while, I should have more details soon. Both Pillow Talk and Racc Pack are drawing nearer and nearer though! Last week I even got to see the first final pass of Racc Pack and while I can’t say much, I can say that it looks incredible. Whitney knocked the art out of the park, and our book design team are doing such a phenomenal job. So again, stay tuned! Hopefully in the next Blogletter, I’ll have more to share.
And honestly, there’s not much more going on! I’ll be able to share some upcoming appearances and visits I’ll be doing soon. But while my work obligations are quiet, I’ve been trying to make time for my friends and loved ones. I went to Demand Lucha last month, did a couple of trivia nights (came in third and second, respectively!) and I made some cursed puppets (well, mine looks cursed) with my partner. Plus I read a bunch of great stuff and minimally watched some TV, so let’s dive into all of that!
TV:
- The Other Two S1-2
- The Sex Lives of College Girls S2
- Barry S1
I honestly didn’t watch a ton last month. Well, I did but it’s mostly stuff I’ve started and hasn’t wrapped yet like The Last of Us. And Taskmaster…and a lot of reality TV like MILF Manor, which is too cringey even for me, and 90 Day Fiancée.
My fave from the above list though was, The Other Two. It was so funny and very bingeable! I hadn’t even heard of it until my partner found it and told me to check it out…which I did, obviously. The whole cast is great and it’s a lot of fun to watch the titular “other two” as they try to navigate the newfound fame within their family.
Moving onto books…
BOOKS:
- Kaiju No. 8 Vol. 1 by Naoya Matsumoto – I really enjoyed this! Basically Pacific Rim meets Edge of Tomorrow meets Venom. Super fun and action packed.
- Spy x Family Vol. 1 by Tatsuya Endo and Casey Loe (Translator) – I had a really fun time reading this! What a fun concept to play with.
- Catwoman: Lonely City by Cliff Chiang – Everything I could possibly want in a Catwoman book.
- My Aunt Is a Monster by Reimena Yee – I knew I was going to love this book the moment I saw what it was about, paired with the wonderful storyteller that is Reimena Yee. This is such a wonderful concept that feels a bit like A Series of Unfortunate Events mixed with something else I can’t quite put my finger on. But it’s heartfelt and beautifully done with an exceptional opening that keeps the story moving on, taking us down an exciting path filled with adventure.
- The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman – Such a fun concept and book! I loved every moment of it. Almost like The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels meets The Atlas Six meets The Midnight Library but definitely not as dark as the latter. It’s a delight and I love the world that Genevieve Cogman has built here.
- Thieves by Lucie Bryon – I’d been pining to read this for a while and picked it up as a little treat for myself. I absolutely love the art and the sapphic story of two people trying to navigate young love and some complications that come with that. Kind of has Skins vibes to it in that, I could see this as a full arc of that series—and I love it!
- The Wild Hunt by Emma Seckel – A bit of a slow start but once it gets going, it was so hard to put down. The folklore woven in is intriguing and enthralling, and even a little spooky at times. A great read, especially for fans of Adrienne Young’s Spells for Forgetting.
- Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell – A wonderfully cozy cottagecore story revolving around a young witch trying to navigate her tempestuous magic. Very enjoyable with some YA Kiki’s Delivery Service vibes to it.
- Frontera by Julio Anta and Jacoby Salcedo – Frontera is a powerful graphic novel that has the potential to help change how people see the world, through this incredible and moving story. It’s a beautiful, emotional journey about family, home, and finding our way. This book should be read by everyone who hasn’t had to live the experience of having to leave one home (or place) for another—to learn and find compassion for others who are doing what we’re all trying to do: find the best lives for ourselves and our loved ones.
- Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper – A witchy and cozy sapphic romance perfect for the fall…or when it’s winter and you’re pining for fall!
As I mentioned last month, I’ve pared this back a bit to include only the books and graphic novels that I read and have something to say about. Mostly, this is now a section for the books and graphic novels that I recommend. So, with that being said, I read a few more things that I didn’t write up reviews for. You can find my full reading list on Goodreads or Storygraph.
That’s it for me right now. I think I say this every time, but hopefully I’ll have more to share with you soon and I’ll see y’all around the internet.
Stay safe out there and thank you—as always—for your love and support.
