I was gonna do a movie review of Martin Luther (1953) for Reformation Day, but for personal reasons I decided not to. (Don’t ask.) So instead you get a tag that Katja surprised me with. 😆

And I’m gonna steal the tag graphic even though I wasn’t part of Novelists in November, because it’s so pretty! 😇

ONE: What project + book are you most excited to work on this fall?

Yesterday Was Long Ago. And Motto of Glory too, if my brain will get anywhere with it 🙄 Both of which have zero fall vibes at all 😆

TWO: Describe your dream fall writing + reading setup. (Cozy blankets? Candles? Hot drinks?)

Yes. 😁 Candles (whether real or fake), a mug of hot apple cider, maybe some cozy slippers and a fuzzy blanket, one or two cats sleeping nearby, and rain outside (though it’s more likely to be snow for us). And some pumpkin bread if I’m writing (not for reading though, I don’t want to get crumbs in my books).

In reality though, my writing space is wherever I can park myself when I get a little bit of time. So usually my bed, though sometimes I bring the typewriter (yes, I am using a typewriter for my WIP) out to the table to be with the family, or I shove a bunch of papers aside and plunk down at the school desk downstairs. As far as reading, it’s hard for me to settle in one position, so I just roll all over the place during the rare occasions that I actually sit down to read.

THREE: Share a snippet of your current work + read (just a few lines!) that you’re most excited about.

*thinks hard and makes faces repeatedly*

All the best scenes are still coming up! I’m only in Chapter 4 so far, and there haven’t really been any scenes that I’m that excited about. But this one was fun and had my brother and I laughing:

We’ve been at it [filling sandbags] for a few hours when Benedek shows up and calls to me.  I get to my feet and come over to see what he wants.

“Corbin’s in a meeting with Captain Layer, so he sent me over,” he explains. “How are you guys doing?”

I glance at the slowly growing pile of sandbags. “Not too bad, but there’s plenty more to do.”

He looks sympathetic. “There always is.  You can knock off at 0030, okay?”

I nod. “Roger.  My boys will be glad to get some sleep.”

A slow grin spreads across Benedek’s face. “I don’t think sleep is what they need.”

“Beg pardon?” I ask, confused.

I hear laughter from my men as Benedek nods to them. “Might want to look behind you, Parker.”

I turn around.  Reg and Rory have dropped their bags and are throwing dirt at each other, with the rest cheering them on.  I grin wryly.

“Yeah, maybe you’re right.  They need ‘mother hen’ to keep them on track.”

Benedek agrees. “The harder they work, the harder they’ll sleep.  Okay, Parker, I’ll let you get back to work now.”

As I return to the squad, the two miscreants hastily go back to their job, pretending to be industrious.  The rest, grinning, avoid eye contact with me.

“So,” I ask, “who won?”

“The dirt did,” Reg answers promptly.

FOUR: What’s your favorite fall drink or snack to have while reading + writing?

Umm . . .

*thinks hard*

I dunno . . .

Apple cider, I guess? Because I DO love apple cider, especially the stuff from Trader Joe’s (which I have not yet gotten this year 😭).

FIVE: What book, author, or story first inspired you to write + read?

Well, I’ve always loved reading and scribbling in notebooks. But I *think* it was the Animal Ark series by Ben Baglio that inspired me to start writing the first story I actually finished. Idk really tho, my memory of stuff that happened years ago ain’t too good 🫠

SIX: Describe the ultimate fall setting you’d love to include in your writing + reading.

I’ve written fall scenes that were cold and damp and drizzly, but that’s no fun, so let’s go with something else 😆

Clear blue skies and yellow aspen woods. V formations of honking geese flying over the flaming-red maples. A wisp of wood smoke and fallen leaves that crunch under a pair of worn boots. Chilly mornings, just cold enough for a cheery plaid flannel shirt. The smell of home-picked apple pie sneaking through the kitchen window left slightly ajar. A big orange hunter’s moon overlooking a bonfire out in the field. Sounds of laughter, an acoustic guitar, and a great horned owl hooting somewhere in the trees.

SEVEN: How do you prepare for a month of intense writing + reading (like NaNoWriMo)?

As if I was able to take a whole month just for writing.

The only time I really did a month(ish) of intense writing was last summer, when I was pushing to get We Gave Our Tomorrows written before I started school again in August. And I didn’t prepare at all, I just . . . did the thing. (And no, I didn’t get it all done that summer. I ended up writing a lot of it during college, and finished it the night before Thanksgiving.)

EIGHT: What’s one song on your current writing + reading playlist?

Lol, my playlist is kind of a throwback to when I was still writing WGOT (I’m writing about the Vietnam War right now). And it’s a generic playlist for anything at all, not just writing/reading. (Ngl, I never even thought about a reading playlist. I think that would be super distracting.)

Buuuuuut, I’ve been in the mood for Christmas super early this year (#sorrynotsorry), and I have a whole “WWII Christmas” playlist that I listen to over and OVER. I LOVE all the pieces sung by Bing Crosby 🥰 and one of my favorites is dis booful piece (by my other favorite singer):

NINE: What are some themes you find yourself exploring in your fall writing projects + TBR?

Uhhh . . . *draws a blank* I dunno. Because like Katja, I don’t write seasonal stuff during the season, I write whatever needs my attention. *quickly shuts door as plot bunnies start clamoring loudly*

One thing I’ve found myself addressing is the need to be intentional in your Christian walk, to know what you believe and why instead of just saying “well I can’t explain it but I just know it’s right”. The need to be serious about how your faith affects your daily life, rather than just cruising through life and saving the Christian stuff for Sundays.

And leadership, because my YWLA MC is a sergeant. #sergeantsrock 🥰

And how to make canned rations taste better. (hint: Tabasco sauce)

TEN: Do you have a fall reading list? (If so, share a few titles!)

Uhhh nope 😆

ELEVEN: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to other writers + readers this season?

DON’T LET THE INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS WIN!!!!

(Ahem, sorry. Fall is always a rough time of year for me, for a lot of reasons. #norealfallhere #wehatewinter 😭)

Okay, positive thoughts here, people (even though optimists annoy me TO NO END) – but annnyway! Enjoy that pumpkin stuff while it’s still around, stock up on apple cider, sit and watch the leaves blow away (oops, I meant fall – but all our leaves are gone now anyway), invest in fuzzy socks, light yourself a fire, and get a pile of books or story ideas, because you’re gonna have 7 months of nastiness where you can’t go outside.

(Did I say this was supposed to be positive? Ehh, sorry, I’m living in Wyoming 🫠)

TWELVE: What’s one goal you have for your writing + reading before the year ends?

😶

😶

😶

. . .

. . . write something, I guess? Get some more YWLA chapters done?

Finish that GR yearly reading challenge that I’m perpetually behind on? (Did I really think I could get 70 books read in one year?! HA. HA.)

THIRTEEN: Which book has left a lasting impact on you?

*makes strange gurgling noises, bends over to look at shelves, and falls off the bed*

Uhhh . . .

The Bible. 😁

But for books written by humans, that would be Jesus Freaks by DC Talk. It’s really good, y’all.

FOURTEEN: Tag someone whose fall writing + reading vibes you admire!

YASSSSS, time to pass the hot potato on to somebody else!

*realizes I can’t think of anyone with “fall vibes”*

Oh . . .

Ah well, who cares about the vibes? I’ve picked on Shekinah a lot lately, but Savannah’s pretty busy, soooo . . . we’re just gonna pick on Shekinah some more. 😆

Yo, Miss Special! You been TAGGED!!! 😛

Any if any of y’all reading this wanna steal it, steal away! Hopefully you won’t be as dorky with it as I am, lol. 🤪

Here’s the list of questions for easy reference:

THE PROMPTS

ONE: What project + book are you most excited to work on this fall?

TWO: Describe your dream fall writing + reading setup. (Cozy blankets? Candles? Hot drinks?)

THREE: Share a snippet of your current work + read (just a few lines!) that you’re most excited about.

FOUR: What’s your favorite fall drink or snack to have while reading + writing?

FIVE: What book, author, or story first inspired you to write + read?

SIX: Describe the ultimate fall setting you’d love to include in your writing + reading.

SEVEN: How do you prepare for a month of intense writing + reading (like NaNoWriMo)?

EIGHT: What’s one song on your current writing + reading playlist?

NINE: What are some themes you find yourself exploring in your fall writing projects + TBR?

TEN: Do you have a fall reading list? (If so, share a few titles!)

ELEVEN: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to other writers + readers this season?

TWELVE: What’s one goal you have for your writing + reading before the year ends?

THIRTEEN: Which book has left a lasting impact on you?

FOURTEEN: Tag someone whose fall writing + reading vibes you admire!