What's Up Wednesday

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly blog hop hosted by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk. Please stop by their blogs to join in the fun!


WHAT I'M READING

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I just finished Cassandra Clare's City of Heavenly Fire, either the sixth or the third in the series depending on how you classify it. I enjoyed it, as I do all of her books, and I did find the conclusion satisfying. I didn't find it to have as many twists and turns as the earlier ones, and I wonder if this has to do with being familiar enough with her style to see precisely how the ending will play out as the clues unfold, or if the ending was just predictable. One note if you haven't read it yet: if you're also a fan of the Clockwork series, you really should read Clockwork Princess before reading this one.

WHAT I'M WRITING

Work on the WIP has stalled, mostly due to life getting in the way. My boys have camp next week, so I'm hoping to move on with my word count then. I have been playing around with a new opening chapter for Perception when I get a few moments here and there, and I'm anxious to share it with my critique group this weekend. Why am I reworking it? Sometimes I ask myself that question, too. I had some feedback about the opening from a request. I've never heard these criticisms from anyone else before, but I'm curious to see if these changes make it stronger.

WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW

My kids. Watching them grow into young men is both exciting and hard to accept. I struggle with the idea of being proud of them. They've both had accomplishments lately that made me feel proud, but those accomplishments belong to them, not me. I want them to know I'm happy and proud for them, and I hope that they strive to do their best because it's what they want, not because they think it makes me happy.

WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO

Is it just me, or has 2014 flown by? I can't believe it's June. Summer has already filled with plans, and I'm most excited about an upcoming trip to New York City, Boston, and the coast of Maine. We have plane tickets and hotels booked, but if anyone has any suggestions for restaurants or must-do activities, please share!