Tag: reading

new blog post: Project Shop My Shelves: Q3 2025 Update Project Shop My Shelves: Q3 2025 Update
Project Shop My Shelves

Project Shop My Shelves: Q3 2025 Update

Kara Jorgensen1 Comment

Back in March, I decided that I wanted to start Project Shop My Shelves (known as PSMS going forward). The goal of PSMS is to read twice as many books per month than I buy, but there are a few sub-goals that are equally important:

  • Don’t buy new books unless they are from marginalized authors (indie or trad)
  • A 2:1 ratio of old books to newly bought books every month (or more if possible)
  • Read through the older books to finally get them off the TBR pile
  • Be realistic about my enjoyment of an author and what medium I prefer to read them
  • Post quarterly about my progress with this project

I figured now was as good a time as any to update my progress with this self-imposed project. TL;DR: I did better this quarter, so there is hope for me. Here are my stats for the third quarter of 2025.

Stats:

July: I bought 5 ebooks, 0 ARCs, 4 physical books, 0 audiobooks. I read 9 books, 3 of which were preexisting, 1:1 bought to read ratio.

August: I bought 7 ebooks, 0 ARCs, 2 physical books, 0 audiobooks. I read 8 books, 1 of which was preexisting, 9:8 bought to read ratio.

September: I bought 4 ebooks, 0 ARCs, 5 physical books, 0 audiobooks. I read 8 books, 4 of which were preexisting, 9:8 bought to read ratio.

Not going to lie, my ratio for July would have looked MUCH worse had I counted all the books I received for my birthday as part of my purchases. I decided not to lump them into it because I didn’t buy them and couldn’t control how many I received. I mention it because I did talk about it at the end of Q2 and debated how I would count them.

Buying Books: A Breakdown

The theme of my book buying this quarter was queer and neurodivergent with a side of nonfiction. Since I’ve been hard at work on The Reanimator’s Fate, a good chunk of my purchases have been nonfiction books related to research for book 4. I went down a bit of a rabbit hole in regards to antique books, book collecting, etc. The flipside of this is that I have been loving the Murderbot books, so I bought the first six books in the series. Oops, sorry not sorry with those. July’s purchases were graphic novel heavy since several series I enjoy released new volumes that month, and of course, I bought and read them.

I tried very hard this quarter to be more mindful about what I was buying. Most of the ebooks I bought were on sale for a very good price and were books I have wanted to read or by authors I enjoy. I am trying not to get ahead of myself and buy a whole series without having read book one yet, especially if it’s by a new to me author. It’s hard sometimes to not get excited about books that sound cool or buy a whole series to support a friend. Balancing being supportive of creators I’m friends with or who are marginalized with mindless consumerism isn’t always easy for me because I know how important sales are to continuing peoples’ careers.

Reading Books: A Breakdown

My reading this quarter was heavily skewed toward a handful of authors: Martha Wells (6), Veronica Roth (3), Elizabeth Lim (3), and T. Kingfisher gets an honorable mention with 2 books read. I have been in a bit of a reading slump due to feeling mildly fried by the world and writing, so I have been gravitating toward any book that catches my interest. Unfortunately, that often meant the brand new books I just bought, like the MurderBot books and Veronica Roth’s short stories/novellas. Part of this challenge is reading the books I own rather than books I recently bought, and while I have been doing this, it hasn’t been on the forefront of my mind. Elizabeth Lim’s books do meet this criteria as they have been sitting on my TBR for over a year (oops). If you’ve ever been in a book slump, you know how fickle your reading habits can be and how hard it can be to get through books that just aren’t doing it for you at the moment.

Quarter 4 Goals/Outlook

I’m hoping to keep my buy to read ratio for Q4 at 1:1 or better. October is a month where I have quite a few preorders coming up for graphic novels and manga I enjoy. On one hand, ahhhh purchases. On the other, I tend to read them immediately, which helps keep that ratio low. The rest of the year looks pretty empty in terms of preorders because I tend to scale back on my spending before the Christmas holidays. Much like my birthday, I don’t plan to count books given to me at Christmas as part of my purchases because I can’t control the volume of books I receive. In Q4, I am hoping that I will get over my book slump and read more than I have been. Usually, my workload peaks in November, and everything eases up after that. My hope is that will help make it easier to read without feeling like pulling teeth. I’m also planning to set aside purposeful time each day for reading because once I start, it feels less onerous and does refill my well. It’s amazing how reading helps, but my brain makes it so hard to start due to being fried. I’d love to know the psychology behind that. Because I don’t have a giant stack of preorders coming, this will also force me to read books I already own (hopefully). If you follow on me on social media, you may have seen me restock my TBR coffin, and I plan to use that to help me knock my TBR down a bit.

new blog post: 10 Books I'm Excited About in 2025/26 10 Books I’m Excited About in 2025/26
Book Reviews

10 Books I’m Excited About in 2025/26

Kara Jorgensen4 Comments

This week I thought I would make a little post about some books that I am really looking forward to that are coming out later this year or early next year. You will notice that the list skews toward traditional publishing, but this is because many indies do a very short preorder period or don’t announce their release dates that far ahead of time. Disclaimer: all links to the books are affiliate links, so if you purchase anything, I get a small kickback.

  1. Pantomime (#1) by L. R. Lam- If this book sounds familiar to you, it came out years ago and is being re-edited and released. This book was one of my absolute favorites when I read it in college. You have an intersex, trans MC who runs away from their family and societal expectations to join the circus and discover themselves. Throw in a dose of magic, romance, and danger, and Pantomime is a must-read. Out 9/9/25
  2. To Clutch a Razor (#2) by Veronica Roth- I have been on a bit of Veronica Roth short book/story kick, and I am dying to get my hands on this one. You have magical Chicago filled with Slavic magic and creatures, a queer MC, horrific family obligations, and a cast of intriguing characters, and this series is un-put-down-able. Out 9/16/25
  3. What Stalks the Deep (#3) by T. Kingfisher- I absolutely love this series. It’s horror that is gross yet intriguing without being too scary for chickens like me. The main character is a nonbinary soldier in the 1800s, and in this edition, Alex is headed to America to go to a spooky mine that is probably filled with horrors. If you enjoy Jordan L. Hawk’s books, I highly recommend this series. Out 9/30/25
  4. America’s Most Gothic: Haunted History Stranger than Fiction by Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes- I absolutely loved their first book, A Haunted History of Invisible Women. This volume goes into the parts of the Gothic that titillate us and explores the real history that is potentially far spookier and fascinating. Hieber and Janes have a lively style that is all at once informative and entertaining. Out 9/30/25
  5. All of Us Murderers by K. J. Charles- Maybe I am biased but I don’t think K. J. Charles has written a bad book yet. This one takes us to a Gothic manor where a fight over a young ward’s hand turns murderous and scorn queer lovers reunite. It sounds chef kiss and messy, and if you are into Gothic vibes, the cover for this book is right on the money. Out 10/7/25
  6. A Mouthful of Dust (#6) by Nghi Vo- The Singing Hills Cycle is one of my favorite series, and this one sounds a little similar to the K. J. Charles book in terms of creepiness of houses. Chih is trapped in the house of a sinister magistrate in a town where famine has hit hard and the things beyond and within the walls are growing hungry. If you like lush yet economical stories, Vo’s work is top knotch. Out 10/7/25
  7. The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow- We have a lady knight, a historian, and time doing weird shit to ensure she plays her role. This is based off a short story Harrow published a few years ago that I absolutely devoured. I am dying to get my hands on this, especially because I have been in a medieval mood, so I hope this scratches that itch. Out 10/28/25
  8. A Wild and Hungry Place by E. E. Ottoman- It has been quite some time since Ottoman published, and I am so excited. His books are filled with trans characters, rich descriptions, and stories that tug at the heartstrings and soul. This one has a woman trying to break a curse, a man with a garden full of poisonous plants, and a ghost woman. What else could one want?
  9. The Wolf and His King by Finn Longman- I am including this one because it was originally scheduled to come out in November but was pushed back to January of 2026. This is a retelling of “Bisclavret” by Marie de France, and as a Marie de France fan, I am so in. Of course, this book is queer, has werewolves, knights, kings, magic, and so much more. Out 1/26/26
  10. Through Gates of Garnets and Gold (#11) by Seanan McGuire- If you haven’t read The Wayward Children series, now is the perfect time to start. Nancy, who is the MC of book one, finally is getting her own book! I am so excited to return to the Halls of the Dead with Nancy and the misfit crew from the school for wayward children. This is one of those settings that sounded so intriguing even though we saw little of it, and I look forward to what McGuire creates in this one. Out 1/6/26
new blog post: April 2025 wrap up post April 2025 Wrap-Up Post
Monthly Review

April 2025 Wrap-Up Post

Kara Jorgensen1 Comment

April felt like the longest month ever for me. I think it was mostly due to being kept busy by grading nonstop (April is the November of the spring semester), and I, for one, am exhausted. I’m really looking forward to break starting in May, so with that, let’s remember what my goals were for April.

  • Write 20,000 words for book 4
  • Continue to proof the audiobook for TRR as it comes in
  • Stay on grading as there is a lot this month
  • Finish Act 1 and 2 outlines for book 4
  • Continue to bug my senators and house rep
  • Participate in the Narratess Sale (4/5-4/7)
  • Maintain my sanity as best as I can
  • Send out my newsletter
  • Read 8 books
  • Blog weekly

Books

My goal was to read 8 books, and I read 10 this month.

  1. What Feasts at Night (#2) by T. Kingfisher- 4 stars, I love a nonbinary protagonist, and we get that along with a nightmarish monster who is sucking the life out of people. As always with T. Kingfisher, it is very atmospheric and creepy.
  2. The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid- 4 stars, a fantasy story that pulls together pagan Eastern European, Jewish, and Christian folklore. We have a wolf girl who reluctantly falls for a woodsman/prince who needs to save his kingdom from fanaticism.
  3. Turning the Tables by Andrew P. Haley- 4 stars, book research, but I think it’s interesting for anyone who is into culinary history or how the rise of the middle class in the late 1800s led to the formation of restaurant culture.
  4. The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman- 3 stars, a steampunk adventure featuring librarians from a timeless library, book dragons, and tons of nods to classics.
  5. A Gentle Madness by Nicholas A. Basbanes- 4 stars, if you’re a book lover or a collector, this book is for you. Basbanes delves into rare book collecting, bibliomania, and the people who have made some of the greatest collections in history.
  6. Book Curses by Eleanor Baker- 4 stars, this was book research for The Reanimator’s Fate. It’s a very short book that could be a webpage, but it’s fun to have.
  7. Don’t Sleep with the Dead (#2) by Nghi Vo- 5 stars, the loose sequel to The Chosen and the Beautiful set 20 years later during WWII where Nick starts hearing Gatsby long after his death. I absolutely love the demons and world this is set in and how the characters are handled.
  8. Into the Dark (#3) by Jordan L. Hawk- 4 stars, a ghost hunting story featuring lots of queer characters where they go to investigate the asylum the medium’s grandmother was sent to. This is definitely 95% ghost hunting with like 5% romance with an established couple, just as an FYI if you’ve read Jordan’s other series.
  9. The Case Study of Vanitas (#11) by Jun Mochizuki- 4 stars, it was nice to see all the characters back together again as we begin a new story arc. I look forward to seeing where the new story line goes.
  10. Ornithography (#2) by Jessica Roux- 4 stars, this is a book about the symbolism of birds. It would probably be nicer as a coffee table book than an ebook, but it was interesting.

Admin/Behind-the-Scenes Stuff

  • Fixed the outline for the beginning of The Reanimator’s Fate
  • Restarted writing The Reanimator’s Fate
  • Participated in several sales/bundles
  • Did more research for The Reanimator’s Fate
  • Proofed more of the audiobook for The Reanimator’s Remains
  • Blogged weekly
  • Send out my newsletter
  • Finished teaching for the semester (thank god)
  • Finished the literary magazine for my class
  • Graded a shit ton of papers
  • Paid quarterly and yearly taxes (no one cares but it’s stressful, so it counts, lol)

Blog

Writing

The writing section for this month is a little odd for me. At first, things were going well until I realized I started in the wrong place and had to scrap what I wrote. Ultimately, the idea I had wasn’t going to work, and restarting it was for the best. This sucks since my word count went back to zero, and I spent two weeks figuring out how to fix it and make sure it didn’t happen again. Writing the final book in a series is hard because I want to do the characters justice, and I really want to make my audience happy. It’s really easy to get into your own head and give yourself performance anxiety or choice paralysis. I’m going to try very hard to stay true to myself, to my characters, and to the vision I have for this final book. In the near future, I will talk more about some specifics in the books and reveal the blurb, so stay tuned for that!

Hopes for May

  • Write 20,000 words of TRF
  • Write the working blurb for TRF
  • Maintain my mental health
  • Keep working out consistently
  • Continue proofing the audiobook of TRR
  • Finish grading portfolios
  • Send out my May newsletter
  • Read 8 books
  • Blog weekly

new blog post: my 2025 goals My 2025 Goals
Writing

My 2025 Goals

Kara Jorgensen1 Comment

I’m not always a fan of yearly goals. Truthfully, I prefer to do 90 day/quarterly goals, but since it’s the beginning of the new year, I thought it would be good to post my overall goals for the year. I have divided the goals into writing, publishing, personal, and other goals. In a perfect world, I will be able to write two full books this year, but these goals will probably be aspirational, and that’s okay. Something I’ve been trying to be better about is not beating myself up when I don’t accomplish everything I set out to do. As long as I do my best at the time, it’s fine, and it will eventually get done. Without further ado, let’s take a look at my goals for 2025.

Writing Goals

  • Write, edit, and publish “An Unexpected Evening” (about 10k, started it at the end of 2024)
  • Write, edit, and publish The Reanimator Mysteries #4 (100k+ words)
  • At least start writing Ansley and Joe’s story (80k? words)
  • Write, edit, and publish an epilogue short story for book 4
  • Write consistently throughout the year
  • Try writing two books at once (maybe)
  • Have 10 2k writing days
  • Have 3 5k writing days

Publishing Goals

  • Publish the audiobook of The Reanimator’s Remains (TRM #3) with Jack R. R. Evans as the narrator
  • Publish/send out “An Unexpected Evening” (TRM #3.5) to newsletter subscribers
  • Publish 1-2 books
    • Definitely publish TRM #4
    • Potentially publish Joe and Ansley’s book, though that may be next year
  • Make more money than I did in 2024
  • Potentially get a new cover for Kinship and Kindness (this may get pushed back to next year if Joe and Ansley’s book ends up being worked on late in the year)

Personal Goals

  • Work on my office since I stalled out on this
    • Get rid of the old furniture
    • Paint the walls
    • Set up the new furniture
  • Get healthier
    • Make more veggie-heavy dishes
    • Continue to lift weights consistently
    • Work up to 10 lb weights when I’m ready
  • Maintain my mental health
    • Be social with my friends online and in-person
    • Play games and/or refill the well
    • Be cognizant of when I’m burning out and take steps to stop it

Other Goals

  • Read 100 books
  • Play/finish 3 video games (I will consider prolonged playing of an open-world game like Stardew as “finishing”)
  • Learn a new craft
  • Learn new cooking techniques/recipes
  • Blog weekly
  • Send my newsletter out monthly

More than anything, I hope 2025 is boring. I know we’re heading into turbulent times in the US and around the world, but I want everyone to reach out to those around them and find people to support them. Change starts with us, so I hope you all turn to the trans, disabled, and marginalized people in your lives and make decisions with their best interests in mind.

new blog post: 10 Books to Add to Your TBR 2024 Edition Part 2 10 Books to Add to Your TBR 2024 Edition Part 2
Book Reviews

10 Books to Add to Your TBR 2024 Edition Part 2

Kara Jorgensen4 Comments

Most years I put out a list of books I greatly enjoyed from the first half of the year some time in June. This year, I decided to do it early because, besides needing a blog for this week, I have read a lot of good books lately, so I’m thinking of making this something I do more than twice a year (and often forget to do in December). The books listed below are not in any order of favoritism, but I will provide reasons for why you should pick up my ten favorite reads of 2024 thus far.

(All of the links below are affiliate links, so if you purchase something, I get a little money back, just as an FYI)

Here is part 2 of this endeavor! Check out part 1 here.

  1. You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian- Cat Sebastian’s books are always like a warm hug, but I particularly enjoyed Eddie and Mark’s dynamic. Eddie is a young baseball player who got traded and immediately fell into a batting slump (and had a tantrum on tv, oops). Mark is asked to write articles about him in the paper to help restore his image, but Eddie quickly realizes Mark is going through a rough time of his own. It’s a book about grief, loss, new beginnings, and of course, baseball. There’s also a cute, wayward dog and a grouchy old man as side characters- two of my favorite things.
  2. The House of the Red Balconies by AJ Demas- In a fictionalized ancient world, we have Hylas, an engineer, who has just arrived in Tykanos to work on the local aqueduct only to realize there is far too much politic-ing going on than he can deal with. While the governor drags him around from tea house to tea house every night, he finds respite in his new neighbor, Zo. Zo is a dancer at the tea house who is dealing with chronic illness while trying to find a steady patron to give him some semblance of stability. Hylas and Zo compliment each other so well, and the way Hylas cares for Zo is lovely.
  3. A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall- This book is very different from anything I’ve read, and I loved it. It’s an epistolary novel written in letters between the siblings of two people who have gone missing along with those people’s diary entries. The story takes place in an undersea world with a historical/steampunk-ish flare. This story is an introduction to a lush, fantasy world, and I cannot wait to see what Cathrall comes up with in book 2.
  4. When Among Crows by Veronica Roth- This story is under 200 pages, but it is packed with story. We have a magical Chicago, complete with all sorts of creatures (banshees/llorona, zmora, strzygi, Baba Jaga, human warriors, and more). I was pleasantly surprised to realize the MC was queer, and if you like Felipe from my books, the MC in this one will appeal to you. At its heart, it’s a story about atonement, forgiveness, and new beginnings. You know a novella is good when you wish it was longer.
  5. The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark- This book is also barely above 200 pages, but as with all of PDC’s books, it is phenomenal. We have an undead assassin sent to kill someone only to find out the target is seemingly a younger version of herself. Of course, she dips but not before grabbing the young woman. They go on a night long quest to figure out who set her up, what magic yoinked her younger self to the present, and why someone was trying to make her kill herself. The whole story is set against a festival, which just heightens the world-building intricacies and decorates the world in the best way. It’s also funny as hell.
  6. Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher- This is my first T. Kingfisher book, and let me tell you, I get it now. This book was equal parts funny, sweet, and intriguing. We have a stoic knight whose god is dead and thinks of himself a bomb that could blow at any time falling for an anxious perfume maker with a weasel cat. There’s political intrigue, a murderer who decapitates people, gruff paladins, and so much interesting world-building. I am officially hooked.
  7. The Heroine’s Journey by Gail Carriger- We have our first nonfiction book for this round of books. If you are a writer or do literary analysis, I highly recommend taking a look at this one. I had never really heard of the Heroine’s Journey during literature classes, only the Hero’s Journey, so this provided A LOT of much needed insight. Carriger is a writer but also an academic, so she provides a ton of insight, examples, and breakdowns that are not only great for new or experienced writers but academics too.
  8. The Pairing by Casey McQuiston- This is a VERY queer second chance romance between two people who were friends to lovers to not on speaking terms to friends to lovers again. It’s a romance between two people others might deem pretentious but I, as a low key pretentious person, loved. Really, they’re two people very passionate about art and food who don’t make others feel bad while still steeping in their passions. I adored the way McQuiston played on the 1800s European tour debauchery in a very modern setting.
  9. Waiting for the Flood by Alexis Hall- WftF has recently been rereleased, and I listened to it as an audiobook, which means it came with Chasing the Light as well. The two stories together are a wonderful juxtaposition. WftF is about Edwin, who is still grappling with his partner dumping him after ten years together, having his world shaken up by a flood that leads him to Adam. CtL is the story of his ex, Marius, finding love, and along the way, we get more about why he broke it off with Edwin. The stories (and the side short stories) intertwine beautifully, and I loved seeing them grow while still loving each other after all that time. It is book 2 in the Spires series, but it can be read on its own.
  10. Black on Both Sides: A Racial History of Trans Identity by C. Riley Snorton- This is a nonfiction book that discusses the intersectionality of race and gender in regards to transgender identity. The book is horrific in its content, but it is a must read if you are trans or like to read academic texts on gender. As someone who is into medical history as well, the first chapter is eye-opening and reframes a lot of what I already sort of knew about medical history in the US. I highly, highly recommend this one.
new blog post: on being an audiobook convert On Being an Audiobook Convert
Uncategorized

On Being an Audiobook Convert

Kara Jorgensen1 Comment

I was never an audiobook hater from a reading perspective. Reading is reading, no matter how you do it, but I didn’t like them per se.

Due to audio processing issues, I struggle to listen to things like podcasts and audiobooks for several reasons. The main one is that sometimes I think too loudly and stop hearing the audio I have playing. That means I end up missing chunks of a story if I’m multitasking too much. The other issue is that some voices REALLY grate on my brain. I tend to be a bit fussy about the narrators I listen to because if someone’s voice makes me anxious, I won’t listen to the audiobook. For a long time, I thought I couldn’t be an audiobook lover because of this, but I found some things that helped me become an audiobook appreciator.

Turn up the speed

Part of what irritated me while listening to audiobooks initially was how slowly the narrators spoke sometimes. As someone from a state where people talk fast, the slowness grated on my brain horrifically. I was losing track of sentences because they took so long. Helpfully, most audiobook apps have controls where you can turn the speed up or down. If you struggle to get through audiobooks because the narrator is too slow or too fast, you can easily adjust it.

Check the samples before buying it

If you’re like me and struggle with certain voices or narration styles, listen to the audiobook sample before you buy it. While I wouldn’t use the sample to judge if I want to read that particular book, I do use them to judge if I can stand the voice. If someone’s cadence annoys me or the voice itself grates on my soul, I don’t buy it. I’ve also figured out that there are some kinds of books that just don’t work for audiobooks (graphic novels, obviously, or books with footnotes).

For accessibility

I tend to buy audiobooks for authors whose works I struggle to get through in ebook or paperback form. I have a few authors who have dense writing or writing that just bounces off my brain (aka I take a very long time to get through a book I enjoy), and in audiobook form, they are far more palatable. I struggled to get through any/all of Tolkein’s books. Being able to have them read to me made them far more accessible and enjoyable. At this point, I recommend my students try audiobooks if they are struggling to get through a physical or digital book, especially people with dyslexia or ADHD who might have a hard time focusing long enough to get through a book even if they’re enjoying it.

Find bargains

If you aren’t sure if audiobooks are for you, I highly recommend checking out audiobooks from your local library or using sale sites like Chirp. In the US, many library systems have ebooks and audiobooks you can check out through their apps or website. This is a great way to sample audiobooks and figure out in a low stakes way if you can enjoy them. Chirp and other sites that sell audiobooks often run sales where you can buy audiobooks for less than $5 if you don’t have access to a library.

You won’t catch everything

Something I quickly made peace with was that I will miss some words or sentences, and I need to be okay with that. Occasionally, I zone out or the dogs bark, and I don’t catch a line. At first, this really bothered me, but I realized I miss lines while reading as well. The worst part is not knowing how names are spelled, but most of the time, taking a look at the blurb on Goodreads is enough to clear that up for me.

If you haven’t tried listening to audiobooks, I highly recommend you give them a chance! They are especially great for long car rides, daily commutes, or while cleaning the house.

new blog post: February 2024 Wrap-Up Post February 2024 Wrap-Up Post
Monthly Review

February 2024 Wrap-Up Post

Kara Jorgensen1 Comment

February managed to come and go so fast, but I finally feel like I’m hitting my stride this year. The semester is in full swing, I shoveled snow a few times, and I’m finally working in earnest on book 3 of the Reanimator Mysteries series. Let’s recap the goals I had for February and see how it went.

  • Put together the elliptical and use it
  • Do the bulk of the historical research for The Reanimator Mysteries #3
  • Start actually writing The Reanimator Mysteries #3
  • Proof any audiobook chapters that come in
  • Stay on top of grading
  • Blog weekly
  • Send out monthly newsletter
  • Read 8 books

Books

My goal was to read 8 books, and I managed to read 12! Some were short or graphic novels, but DAMN.

  1. Paris Daillencourt is About to Crumble (#2) by Alexis Hall, 4 stars, a romance-adjacent story about a highly anxious young man, a baking competition, the adorable gay Muslim dude who finds him cute, and the mess he gets himself into (see Goodreads review for some quibbles regarding this book)
  2. Galatea by Madelline Miller- 4 stars, the story of a statue-turned-human taking back control of her life
  3. Of Socialites and Prizefights by Arden Powell- 4 stars, a social-climbing woman is cursed by a jilted suitor to turn into a wildcat every night unless she finds true love’s kiss. Turns out that might be a butch mechanic from the other side of the tracks.
  4. Taproot by Keezy Young- 4 stars, a ghost and a medium bond over plants and try to figure out how to make their otherworldly relationship work, very cute and fluffy
  5. Shtup Me at Sunrise (#0.5) by Felicia Grossman- 4 stars, the prequel to the Once Upon the East End series, featuring a headstrong woman determined to take her place in a society that has seemingly rejected her
  6. Ghostland by Colin Dickey- 4 stars, a nonfiction book about how ghost stories come to be and what they say about our society
  7. Of Honeymoons and Wildcats by Arden Powell- 4 stars, the companion story to Of Socialites and Prizefights where they go off to a cabin and find something very cute
  8. The Sitcom Star (#1) by Jackie Lau- 4 stars, an overworked TV star and writer accidentally runs into one of her childhood friends who helps her relax and more
  9. Vampire Forensics by Mark Collins Jenkins, a nonfiction book about how disease and irregular decomposition team up to create vampire legends
  10. Therapy Game Restart (#1) by Meguru Hinohara- 4 stars, Shizuma and Minato are back to figure out how to navigate their first real relationship along with new jobs and complicated feelings
  11. A Haunted History of Invisible Women by Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes- 4 stars, a nonfiction book about how women who live outside the norm become legends and ghost stories
  12. The Invisible Man & His Soon-to-be Wife (#3) by Iwatobineko- 4 stars, really cute fluffy volume of this manga with good blindness rep

Admin/Behind-the-Scenes Stuff

  • Researched about ghosts for book 3
  • Researched about the undead for book 3
  • Did character sheets for book 3
  • Outlined a chunk of book 3
  • Helped a former student with their poetry book
  • Celebrated my partner’s birthday (more like a bday week since I had to work on their actual bday)
  • Stayed on top of grading (mostly)
  • Refilled my creative well with tons of reading
  • Started learning to cross-stitch
  • Began putting together the elliptical (oops)

Blogs

Writing

This month I decided to refill the well as much as possible and plan out the beginning of book 3 of the Reanimator Mysteries series. While I had hoped that I could start actually drafting it, I’m excited to get started in March. I know where the story is, generally, going and the main threads that the characters will follow. One of the first things I need to figure out before writing a book is how the two main characters’ emotional issues will intertwine and fit with the rest of the outer story. Once I figured that out with Felipe and Oliver, things clicked, especially after I bounced ideas off my partner. The beginnings of stories are the most daunting for me. I’m mostly a discovery writer (who does minimal planning), so there are still so many paths left open at the beginning that I become overwhelmed and get choice paralysis. I know by the halfway point, I’ll be fine, but I know the first act will be done in fits and starts as I figure things out and narrow down the path forward. If you’re interested in what’s going on in book 3, check out the Pinterest board and the playlist I made on Youtube. All vibes are subject to change.

Hopes for March

  • Writing at least 20k words of book 3
  • Proof any audiobook chapters that come in
  • Grade papers but enjoy spring break
  • Set up the preorder for book 3
  • Do a title reveal for book 3
  • Do taxes ;–;
  • Read 8 books
  • Blog weekly
  • Send monthly newsletter
new blog post: 10 books on my wishlist in 2024 10 Books on my Wishlist in 2024
Uncategorized

10 Books on my Wishlist in 2024

Kara Jorgensen1 Comment

As we head ever closer to the end of the year, I thought I might make a very non-exhaustive list of books that I am dying to get my hands on when they come out next year. To be clear, this is definitely not every book I have been eyeing, and if it was, you probably wouldn’t want to sit through that lengthy blog post. I’m also confining this list to the first half of 2024 for simplicity’s sake and because you never know if things will get pushed back or cancelled. Without further ado, here are 10 of the books I am looking forward to in early 2024 in the order of their release date:

  1. The Absinthe Underground by Jamie Pacton (2/6)- Sapphic, fae, and with the decadence of late 1800s Paris, what more could you ask for? The cover is also gorgeously art noveau, and I am sucker for the beauty of the book as I am for Jamie’s work.
  2. The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden (2/13)- If you haven’t read The Bear and the Nightingale yet, you need to. Arden’s books are so atmospheric and dreamy while still being grounded in the horrors of reality. While this book is set during WWI, I know she’ll do the horrors and tragedy of war justice.
  3. Sun of Blood and Ruin by Mariely Lares (2/20)- As soon as I saw genderbent Zorro with magic, I was sold. It sounds amazing, and I will take any and all Zorro reimaginings.
  4. A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal (2/20)- A secret tearoom catering to vampires, a dangerous heist, and a ragtag group of outcasts who may or not be on the heroine’s side sounds like the perfect book for someone who loves Gail Carriger’s works and We Hunt the Flame.
  5. The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark (3/24)- I adore P. Djèlí Clark’s books. He creates so much texture and characterization in few words, and whether it’s djinn or assassins, I’m here for it.
  6. Wake Me Most Wickedly by Felicia Grossman (4/9)- A historical romance set in mid-1800s London, featuring Jewish characters is good enough on its own, but once you add in nods to Snow White, I am thoroughly sold, especially knowing we get to see characters introduced in Marry Me By Midnight.
  7. The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo (5/7)- If Nghi Vo writes it, I will buy it. This story follows Cleric Chih as they escort a bride to her new home, which is haunted by the ghosts of past wives, a mad son, and far more dangerous monsters. East Asian Gothic is a genre I need more of in my life.
  8. You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian (5/7)- A baseball player and a reporter come together for an article but find there might be more between them than just an article. From the description, it sounds like they will deal with grief, secrets, being out, and knowing Cat’s work, it’ll be like a warm hug.
  9. Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse (6/4)- This is the final book in the Between Earth & Sky series, where we return to an alternate version of Indigenous Central America, complete with magic, gods, and creatures. This series has me in a death grip, and while I’m not one for morally grey/bad characters, Serapio has me in a death grip.
  10. The Sitcom Star by Jackie Lau (???)- I backed Jackie’s Kickstarter last month, so I’ll be getting this book and the sequel in January, but I’m not sure when it’s coming to other retailers. It’s about a star looking to get away for a while who accidentally runs into her childhood friend, literally, he spills boba tea on her. Jackie’s romances are always so carefully and lovingly written and jive with my ND brain that she is on my autobuy list.
new blog post: november 2023 wrap-up post November 2023 Wrap-Up Post
Monthly Review

November 2023 Wrap-Up Post

Kara Jorgensen1 Comment

This month I decided to be kind to myself and take it easy. November tends to be a month I struggle mentally due to the time change and the amount of grading I get in throughout the month. I also don’t do so well seeing everyone’s astronomical NaNoWriMo numbers. For once, I focused on grading and said f-it to writing. It helped as I have entered December feeling more refreshed than I have felt in a while. Before we get into what I did this month, let’s get a little refresher on November’s goals.

  • Less chaos overall (not quite within my control, but one can hope)
  • Write most, if not all, of The Reanimator Mysteries #2.5 short story
  • Start brainstorming more of The Reanimator Mysteries #3
  • Maintain my mental health during November to avoid No-Words-November
  • Grade all the papers I receive in a timely manner (I have been bad about this lately)
  • Read 8 books
  • Blog weekly
  • Send out my November newsletter

Books

My goal was to read 8 books, and I read 9.

  1. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Joanna Chambers- 4 stars, a slightly oblivious computer programmer has a bad day but realizes perhaps he overlooked his officemate
  2. How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram H. Kendi- 5 stars, an introduction to how racism colors numerous aspects of life and how to challenge our biases to continually work on being antiracist
  3. A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel (#2) by KJ Charles- 4 stars, a newly inherited nobleman deals with his horrid extended family and teams up with a local secretary who has plenty of secrets of his own
  4. Medicinal Cannibalism by Louise Noble- 4 stars, an academic book on medicinal cannibalism in culture and literature from the Early Modern period on
  5. Over My Dead Body by Greg Melville- 5 stars, a fascinating read about how cemeteries reflect societal values (and problems/prejudices) and how they have influenced amusement parks and suburban planning
  6. Under the Smokestrewn Sky (#4) by A. Deborah Baker- 4 stars, the conclusion of a Wizard of Oz-like series featuring two children who enter an elemental world, meet some friends and enemies on their way home
  7. “A Heart Between Teeth” (#2.5) by Kerstin Hall- 4 stars, a side story for a series set in a world where people go after death filled with gods, demons, monsters, and humans struggling to survive their second deaths
  8. Sky Breaker (#2) by Addie Thorley- 3 stars, a YA fantasy that didn’t work too well for me due to the world-building and the way the characters were aged down to make it YA
  9. Monstress (#8) by Majorie Liu and Sana Takeda- 4 stars, a fantastic volume where we find our characters transported to a strange new world they have to fight their way back from

Admin/Behind-the-Scenes Stuff

  • Finished plotting The Reanimator Mysteries #2.5 short story, “An Unexpected Question” (coming in January, probably, December if I’m very lucky)
  • Did more brainstorming on TRM #3
  • Was interviewed by Geeks Out
  • Finished buying and wrapping Christmas presents for my family
  • Hit my yearly reading goal of finishing 100 books/stories/graphic novels
  • Got my car back from the mechanic (finally) and got it inspected
  • Got my car inspected AGAIN because, apparently, you can’t go directly from the mechanic to the inspection station if they pulled the battery
  • Graded so many papers… so many ;—;
  • Contacted my reps repeatedly to demand a ceasefire and to end US funding of Israel’s genocide against Palestine

Blogs Posted

Writing

As I mentioned in the opening of this blog, I decided that I would write what I could, when I could and that I would try not to sweat it. I don’t know whether it’s the early darkness or people constantly posting their large daily word counts during NaNoWriMo, but I never write much during November. This month was no different. I wrote about 3k of “An Unexpected Question,” the Reanimator Mysteries #2.5 story that will go out to newsletter subscribers as a freebie. I am hoping to write the rest of it in December and get it out by January (or December, though I’m not counting on that happening). Instead of writing, I managed to plan out the major beats of the story and am guestimating that it will end up about 20,000 words, which is pretty beefy for a freebie story. I’m really enjoying writing this story and hope my readers will as well. You can sign up for my newsletter ahead of the release or check out the Pinterest board for the story.

Hopes for December

  • Finish the semester/my grading
  • Finish writing “An Unexpected Question”
  • Start editing “An Unexpected Question”
  • Finish all remaining Christmas stuff/prep
  • Prep for Q1 and get my new goals together
  • RELAX with my partner
  • Read 8 books
  • Blog weekly
  • Send out my December Newsletter
new blog post: october 2023 wrap-up post October 2023 Wrap-Up
Monthly Review

October 2023 Wrap-Up

Kara Jorgensen4 Comments

October was release month for The Reanimator’s Soul, which was equal parts wonderful and chaotic. It’s been a month, let me tell you, but to refresh your memory (and mine), here are the goals I set for October:

  • Post/market consistently before The Reanimator’s Soul releases October 24th
  • Do all the paperback setup for The Reanimator’s Soul once I have the final cover
  • Have a great launch for The Reanimator’s Soul
  • Write side/follow-up story for my newsletter subscribers (TRM #2.5)
  • Get ball rolling on the audiobook of The Reanimator’s Soul
  • Read 8 books
  • Send out my October newsletter
  • Finish putting together my Halloween plastic canvas village sets (I have one building left and need to hot glue others together)
  • Decide if I want to do anything NaNoWriMo related in November, despite it being a month from hell for me usually (aka is Kara feeling masochistic)

Books

My goal was to read 8 books in October, and I read 9 books total.

  1. The Good Kings by Kara Cooney- 4 stars, a nonfiction book that parallels the famous kings of Ancient Egypt with modern politicians and how what often looks like strength actually signifies a weak ruler.
  2. Unknown (#3) by Jordan L. Hawk- 4 stars, Ves and Sebastian are back to look for the third missing magical book when men who frequent Sebastian’s favorite bathhouse start being murdered.
  3. Lore Olympus (#5) by Rachel Smythe- 4 stars, we get to see Hades and Persephone get closer and secrets finally come to light.
  4. Luke and Billy Finally Get a Clue by Cat Sebastian- 5 stars, two baseball players come together after one is injured and realize they are more than teammates with a little help from fate and the one guy’s mom.
  5. Twisted Tome (#2) by Vanora Lawless- 5 stars, an mm paranormal historical romance set during WWI with a dream-walker and an illusion-creator who team up to find a dangerous book and get far more than they bargained for.
  6. In the Pit of Your Stomach by Arden Powell- 4 stars, a choose-your-own adventure story that involves a giant hole, creatures, and maybe even a touch of romance (with a human, sorry monster lovers).
  7. She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat (#3) by Sakaomi Yuzaki- 5 stars, a wonderful installment in this series where we get a new friend and a new neighbor who join the foodie family.
  8. The Case Study of Vanitas (#10) by Jun Mochizuki- 4 stars, a bridge volume that wraps up some of Vanitas’s backstory and sets us down a new path in the story. I’m still mildly annoyed by the forced heterosexuality of this story when the two leads have the best homoromantic chemistry.
  9. The Lover by Silvia Moreno-Garcia 4 stars, a fairytale-esque story involving a huntsmen, a poor woman, her wealthy sister, a wolf, and a mysterious stranger. It’s very short, but I am a sucker for Moreno-Garcia’s work, so I will always read it, no matter how long or short.

Admin/Behind-the-Scenes Stuff

  • Finished my Halloween Village craft projects (finally, after months of working on them- take a look here)
  • Posted consistently about The Reanimator’s Soul (TRM #2) leading up to release day
  • Uploaded the final files for The Reanimator’s Soul onto all major distributors
  • Setup the paperback copy of The Reanimator’s Soul
  • Ordered a proof copy, checked it, and approved it
  • Ordered a good copy of The Reanimator’s Soul
  • Had a lovely release day for The Reanimator’s Soul
  • Reminded ARC readers to post reviews
  • Created the cover for the Reanimator Mysteries #2.5 short story
  • Came up with the title for the Reanimator Mysteries #2.5 short story
  • Wrote newsletter
  • Blogged weekly
  • Fought with the insurance company over my meds (again)
  • Graded a shit ton of papers
  • Had my car breakdown (repeatedly *laugh sob*)
  • Decided there was no way in hell I was doing NaNoWriMo

Blogs Posted

Writing

Not much writing happened this month, but frankly, I’m okay with that. This month was mostly spent preparing for the release of The Reanimator’s Soul, so I knew going into it that my word count was not going to be astronomical. In the end, I only wrote 1,000 words of the Reanimator Mysteries #2.5 short story. Do I wish I could have written more? Yes. Am I okay with only having written a 1,000 words? Also, yes. October has been ridiculously stressful, especially once my car broke down. That happened through the majority of the month where the check engine light came on repeatedly (over two weeks), but my local mechanic (twice) couldn’t figure out why. Eventually, it refused to start in their parking lot, and I had to tow it to the car dealer to get fixed by mechanics who know my brand of car specifically. You know once you bring in the specialty mechanics that it’s going to be big bucks to fix, and it was. As of writing this post on November 1st, I’m still waiting to get my car back from the mechanic due to how long it took for a part to come in. The on-going car repair saga completely stressed me out, making it nearly impossible for me to read or write. I’m hoping that November won’t be a No-Words-November and that I’ll be able to get the majority, if not all, of the short story/novella done.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how much seeing the genocide of the Palestinian people live online is affecting me. I have made my stance on Palestinian liberation very clear on social media for years, and to see nearly every politician in the US abandon Palestinian civilians to be wiped out by Israeli forces is more than criminal. If you have the energy, please call your reps and demand a ceasefire now. More needs to be done, but a ceasefire is long overdue. If you would like to learn more about the history of Palestine and how British/American imperialism has lead us to this moment, Verso books has several free books available right now.

Hopes for November

  • Less chaos overall (not quite within my control, but one can hope)
  • Write most, if not all, of The Reanimator Mysteries #2.5 short story
  • Start brainstorming more of The Reanimator Mysteries #3
  • Maintain my mental health during November to avoid No-Words-November
  • Grade all the papers I receive in a timely manner (I have been bad about this lately)
  • Read 8 books
  • Blog weekly
  • Send out my November newsletter