It’s so weird and so wonderful...
Last-minute gifts, a wintery nerd word, and my first foray into building with Legos.
Eight great things worth sharing this week:
It’s Christmas eve eve! If you’ve got little kids (or, you know, you’re a little kid at heart) it’s time to update that Santa Tracker app. Or take the kids outside tomorrow night and point out the International Space Station as it makes its trek across the night sky traveling at about 17,500 miles an hour. That’s about how fast Santa has to travel to get the job done, so you could probably tell them it’s Santa.
“One can never have enough socks. Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn’t get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books.” — Dumbledore.
Looking for an awesome (not socks) gift for the aspiring writer in your life? Consider gifting them a spot in my upcoming Writers Workshop, starting January 13. Over the course of six weeks they will give and get feedback that both inspires and motivates. Contact me if you have questions.
Nerd Word of the Week: Hogmadog ~ A large ball of snow made by rolling a smaller ball of snow around a field until it grows in size.
Publisher’s Marketplace is offering a discount on their membership. Use the code PMFORME and get your first month for $15 (usually $25). If you’re researching agents to query (which, by the way, is a great way to spend your time if you’re having trouble writing during the holidays), you won’t find a better agent database.
I know I already published my Best Books of 2022 list, but I have a last-minute addition. I’m half way through Chouette by Claire Oshetsky and it’s fantastic. It’s so weird and so wonderful. The Guardian called it “part feminist fairytale… part suburban body horror.” I highly recommend it.
I’ve never been one for Lego’s, but my son started on this kit to build a lego typewriter and then lost interest so I sat down just to see if I could help and got totally sucked in. I finished the whole thing and I’m ridiculously proud of myself. Legos are fun.
Ear Candy: I love Carol of the Bells, and this version of it by David Hicken is fantastic.
Merry Christmas, everyone,
April
P.S. A word of advice, don’t start your letter to Santa with “Dear Fatty.” You will definitely end up on the naughty list.