I’m so grateful for this journey, and my crit group was entirely right when they cautioned that “your first novel is a learning experience”. Someday, I will overhaul that stalled plot, sharpen the stakes, and pull the reader in from page one. I hope to, anyway. The years that have passed have taught me a little more about the craft; I am a better writer, now.

Wow, 41 books in my 2023 Goodreads goal of 40! I read a lot of cookbooks, and whatever happened to be on the library display shelf and I could quickly grab while hurrying to the 3yo’s clarion call from the other side of the room. Here’s my complete 2023 reading list; I’ve summarized the top 7 and lowest 3 below.

This year, I managed to read 37 of 40 books of my Goodreads goal. That was also the year I started Analog August; a 30-day fast from social media. You can browse through that chronicle on Instagram. I embraced much craft, natural beauty, and found an invaluable calm in appreciating the work of my hands apart from a screen. You’ll see that reflected in my book summaries below.

“…I am more conscious of the small, tactile observations around me. A construction-yellow-mustard lichen, no bigger than a thumbnail. The juicy crack each romaine leaf makes when pulled off the crown. The feeling of filling my lungs full, full to bursting with air, as I pray for a friend whose breath has become laboured with pneumonia. The scratch of sand against my shovel; the slinky slide of clay.”

“…Most of my morning was business, but I gladly abandoned my desk for the sunshine and this little miss. She is the cheeriest little joy, our little parrot, our climbing monkey, our apprentice gardener. She happily drowns the tenderest seedlings, moves dirt with proud industry to the surfaces her Daddy has just power washed, and somehow manages to mimic my every mannerism. She crosses her arms, her chin thrust speculatively out towards our efforts, humming and tsking her little opinions.”

Life has changed drastically for her these last 2 years. Demoted from Daily Companion to Toddler’s Live Toy, banished from the bedroom, beset with hyperthyroidism, arthritis, a world-altering change of homes, and now failing kidneys, this kitty is far older than her 14 years.

The first half of her life was treasured by breeders: she was a champion show cat, and a born nurturer; she would try to steal other kitties when she had none of her own. When presented with the chance to adopt her instead of waiting 12+ months for an $850 kitten, we snapped her up.