April 30th – May 4th
Welcome to my unfiltered monthly life update. In a month that has been a busy wreck for the past month. Thanks for tagging along!
Writing Progress
None. Zero. Bugger all.
Yep, I have not written in a month. Why? Because I was moving my website from a hosted service to a self hosted service. Which, by the way, is a pain in the arse. I had to relearn coding skills I learned in uni and remembered why I cried over it. You fix one thing and another thing breaks.
Anyway, I bet you’re wondering why is did this to myself. Why go from a hosted WordPress site to self hosting through Krystal?
It’s because WordPress is greedy and puts everything you need as an author site behind the business paywall. So, my options were to pay £240 + VAT to get what I needed from WordPress, or pay way less and have access to practically anything I need. Downside is that I will have maintain this site myself, but I have more control over my author site.
On a side note that is to do with my upcoming book, Hunger in the Briarwood, I begun designing a book cover. Yes, I draw digitally too. I’ve drawn since I could hold a pencil and written since I could spell. I love creativity in many forms. Which had benefited me in author dreams. Anyway, I can’t wait to show you when I’m done.
Life This Past Month
*Starts manically laughing*
Yeah, so, a chaotic mess. Productive, though.
When perfectionism meets living on the edge of burnout, life feels like the walls are closing in. But, as per usual, I live my life in spite. Refuse to give up or back down. They say don’t burn the candle at both ends, and I set alight to a hundred candles, burning the house down around me.
Not sure if I’ve mentioned it, but I have five kids… Four of them are home-educated. I am constantly switching between mum, teacher and author. To add more on top of that, I had to do Easter, which was the easier task this past month. I had my partner home, so he helped.
Then I had my youngest’s third birthday, which I made a two-tier Bluey cake. And to make matters worse, the weather was not ideal for buttercream decorations. I prevailed, though and she loved it.
I also have a home inspection coming up so panicking over that, as having seven people in a house made for five people, it can get messy at best. This entire ordeal has me running around sweating and painting walls like a madman.
And then what I mentioned above with moving my website.
It’s been a wild month.
But one birthday passes, and the next two come swinging around the corner. Literally two, four days apart, and Father’s Day in between them. Luckily my partner has said because that’s three celebrations in four days we can celebrate Father’s Day the next Sunday. Love him!
Enough complaining though, I also had a great month. My mental health is easing up, my partner bought me a great drawing tablet, and nail kit, and clothes. All small things that help me feel more myself again, after having five kids.
I also had a phone call with my editor friend about my book, which was both terrifying and exciting. It makes it all feel so much more real.
Overall, I’m thankful for my month and happy.
Bookish Recap
What I Read
It’s been a light reading year, let alone month. But I did manage to read Game On by Navessa Allen. Loved it!
Their push-pull heat and tension was wild and toe-curling. It’s my favourite so far. I can’t wait for her next one.
Book I Bought
Rites of the Starling by Deveney Perry
The cover is beautiful and goes so well next to the still not read, Shield of Sparrows.
This one was my monthly Fairy Loot book and I cannot believe how beautiful it is. And no, I won’t be reading this edition, I don’t touch my special editions.
If you’re interested in these books, click the titles and you’ll be taken to them.
If you’re interested in Fair Loot, you can go to their website here.
Currently Reading
Cresent City, A house of Earth and Blood
I have been scared to start this one for a very long, from the sheer size of it. Even though I have read the whole Throne of Glass series. I tried to read the paperback I have and just couldn’t. So, I swapped over to audiobooks. Easier, yes, but my god has a lot happened and yet nothing at the same time.
I’ll get there.
The Next Month’s Goals
Goals for Writing
First of all I want to get back into writing and finish my second draft… or is it my third? I can’t remember they all merge into one after a while. Either way I want to get this draft done.
I also want to work more on my book cover design for leisure and work. There are a few concepts floating in my mind and I need to get them out to free time.
Goals for Life
To get my shit together more. I bought an ADHD brain-dump planner with no cover so I can see it all the time. It’s working so far and helping me to not forget so much.
I also want to get my house organised and get more storage. As well as begin strength training again. I put on a bit of weight over the last few months, and with aging I don’t want to lose too much muscle mass.
Goals for Reading
I am keeping this one very simple as I need to make space in my life if I am to finish this book. So, I want to finish A House of Earth and Blood. But I want to swap my late night TV binges for book reading instead. I think that will up my reading game a lot.
Closing Note
That’s it for this month. May over the course of this next month be less chaotic and messy.
Keep an eye out for next month’s update on my blog. Or to be kept in the loop Subscribe.
Until Next Time,
A. R. Moody
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