Happy Friday! I am tackling a huge to-do list today, so let’s get right to the roundup.
Quote of the week:
My friend shared this quote with me this week and I love it.
In French: “J’accepte la grande aventure d’être moi”
In English: “I accept the great adventure of being me.”
–Simone de Beauvoir
What I’m reading:
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston. This book has thousands of good reviews so I had to check it out. I just finished it yesterday and it kept my attention until the end, which got a bit convoluted. Overall, I enjoyed it.
What I’m listening to:
Ambition Monster: A Memoir by Jennifer Romolini. I thought this was going to be more of a commentary on the downsides of overambition, and maybe it will get there, but so far the book is her life story. It’s interesting and the writing is good, so I’m enjoying it; just not what I was expecting.
What I’m watching:
“Hacks.” I started this series after one of the screenwriters I met with in LA basically demanded I watch it. Worth the hype. Loving it so far.
Writing news:
Still plugging away on my new manuscript. I thought up a new storyline, which means revising about one-third of the book. This is how it goes and I love it.
I had meetings in LA last week with my film/TV manager, Carey. A few of my books have some exciting things in progress. Hopefully I’ll have more to share soon.
My third novel, TINY, turned 5 this week! I love this story. Thank you to everyone who’s read it.
Interesting things I learned this week:
- Of the world’s 50 highest-paid athletes, ZERO women made the list. Tennis player Iga Świątek was the highest-paid female athlete, earning $23.9 million, but that fell over $20 million short of the $45.2 million cutoff to make the top 50. For reference, the highest-paid male athlete, Cristiano Ronaldo, earns $260 million (about 92% more than the highest-paid female athlete)
- Calinaga buddha, the freak, is a species of butterfly in the Calinaginae subfamily that is found in parts of Southeast Asia and in India
- 80% of wine consumed in the US is produced by just 1% of wineries, according to Wine Business Analytics and my friend’s amazing wine blog
- Full-time workers account for 70% of food stamps and Medicaid users. Seems pretty clear our country is behind on paying a living wage
- “Floor time” is a current trend based on the theory that lying on the floor can make you feel less overwhelmed (read here)
- There are little bugs called demodex mites that live in our eyelashes
- Women perform better and make fewer mistakes when they’re on their period, according to a new study
Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“crinkle crankle wall.” I saw a photo on Instagram of a wavy brick wall (like this) and they referred to it as a “crinkle crankle wall” so I had to look this up. According to Wikipedia, this is “an unusual type of structural or garden wall built in a serpentine shape with alternating curves.” It offers “greater strength than a straight wall of the same thickness of bricks without the need for buttresses.” So there ya go.
What I’m grateful for:
- My film/TV manager. We have been through a lot together and I’m so lucky to have her on my team
- Sunshine! We have had some very dreary days here in So Cal. It’s been drizzling in the mornings. Right now, the sun is shining and I’ll have to go sit in it for a bit
- Upcoming Maui vacation. Cannot wait!
Snapshots:
From top to bottom: Me in traffic on the way to LA (was not smiling on the drive home); me and my film/TV manager, Carey (love her!); me and my soulmate—my cat, Leo; sunbathing with my pup; fancy cat and his fancy eyes.
