My Goings-On in October:
Here are the things that stand out to me this month:
- Sending my WIP off to critique partners. I finished my latest draft of my book at the beginning of October and sent it off to some critique partners. I’ve already received some incredibly helpful feedback, and my goal is to get the book to my agent by the end of the year (which is … coming sooner than I realize.)
- Senior year “lasts” and college applications for Danielle – This year has been bittersweet for my younger daughter, as it’s her senior year and she’s participating in a lot of activities for the last time. She’s also been applying to colleges, and I’ve been busy helping her with that!
- Worship team – I led my first worship song at our church this month—and then did it again. 🙂 I also led a couple of songs at our women’s gathering with only a cello for accompaniment, which was definitely an interesting experience since the cello part doesn’t really give you the same background music as you’re typically used to. I was definitely nerve-wracking, but it ended up turning out great.
- Family pictures – We got Danielle’s senior photos taken, along with family photos, which I was really excited about. I actually haven’t seen them all yet, but the photographer put a sampling of them up on their blog and I was incredibly happy with how they turned out. She captured our family so well. (If you want to see the featured pictures, you can check them out on Reminisce Photography’s blog. Once I get them digitally, I’ll share one or two of them on the blog as well.)
Features & Discussions:
October 2021 Discussion Challenge Link-Up & Giveaway
September 2021 Monthly Wrap-Up & Best of the Bunch
The Personal Library Book Tag
October 2021 Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up Link-Up & Giveaway
My 2021 Reading Progress:
I read 10 books in October, putting me at 89 books so far this year. As of right now, I’m 6 books ahead of being on track for my Goodreads goal of 100. Not too bad since I spent the first week of the month doing nothing but writing (no reading, no blogging).
I’m still at 9 manuscripts read for the year. (Unless you count my own, which I’ve read LOTS of times at this point.)
October 2021 Reviews
- Frankie & Bug by Gayle Forman | Review
- The Woods Are Always Watching by Stephanie Perkins | Review
- Shatter the Sky by Rebecca Kim Wells | Review
- How to Find What You’re Not Looking For by Veera Hiranandani | Review
- Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia | Review
- The Lost Language by Claudia Mills | Review
- Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan: Review & Giveaway | Review
October Best of the Bunch:
(Best of the Bunch is hosted over at Cocoon of Books. We link up our favorite reads of the month!)
Since I mostly reviewed middle grade this month, I’m only choosing one favorite, Tristan Strong Keeps Punching. I loved this finale to the series! (Frankie & Bug was a close second, though.)
2021 Goals Progress:
The Discussion Challenge is my one and only goal for 2021.
Progress: 8/21-30 Discussions (Chatty Kathy)
Well, I’m obviously failing my own challenge this year (quite miserably, I might add). At least I posted a tag this month.
The Personal Library Book Tag
It’s Time for the Cybils Awards: I’m a Round 1 Poetry Judge!
How to Create Book Page Art. (And a Peek at Mine!)
The Joys of Verse Novels, Graphic Novels and Other Very Quick Reads. Let’s Discuss!
Balancing Spending on the Blog, Making Money, and All the Moral Dilemmas that Go Along With It
I’ve Been Stalking Your Goodreads.
2020 End of Year Book Survey (& Year in Graphs!)
Unbiased Reviews: Is There Such a Thing?
HOST/SIGN-UP LINK – Feed Your Fiction Addiction & It Starts at Midnight
Wrap-Up Round-Up!
Don’t forget to link your October wrap-up posts up to the Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up. And enter the giveaway!
October seems to have been a good month for you. I don’t read a lot of middle grades books but I just finished Karen Pokras’s new book The Backyard Secrets of Danny Wexler and it was so good.
Oh, I’ll have to check that one out. Thanks for the recommendation!
I’m not crying, but seriously, the pictures are outstanding! Worth every penny you spent.
I totally agree! They’re everything I was hoping for.
The pictures turned out great!
Thank you!!
It sounds like October was a very fun, full, and sweet (though sometimes bittersweet) month! I’m really looking forward to the Tristan Strong trilogy conclusion.
Yes, fun and sometimes bittersweet sums it up quite well!
Good month for you! Happy November!
Thank you!
Those pictures are stunning. Really beautiful.
Is that Gayle Forman and mid-grade? I’ll have to look it up.
Karen @For What It’s Worth
Thank you so much! I was excited about the way they turned out! And, yes, I was surprised to see Forman writing middle grade, as well.
That’s great you have a goal to get your manuscript to your agent by the end of the year. Tristan Strong looks good. Glad you enjoyed it so much. I’ll have to check it out. Natalie @ Literary Rambles
Yes, I’m really working toward that goal!
Congratulations on finishing the latest draft of your book! That is quite an accomplishment. It looks like October was a very full month for you.
I like the sound of Frankie and Bug as well as the new Rick Riordan book.
Have a great November!
Thanks! This book has been a long time in the making, so it feels good to be so close to actually being done.
Such a great month for you!! I also got family photos done (for the first time) and I’m excited to put them around our home!
It was a great month! I’m glad you loved your first family pics!!
Those pictures are so great, fun and natural! Mine were so stiff and formal, I wish it were a thing here to get some done with family.
Yes, the more candid photos turned out much better than I expected!
Great job on your WIP, and I’m glad you got some good/helpful feedback from your critique partners. 🙂 I hope you have a wonderful November.
-Lauren
Critique partners are a beautiful thing. 🙂
You read excellent books in October (so far I’ve only read How to Find What You’re Not Looking For) and I’m amazed at all you accomplish with your family, writing, and blogging. Senior lasts are bittersweet for sure. Your photographer is so talented! I just kept saying “wow” while scrolling through the pics. I’d have a difficult time choosing! Hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I still haven’t picked out the pictures we’re going to actually order – there are too many good ones!