The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It’s a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on my blog and share news about what’s coming up in the week ahead.
This past week on FYFA (and in my life):
It’s been two weeks since I put up a Sunday Post because last week ended up turning into a whirlwind of travel. My mother-in-law, who has had Alzheimer’s for a few years now, took a sudden turn for the worse, so we flew to Tucson to visit her and say our goodbyes. We are very sad to have lost her, but glad that she’s no longer suffering. Watching her slowly fade away due to dementia has been heartbreaking.
Then, immediately after flying home from Tucson, I left for New York and attended the SCBWI Winter Conference. The conference was wonderful, and it made me feel motivated to jump into my writing once again! I was at the conference for my birthday as well, which was fun. 🙂
What I Read This Week:
- With all those flights, I finally finished some books!
- I finished reading Cantor’s Dilemma by Carl Djerassi, The Girl in White by Lindsay Currie, and How Do Meerkats Order Pizza by Brooke Barker.
- I also read A Long Way from Home by Laura Schaefer.
What I Watched:
- I don’t think I watched any TV at all these last two weeks. Hard to believe!
Here’s what you may have missed on the blog since my last Sunday Post:
Book Blogger Birthdays and Blogoversaries:
Here are the birthdays and blogoversaries for this week! I hope you’ll go wish these bloggers well on their special days! Make sure you check out the calendar to see what you might have just missed or what’s coming up. (If you want to be added to the calendar, it’s easy! Just fill out the birthday/blogoversary form.
- 2/13 – BookLoversBlog‘s Blogoversary
- 2/24 – Book Briefs‘ Blogoversary
- 2/24 – Jessica @ jessicasblog45’s Birthday
Book Haul:
I didn’t have time to take pics this week, so I’ll share next week. (I have so many fewer daylight hours to take decent pics these days!!)
NEW Pre-order Campaigns
Head over to my Pre-Order Campaigns Page to see ALL of the pre-order deals, including pictures!!
Here’s a list of the pre-order campaigns I added to the list this week:
Pre-order BRITTLE by Beth Overmyer to receive a wood veneer dagger bookmark, a signed bookplate, a vanilla- and coffee-scented solid hand lotion, a mini jar (1 oz.) of blackcurrant preserve, and a promotional postcard. First 20 entries will receive the gifts. (US only) (Ends 8/14) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Pre-order TO POISON A KING by S.G. Prince to receive a personalized signed bookplate plus a *special secret* about the novel! (US only) (Ends 4/3) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Purchase any book by Marissa Meyer during the month of February and upload your receipt to receive a “Couples” poster! (US/Can) (Ends 2/28) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Pre-order LYING IN THE DEEP by Diana Urban to receive a charm necklace (a miniature of the dagger in the book!), character illustration, deck plan, and bookmark. (US and CAN through Trident). For INT pre-orders and library requests, you will receive a high-res character illustration, Campus on Board deck plan, and an author Q&A. (INT) (Ends 5/1) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Pre-order CLASH OF FATE AND FURY or order GAME OF STRENGTH AND STORM by Rachel Menard to receive a bookmark, signed bookplate and either paper dolls or an iron-on patch (depending on your choice–if you order both books, you can choose both packages). (INT – first 50) (Ends 3/20) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Pre-order I’LL STOP THE WORLD by Lauren Thoman OR request it fromyour local library to receive a postcard and bookmark! If you order a signed book from Parnassus Books or The Bookshop, you will ALSO receive a store-exclusive postcard print! If you are a teacher or librarian who has ordered at least one copyfor your classroom or library, you will receive all three postcard prints, including both store exclusives. (Ends 3/31) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Pre-order THE MERRY DREDGERS by Jeremy C. Shipp from Meerkat Press to receive a signed bookplate and an 11 x 17 Goblintropolis Map. You’ll also be entered to win a one-of-a-kind phantom sculpture made by the author! (Ends 4/17) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Pre-order NOT HERE TO STAY FRIENDS by Kaitlyn Hill to receive vinyl stickers and a signed bookplate! (INT) (Ends 4/3) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Pre-order STARS AND SMOKE by Marie Lu to receive an alternate book jacket, a to be revealed digital item, and be entered into a sweepstakes to win a mystery prize! (US/CAN) (Ends 3/27) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Lots of good stuff! Have any news? Feel free to share in the comments!
So sorry to hear about your loss. ((HUGS)) It is so heartbreaking when our loved ones lose memory function. Glad the conference was energizing, and I hope your muse leads you to some great stories. Happy belated birthday! What fun you got to do something your loved to celebrate.
You had a busy week flying around. My sympathies for you on losing your MIL. My Mom doesn’ t always remember us these days.
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
Sending you all the hugs and love for your mother-in-law passing away. My husband’s mom just lost her battle with cancer and it’s so gut wrenching watching those we love suffer from a disease. Hugs, hugs, hugs! Keeping your husband, you and your children in my thoughts ♥.
Sorry to hear about your mother-in-law. It is hard when you see them suffering like that. It’s almost a relief when they go, but still devastating. I felt the same way when my grandparents passed. Glad you enjoyed your conference too! I miss attending reader/author/writer ones! They don’t seem to happen anymore, at least for the aspiring author. I miss the RT conventions! They were pricey but so much fun!
Hope you enjoy your week ahead and that it’s a little less hectic this time around too!
Here’s my StS
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
I”m so sorry for your loss, dementia is such a tough disease. I”m glad you enjoyed the conference.
So sorry that you lost your mother-in-law. I know what you mean about it being sad but at least she’s not suffering. I lost my mom in early October, and it was the same for me. Glad you enjoyed the SCBWI conference. I’ve never gone to it.
If you have a chance to go to one of their conference sometime, I highly recommend them!
Two of my grandparents had dementia in the years before they died. It a terrifying disease. I’m glad you had fun at the conference. I hope you get a chance to relax now.
Yes, it’s so interesting how the mind works and the things it is capable of (and then the things that it quickly becomes incapable of). Very scary, indeed.
So sorry to hear about your mother-in-law. That is always hard. My stepdad’s mother died from Alzheimer’s and we can see that he is starting to have some of the same issues she did at the start. Glad you had fun at the conference! Still so excited to follow your publishing journey as well! Hope you have a good week!
Yes, it’s definitely scary to start to see symptoms when you know Alzheimer’s is in the family. My MIL’s sister died of it just a year or two before her own symptoms started, and we knew what was coming, unfortunately.
I’m sorry to hear about your MIL. May she rest in peace. And I’m glad you had a great time at SCBWI!
Thank you!
I’m sorry for your loss, but I also understand all of the complicated feelings your family must be going through right now. My grandma also had Alzheimer’s, and it was hard to watch her decline. When she passed, in some ways my relief at the end of her struggle was harder to deal with than the grief of losing her. Hugs, and may you have many positive memories of your MIL to carry forward instead of the decline of the past few years.
Yes, we’ve definitely struggled with those feelings. You never wish to lose a loved one, but there comes a point where you also can’t wish for that person to go on in the state they’re in. It’s complicated and involves its own unique grieving process.