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I’m not too proud to admit that I melted down twice this weekend. It got so fraught that I almost bailed on my book signing on Saturday, but I got it together and pulled through.
Like many shitty days, it wasn’t so much that something hugely bad happened, but more like the accretion of a thousand tiny idiocies all compounded by the fact that I didn’t take my meds because I wanted to time it so that they kicked in when I got to the book signing event.
Oops.
Mental note: don’t do that.
The event itself was somewhat disappointing, but it was another chance to practice my elevator pitch in low stakes circumstances, and I got to hang out with my author friend Jessica Rosenberg for a few hours again. Listening to her talk about her books and writing is like watching a masterclass in knowing your books and their aboutness.
So, if you’re into witchy stories about women who come into their magic and power later in life, check out Jessica’s books. The first series is about a newly divorced single mother who discovers she has magic, and weird things start happening to the folks who eat her bakery’s pastries. The second series is about this woman’s cousin, who has severe anxiety and discovers her purpose in returning lost objects with their owners.
As with last week, you will find the following in today’s newsletter (feel free to skip to those parts):
- Personal note
- What brought me joy this week!
- What challenged me
- What else?
- Support and love our community
- Tell me more
Personal note
I’m a wee bit behind on writing my review of the Tabber concert from a week and a half ago, but I’ve been devouring books and Netflix. I guess I’m not done marinating in other people’s creative juices. (Ew. What an awful way to put it.)
Speaking of juices, we are besieged by fruit flies because it’s that time of year where it’s heating up and the compost bucket is disgusting and these damn insects refuse to drown themselves in cups of soapy vinegar.
Thus, I have ordered a new electric fly swatter because Kitsune (2) destroyed the previous one.
Also also, did you know that they now have lysine patches for cold sores similar to pimple patches? AMAZING. The future is now! (Unfortunately, this discovery also correlates to me having my first major cold sore in at least a decade. I did not enjoy.)
What brought me joy
I finished “The Ministry of Time” by Kaliane Bradley—another fantastic book about empire and controlling our narratives. It’s about culpability and survival and identity and love and the fluidity of time and space.
Is it a love story? A story about time travel? Or a story about spies?
YES. ALL OF THE ABOVE.
I also highly recommend the new K-drama “Mercy for None” on Netflix (only 7 eps) and the 2023 British series “Bodies” (8 eps). I list the number of episodes because I can’t sit through anything with more than 8 episodes.
C-dramas and I could never.
“Mercy for None” is a straight up revenge gangster series based on a webtoon that decided early on that YES, VIOLENCE IS THE ANSWER. As for “Bodies,” it’s based on a graphic novel, and involves a naked murdered body that shows up in 3 different timelines to 3 different detectives.
Both are incredibly entertaining and enjoyable for entirely different reasons. I liked “Bodies” a lot more, but that’s because I adore time travel and the smart ways they go about it.
I rewatched “Constantine” since it’s leaving Netflix at the end of the month, and it’s just as glorious as it was when I first watched it. Tilda Swinton as Gabriel is divine, and Keanu Reeves as the titular Constantine is perfection. Swinton’s rage and aching desire is palpable, and honestly, I just love her fucking face.
What can I say? I’m a simple bish.
In non-entertainment related joy, I made playdough for Kitsune and she’s enthralled. Sasquatch (8) is also pleased because I don’t think I ever made it for him—either that or he was too little to remember. The older kids remember me making playdough, and since they’re on summer break, they’re playing a lot with our babiest baby to her great joy.
Plus, seeing the way Kitsune loves a good dress and accessories is so fun. She is such a happy, vibrant kiddo.
And finally, two more BTS members finished their military service yesterday and two more will finish their military service today. Then it will be another ten days before our last, (and my favorite) member Min Yoongi will be out.
Their eldest member Jin enlisted in December 2022 so it’s been just over 2.5 years since they’ve all been civilians at the same time. It’s been a really fucking long time, and I cannot fucking wait for BTS to be back on their shit.
Let’s fucking go!
What challenged me
I still haven’t been able to make any significant progress on Book 3, nor have I been able to finish writing a few articles. The only thing I’ve been consistently able to finish these are my weekly newsletters and my daily Chaotic Joy posts on social media. (Speaking of which, go on over to Threads and follow me there if you haven’t already.)
Part of me feels like the whole first ⅔ of this newsletter was listing all my challenges, so I don’t particularly want to burden you with more. I also am getting sick of the sound of my own voice, sooooo, let’s just leave it at that.
What else
I don’t have new articles, episodes, or videos out, but I do have my month-old novella “Love As Soft As a Distant Star” out. I sold the most copies of this book at the Bay Area Book Festival—which surprised me! But I suppose it was a good price point, and promised to be a quick and easy read.
The novella follows Remi, a witch who is married to another witch for her job. Unfortunately, after more than a decade of marriage, Remi realizes she’s in love with her husband—and he’s in love with someone else.
This book explores the millions of ways we show our love in long-term relationships—as well as many of the ways we hurt each other, too. Check it out on Amazon or Bookshop.org.
Support and love our community
Friends, if you are attending public rallies for the first time, I beg you, please practice safe assembling. I know humans are notoriously bad at assessing risk, but please, if not for yourself, please practice safe assembling for the people with whom you are assembling.
THIS IS PARTICULAR IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CIS HET WHITE.
Stop posting pictures of your full face—or at the very least, stop posting OTHER people’s full faces or identifying marks. YOUR PHOTOS/VIDEOS CAN BE USED TO HARM YOU AND YOUR FELLOW PEOPLE.
Please, learn from activists who have done this for longer than you—and have been in it for the long haul.
One of these such humans is Kalaya’an Mendoza, a queer, hard of hearing Filipino activist who works hard to keep us all safe. Follow his Instagram for safety when acting in concert with others.
Please, please, please.
Be safe out there. It is not just your safety, but the safety of others I’m concerned about. We all know that people of color—especially Black women—who bear the brunt of consequences.
Don’t be the asshole who fucks it up for other people.
Tell me more
In this ever increasingly terrible time, please be safe. Our joy, our existence, our love for ourselves and others is resistance. Thank you for listening, and please, allow me to listen to you if you need a safe place.
May you have a week full of chaotic joy!
