#bold jenn

[boldjenn]

A new adventure begins...

[literaticat]

Hi, Jenn! I understand what literary, upmarket, and commercial mean, but how can I tell what my own writing is? I really have no idea!

Try to think about your book abstractly.

What comps would you use to describe your book? That is, other books that are for the same kind of audience? Are THEY literary, commercial, or what?

When you imagine your book as a real book in the real world -- what do you think/hope it will look like? A "thriller-esque" cover with bold graphic title treatment? A bodice-ripping lovers clinching cover? A cartoony-cute cover? (all probably commercial, though the latter could cross over into Upmarket). A more subdued and abstract and "graphic designy" or "artistic" cover? (could be literary or upmarket, or possibly both!)

Now that you have a picture of it in your mind:

-- Can you picture that book being sold hand-over-fist at the Airport, being bought by busy vacationers who want a fun and diverting distraction? Can you imagine an ad for the book in USA Today or People? If so, maybe it is Commercial.

-- Can you picture that book being read by Reese Witherspoon or Oprah, or being discussed by a book club full of Classy Ladies drinking vino? Can you imagine an ad for the book in Elle or Vanity Fair? If so, maybe it is Upmarket.

-- Can you picture a panel of esteemed judges clapping as a shiny medal is affixed to the cover, and/or a professor talking about that book to a room full of college students? Can you imagine an ad for the book in the New Yorker or Paris Review? If so, maybe it is Literary.

If you can picture ONE of these scenarios, great - that's what kind of book it is. (Or at least, that's what kind of book it is TRYING to be, whether it is doing that successfully is not something I can answer here!)

If you can picture TWO of these scenarios, fantastic, that's a good thing, we love a book that appeals to something of a crossover audience.

If you can picture ALL of these scenarios equally well, either you are delusional, or perhaps you have hit the trifecta and you have a real hit on your hands!

[lgbtqreads]

hi!! i know this has beeb asked before but not for a while and I thought there might be some releases since then, so : any Queer High Fantasy? I've been recommended Priory of the Orange Tree before. Thank you!!

Not sure when the last time was but here’s what’s currently on my radar! (You can also find these here, and an asterisk means it’s not out yet: https://lgbtqreads.com/sff/spec-fic-by-subgenre/) I bolded some of the ones that are newer or coming out in the next few months.

MG

*Splinter & Ash by Marieke Nijkamp – NB

Sir Callie by Esme Symes-Smith – NB

YA

Female Protags

The Winter Duke by Claire Eliza Bartlett

The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco – L

Queen of Coin and Whispers by Helen Corcoran

Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst – L,B

Inkmistress by Audrey Coulthurst – B

The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine – B

Noble Falling and Noble Persuasion by Sara Gaines

Rule by Ellen Goodlett

Havenfall by Sara Holland

*Hearts Forged in Dragon Fire by Erica Hollis

The Afterward by EK Johnston

Empirium by Claire Legrand – B

Belle Révolte by Linsey Miller – BA

These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy

The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski

It Ends in Fire by Andrew Shvarts

Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria – B, A

The Third Daughter and The Second Son by Adrienne Tooley

Shatter the Sky by Rebecca Kim Wells – B

The Thousand Names by Django Wexler

Male Protags

Cloaked in Shadow by Ben Alderson

The Runebinder Chronicles by Alex R. Kahler

Skybound by Alex London

So This is Ever After by F.T. Lukens

Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria

The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas – T

Non-Binary Protags

Spell Bound by FT Lukens

Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller – GF

*A Hundred Vicious Turns by Lee Paige O’Brien

Adult

Female Protags

A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair

Tales of Inthya by Effie Calvin

The Vanished Queen by Lisbeth Campbell

Rook & Rose by M.A. Carrick

The Night and its Moon by Piper CJ

The Unbroken by C.L. Clark

*Warmongers by C.L. Clark

The Gardener’s Hand by Felicia Davin

*The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang

Dragonfall by L.R. Lam

The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

From Under the Mountain by C.M. Spivey

The Drowning Empire by Andrea Stewart (Amz)

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

Malice by Heather Walter

When Women Were Warriors series by Catherine M. Wilson

Male Protags

Kirith Kirin by Jim Grimsley

The Cadeleonian series by Ginn Hale

Tales From Verania by T.J. Klune

A Chorus of Dragons by Jenn Lyons

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

*Dark Moon, Shallow Sea by David R. Slayton

Stagsblood Trilogy by Gideon E. Wood

Genderqueer Protags

*The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang

[the-forest-library]

August 2023 Reads

The Annotated Persuasion - Jane Austen

Nothing But the Truth - Holly James

The Last Word - Katy Birchall

The Deja Glitch - Holly James

Love, Theoretically - Ali Hazelwood

The Dane of My Existence - Jessica Martin

They Hate Each Other - Amanda Woody

Mister Magic - Kiersten White

Stars, Hide Your Fires - Jessica Mary Best

Legends & Lattes - Travis Baldree

The Study of Poisons - Maria V. Snyder

This is How You Lose the Time War - Amal El-Mohtar, Max Gladstone

His Majesty's Dragon - Naomi Novik

Sea of Tranquility - Emily St. John Mandel

The Brothers Hawthorne - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Give Me a Sign - Anna Sortino

Rewind - Lisa Graff

Tuesdays at the Castle - Jessica Day George

Mice Skating - Annie Silvestro

The Rock from the Sky - Jon Klassen

Ancient Night - David Bowles

Fangirl, Vol 1 - Sam Maggs, Rainbow Rowell

Fangirl, Vol 2 - Sam Maggs, Rainbow Rowell

Family Style - Thien Pham

It's Lonely at the Centre of the Earth - Zoe Thorogood

Congratulations, the Best is Over - R. Eric Thomas

Strong Female Character - Fern Brady

Everything I Know About Love - Dolly Alderton

Sipping Dom Perignon Through a Straw - Eddie Ndopu

Organizing for the Rest of Us - Dana K. White

You Just Need to Lose Weight - Aubrey Gordon

Vibrant - Stacie Stephenson

How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids - Jancee Dunn

Allergic - Theresa MacPhail

Generations - Jean M. Twenge

Enough - Shauna M. Ahern

Sensitive - Jenn Granneman

The Lady's Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness - Sarah Ramey

Dressing Barbie - Carol Spencer

Goblin Mode - McKayla Coyle

How to Resist Amazon and Why - Danny Caine

The Artist's Way - Julia Cameron

Bold = Highly Recommend Italics = Worth It Crossed out = Nope

Thoughts: 

Some really good reads this month, and some disappointments. I really enjoyed They Hate Each Other and was surprised by how much I liked the Fangirl manga. I also finally found an Ali Hazelwood book that I didn't DNF, lol.

Goodreads Goal: 289/400 

2017 Reads | 2018 Reads | 2019 Reads | 2020 Reads | 2021 Reads| 

2022 Reads | 2023 Reads

[ironworked]

60 Sec Rec: Claws

"Claws is a midnight-dark, wickedly funny meditation on female badness set in a South Florida nail salon. It's about good women caught in bad places with worse men. It's the story of hardworking women trying to get by in this economy, set against the surreal, bright, gritty landscape of Florida and the luscious, absurd, extreme excesses of the crime world." [adapted from TNT]

I'm still half-way through, but i already know I have to rec this one.

Surprisingly well-described as 'strip-mall crime caper' by tv line, CLAWS is a show for everyone who complains about female characters never being allowed to be as messy and complicated and outrageous as the men. However, you absolutely get what you asked for, so be aware going in that they won't pull their punches: you wanted messy, you're going to get a huge Floridan mess.

The actresses are absolutely impeccable, and I have to agree with 9-1-1's Athena Grant as she livetweeted this show with her friends: 'Niecy Nash is a national treasure'. If you don't have it bad (whatever that means to you) for at least one of them 5 minutes into 1.01, I despair of you.

Also, Dean Norris as a bisexual druglord slash stripclub owner known to family and associates as 'Uncle Daddy' is... quite something.

Plus, Gina Torres in lingerie in one episode 🥵. And Harold Perrineau's character preparing a strip dance. I won't tell you how that goes, you'll have to see.

Created by Eliot Laurence (Motherland: Fort Salem). Written by Laurence, Emily Silver (Finding Carter, Bones), Sam Forman (House of Cards), Janine Sherman (Criminal Minds, ER)... Directed by Dale Stern (Veep, I'm Sorry), Jamie Travis (Faking It, The Bold Type), Howard Deutch (Pretty in Pink, True Blood)... Starring Niecy Nash, Jenn Lyon, Karrueche Tran, Judy Reyes, Carrie Preston, Dean Norris, Harold Perrineau...

60 sec rec: Deadloch - Dead Boy Detectives - The Tick - This Close - Kung Fu - Nancy Drew - Kevin Can Fuck Himself - Silo - The Flight Attendant - Severance - Hacks - Hit The Floor - Black Sails - 12 Monkeys - T@gged - The Diplomat - The Mick - Timeless - UnReal - Kings - All Rise - Barry - Halt and Catch Fire - Resident Alien - Santa Clarita Diet

New shows: Brilliant Minds

[lino-lov3]

my side - b.c

six - freak out

MASTERLIST

to be added to the taglist fill out this form!

𖦹 warnings : swearing 𖦹 content : crack, fluff

𖦹 words : 287

𖦹 screenshot count : 1

a/n : sorry this chapter is so short! it’s just another filler chapter since i haven’t updated in a while - their tattoos/peircings will be revealed in the next part!

taglist : @lynanist @smally97 @bouterboul @han-aaaaa @chansducky10 @swaggie @fun-fanfics @bellagrayson-wayne @gemini-demon

[bold are the ones i'm not able to tag, so if your user has changed or there was a mistake pls comment and change it on the form!]

do not repost or translate ©︎lino-lov3 - please remember to reblog and leave your feedback if you enjoyed it!

"no fucking way, y/n. did you see that?" sage practically screamed at you

"see what?" you reply confused

she shoves her phone in your face, displaying her screen. it showed a reply from her last tweet about her new hair color. and the reply was from hyunjin.

"this."

you smirk and shake your head. obviously her crush on hyunjin hasn't faded any since the last time you've checked. you're not surprised though.

looking over to mirror across the room from where you sat on your bed, you analyzed your new hair. you and sage decided to dye yours a burgundy color.

she puts her phone down beside her and looked at you intently.

"wanna go get tattoos and new piercings?"

"hell yeah I do!"

"okay let's pick our outfits while we figure out what we're gonna get." you smile

sage was definitely the friend you go to when you have a crazy idea in your head. clearly. the two of you just dyed your hair and are now on your way to get piercings and tattoos.

once the two of you were dressed, you headed out for your adventure.

you had texted jenn to ask if she wanted to join you and she said she'd be there after 40 minutes since she was studying for a class.

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

"you're really not going to tell me what you plan on getting?"

you shook your head in response, a smug look plastered on your face as well.

"come on! i'll show you what i'm getting." sage whines, shaking your arm

"nope, not giving in. now hurry and take a pic of my hair to post on twitter." you laugh

"fine" she huffs in fake annoyance

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

PREV | NEXT

[galaxysharks]

Office Au.

Wildcat Youth Employment program. High school students intern as a collective at a local office to gain real world experience for credit.

Directors/Coaches

Miss Jenn - in charge of Sales and Marketing Teams

Mr. Mazzara - in charge of Tech and Building Events Teams

Dewey - Building Facilities Manager

Teams

Sales

EJ Caswell - being the CFOs son has it's perks, as evidenced by EJs immediate inclusion to the program. Make no mistake though, EJ has more than earned his keep, quickly proving to be the best young salesman in the programs history and leading the team to record breaking profits. EJ has since joined the company full time, following his graduation. When not in the field, EJ likes to hang out with his former unit, giving out tips and tricks of the trade.

Gina Porter - with the leave of EJ, Gina has finally claimed the top spot in Sales. Unfortunately now she has to acclimate the new blood while being short-staffed after Nini's transfer to the California office. And if that weren't hard enough, the student leader of Building Events is proving a persistent distraction.

Mack Alana - Mack has recently been offered a position in the program. His simulation numbers were fantastic, but he's a little out of touch with what really makes a salesman. He'll have to buckle down if he's to survive Gina's intense training, and his natural charm won't work on every sucker on the street.

Former

Nini Salazar Roberts - While not as competitive as Gina, Nini maintained a respectable lead in sales for several months. Nini has since transferred to a sister office in California, coinciding with her move to pursue music in her spare time.

Marketing

Valerie Donnelly - Like EJ, Val has moved up the ranks to the company proper. While not as involved as EJ, Val takes pride in her mentoring role and is always just a text away. Which might be necessary if Miss Jenn can't cut through the drama and whip these kids into shape.

Kourtney Greene - Having been in the program for a few years, Kourt is logically the next in line for Student Leader. Bold and Beautiful, Kourtney knows what works and how to make it work for you. There's just one problem, Kourtney is graduating in a few months and she's not sure if the company offer is where she's meant to go. This on top of wrangling the large personalities on her team have made this season more stressful than anticipated.

Carlos Rodriguez - Out and Proud, Carlos tends to fill every room he's in. High class, high maintenance, the office Instagram Page looks good and Carlos would kill before letting someone else touch his baby. Carlos operates as the Student officer of Diversity, and previously spent two seasons as Miss Jenn's shadow. In a loving relationship with Seb from Building Events.

Ashlyn Caswell - as the name implies, Ash is also a legacy member, but while her cousin shines flexing his skills and seeing the sights in the field, Ashlyn much prefers the view from her desk. Surrounded by her chosen family, Ashlyn is a stable and reliable member of the team, even if she did get a rough start with Val. Now if only she didn't get stuck with the computer most prone to breakdown.

Dani Cantrall - Like Mack, Dani is a new select from the class runner ups. She has good instincts, and brings a respectable following right out the gate. But it's her abrasive personality and short temper that's going to put her to the test.

Former

Lily Keegan - Lily was once a promising addition to the marketing team, but quickly proved a toxic influence. Miss Jenn asked her to leave after her snapshot 'Autism in the Workplace' nearly got the team, and the company itself, in hot water with the press.

Building Events

Ricky Bowen - How Richard Bowen qualified for the student outreach program is still a mystery. Constantly late, and shamelessly careless, many outside observers have wondered how he's maintained his offer, let alone achieved Student Leader. But his work speaks for itself, dozens and dozens of successful events on the books. Ricky has a unique ability to get the many divisions to work together in harmony. Now if only he could manage to organize his life enough to ask out the superstar Saleswoman Gina.

Sebastian Matthews Smith - Strong and reliable, Seb's slowlife mentality makes him an asset in the whirlwind of the office. While not always the most intuitive, Seb is highly skilled at the routines of event set up and breakdown. Seb spends most breaks in the Marketing office with his partner Carlos.

Jet Curda-Lyles - Jet is new to the Building Events team. Low energy and snarky, Jet doesn't speak often, but makes sure he's heard when he does. Hired on with his sister, he can sometimes feel like he's living in the shadow of her savant gifts with technology. Some unknown drama with the siblings can make meeting tense, but both are first to defend each other. Spends breaks dozing in the lounge or sitting with his sister's service dog, JJ.

Tech Support

Maddox Curda-Lyles - Maddox has a gift, and can make any technology sing. Now if only she was so talented at communicating with people. JJ is Maddie's constant companion, providing support and protection from the outside world. Maddox has quickly risen up ranks and become the Student Leader. Rumor has it, the company is looking to scout her early into their ranks. Not that Maddie's noticed, she's got her eye on a certain Marketing Student, with unfortunate luck with computers.

Big Red Redonovich - While Maddox has a natural agility with tech, Biggie earned his way over several seasons. Sweet and gentle, Big Red is everyone's friend, though he does clash with the foreign exchange employee Antoine. Big Red and Ricky were scouted together, with some saying that Ricky only made it in due to Red refusing to leave him behind.

[lillamolntuss]

lillamolntuss read 2024… check it out or don’t 🫢

titles in bold are my favorites… thumb down for books i didn’t like okay

🦦

the lost honor of katharina blum - heinrich böll

sir gawain and the green knight trans. marie borroff

the nenoquich - henry bean 👎

cat’s cradle - kurt vonnegut

under the net - iris murdoch

sugar and other stories - a.s. byatt

nausea - jean-paul sartre 👎

where i end - sophie white

the sandcastle - iris murdoch

dansare, konstnärer, älskare: ballets suédois 1920-1925 - karin helander

couples - john updike 👎🤢

the favorite game - leonard cohen

sula - toni morrison

the nice and the good - iris murdoch

sartre: romantic rationalist - iris murdoch

selected stories - katherine mansfield

men in the off hours - anne carson

johannasviten - patrik rochling

when we were birds - ayanna lloyd banwo 👎

waiting for godot - samuel beckett

beloved - toni morrison

the member of the wedding - carson mccullers

all the lovers in the night - mieko kawakami

the master and margarita - mikhail bulgakov

beautiful losers - leonard cohen

iris murdoch for beginners - bran nicol

the maze maker - michael ayrton

the portrait of a lady - henry james

the joke - milan kundera

the black album - hanif kureishi

the bell - iris murdoch

aucassin and nicolette: and other medieval romances and legends - ed. eugene mason

the heart is a lonely hunter - carson mccullers

never let me go - kazuo ishiguro

my autobiography of carson mccullers - jenn shapland

slaughterhouse-five - kurt vonnegut

ballet and modern dance - susan au

twelfth night - shakespeare

the stranger - albert camus

human acts - han kang

tipping the velvet - sarah waters

the unicorn - iris murdoch

the sweetest dream - doris lessing

immodest acts: the life of a lesbian nun in renaissance italy - judith c. brown

the end of the story - lydia davis

salt slow - julia armfield

creation lake - rachel kushner

stone yard devotional - charlotte wood

remarkably bright creatures - shelby van pelt 👎👎👎

wise children - angela carter

[runicmagitek]

tagged by @bluebudgie (thank you!!)

last song: bold of you to assume I've been playing anything except Ma Meilleure Ennemie by Stromae & Pomme for the past week

favorite color: purple and black

last book: still The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons, which was a library book I had to return bc life keeps Happening and interrupting my reading time 😭 hopefully I get it back soon. I was thoroughly enjoying it

last tv show: G Gundam (my bf and I are "rewatching" it bc I haven't watched it in literally over 20 years and somehow it's worse than I remembered lolsob 10/10 love this campy bs

sweet/savory/spicy: savory

relationship status: I group up with a troll hunter with a pink mohawk for dungeon farming in WoW One Time and then I'm stuck with him (affectionate) for almost 20 years 💕💖

last search: our go-to pizza place's website bc we were lazy and ordered pizza last night lol

current obsession: Arcane, especially TIMEBOMB 😭😭😭😭 god and to think the last time I filled out one of these things, I was in the middle of Act 2 and all "yeah I dunno.... :/" and then Act 3 punched me in the face in the best way lolsob

looking forward to: I dunno, completing all my shit that has deadlines probably 🫠 (2 exchange fics, my last polyship week fic draft, a zine app, a few mod duties, probably some other stuff I'm not remembering atm)

favorite drink: tea!! Especially masala chai and earl grey. Also taro milk tea with boba

song playing on loop in your head 24/7: (see also: what I put for last song)

current favorite character: I'm rotating Jinx and Ekko in my brain non-stop. I love them both. Do not separate.

fun activity you'd like to get into: ANY OF THE NEEDLE FELTING STUFF I KEEP PUTTING OFF 😭😭

last video game: playing solo? The Plucky Squire. with my bf? Wayfinder.

last comic/graphic novel/manga: Chainsaw Man, which I've tried to get into multiple times and just struggle to get past the first 6 chapters bc I do not vibe with the art style, HOWEVER one of my friends was gushing about it recently and that's resparked my motivation so I'm giving it another shot!! 😤

no pressure tagging: @wingsyouburn @rosemochi @zincknife @breserker @japaneesee @grraveryl @jaredr-k @gaymergal

[wheretheeternalare]

2023 reading list :) bolded means i liked it

Companion Piece by Ali Smith Unnatural Death by Dorothy Sayers The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy Sayers Pnin by Vladimir Nabokov Lord Peter Views the Body by Dorothy Sayers Howards End by E. M. Forster The Raincoats by Jenn Pelly The Martian by Andy Weir The Minuteman Murder by Jane Langton The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco A Mercy by Toni Morrison Kindred by Octavia Butler Subculture: The Meaning of Style by Dick Hebdige Transformer by Ezra Furman Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin Rainbow Rainbow by Lydia Conklin Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston Still Life by Louise Penny The Best American Short Stories 2020 ed. Curtis Sittenfeld I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome Right Place, Right Time: The Life of a Rock & Roll Photographer by Bob Gruen A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews Island Zombie: Iceland Writings by Roni Horn There But For The by Ali Smith The Faggots & Their Friends Between Revolutions by Larry Mitchell A Dream of a Woman by Casey Plett The Transgender Issue: Trans Justice Is Justice For All by Shon Faye The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia by Philip Sidney Mother Camp: Female Impersonators in America by Esther Newton Bellies by Nicola Dinan A Question of Proof by Nicholas Blake Girlfriends by Emily Zhou Decolonize Drag by Kareem Khubchandani Morrissey & Marr: The Severed Alliance by Johnny Rogan England Is Mine: Pop Life in Albion from Wilde to Goldie by Michael Bracewell Swann's Way by Marcel Proust

[luck-is-crucial]

Guess I have to do this so:

Hi! I’m Skye Jenn (oc)-

Age- 14

Height-5’7’’

Godly Parent- Tyche (Legacy of Athena)

Gender- Non Binary

Pronouns- they/them

Powers- Powerful tychokinesis, minor audiokinesis, minor telumkinesis, got lucky and got an owl form and minor zookinesis (thanks to my legacy) and I’m just smarter than normal. I can summon cornucopias too and I can manipulate money.

Sexuality- Pan

Status- Single

Adopted/posessed by @primordialgoddessofnight

Text turns bold purple when possessed

People I know:

@kiaradaughterofselene - fren that I get up to mischief with

@sophia-hunter-of-artemis - the hunter of artemis who is super badass and that I see sometimes

@tyche-lady-luck - ma mother

@glykera - awesome automaton from ancient greece

@daonedaonlyskh - very cool daughter of posiedon

@syd-the-nerd - reverse me! child of athena and legacy of tyche. Also very cool

@demigod-jack-hearth - fren with a lotta adopted kids and very powerful

@melissathetherapist - the therapist friend. Very demure, caffeine flows through both our bloodstreams.

(sorry for the tags lol)

Face claim:

Owl form:

Tags:

-#skye answers

-#skye is stressed

-#deci out of character

Skye is kinda a self insert oc

-ooc: my main blog is @deciduowl

(ooc is pink or normal)

I might do a few open starters, anyone is free to answer, and if you want to be in my tag list, just ask!!

Credits to pinterest for images

[curtsies-from-princess-ashlyn]

I really think the extremely meta direction the show starts taking in S3 was always the vision Tim Federle had for this show. S1 starts off in the fictional world of HSM, then the narrative POV takes a step back to reveal Miss Jenn was watching it on her phone, indicating to the audience the universe of the show is a step beyond the universe of the movies. The start of S4 paralleling this (the HSM4 sneak peek we got) takes this to an insane level, starting in a fictitious movie in a real fictional universe, taking a step out of that world into another fictional universe that is involving itself in the real fictional universe.... you know what, maybe it's best I don't try to explain it, hahaha.

I know there's been a lot of criticism of the documentary aspect of S3 jumping the shark, as it creates celebrities out of the lowly drama kids and completely changes the stakes of the show. It's true that the show is no longer just about some kids putting on a high school musical, but I don't think it was ever meant to be limited to that vision. I personally love the bold direction the show takes in S3, which effectively transitions the show into this final vision of bringing the universes of HSM and HSMTMTS together. This meta concept has always been what sets this show apart from other projects that have also been about lowly drama kids putting on a high school play. I love that the concept is being fully embraced for this last season, and I don't think the heart of the show has been compromised as a result.

[literaticat]

Hi Jenn! Just wanted to send you a note to thank you for this Tumblr. I've been reading it for years and I honestly believe that your thoughtful feedback and help is one of the reasons I was able to get an agent, and then publish my debut novel, Jezebel (which came out yesterday!). I know how thankless publishing often is, so just wanted to send you a note saying how valuable your page is for me.

Ummm thanks but also -- YOUR BOOK??????

"With a bold voice reminiscent of Madeline Miller's Circe, a stunning reimagining of the story of a fierce princess from Tyre and her infamous legacy...."

I LOVED CIRCE AND WANT TO READ CIRCE-TYPE VIBEEEES AND IT IS *ON THE SHELF* AT MY LOCAL INDIE????

FUCKING SOLD

Congratulations -- and if other readers wanna check it out, too... click click !!

[remindersofgrace]

Beloved Imitators

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” - Ephesians 5:1-2

A couple weeks ago, our family had the opportunity to travel to Zakopane, Poland for Pioneer’s Euroconnect Conference 2023. My husband Eden is a board member of the US branch of Pioneers, which is an organization that sends missionaries to plant churches and make disciples in unreached people groups around the world. Being part of this organization has shaped us in such huge ways, and we’ve been so encouraged and inspired by these men and women who are humbly and wholly surrendered to God no matter the cost, who abide in and embody the love of Christ in such a beautiful way. Pioneers invited board members and their families to attend a regional conference for missionaries working in Northern Europe, and we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to attend. After an 11 hour flight to Munich, and another hour flight into Poland, we arrived and spent our first few days in Kraków. 

The next day was Easter Sunday, so Eden found an evangelical church nearby our hotel, where we joined up with Steve (the president of Pioneers-USA) and Arlene Richardson (his wife and my hero) to spend Easter morning worshipping with an international church, singing in both English and Polish, and unexpectedly running into a Pioneers team working in Manchester, England. We spent the day with this team, eating pierogi’s in the Market Square and  grabbing gelato with the Richardsons. 

We got to explore the market at night, with sizzling meats, huge vats of sauerkraut, yummy Polish pizza called zapiekanki, and Kürtöskalács Chimney Cake with nutella inside. 

 The next day, we took a 2 hour bus ride to Zakopane with a team from a church in Ohio who was coming to the conference just to take care of our children (God bless them!). The conference began the next day and it was such an incredible time of seeing the beauty of the global church expressed in so many cultures and languages. Our kids were so incredibly loved on and were the most social that I’ve ever seen. To be in a room with 150 people who were living out their faith in humility, boldness, love, and surrender to whatever God desired for them - my heart was so filled up and encouraged. 

Moments I don’t want to forget: 

- meeting the Oliviera family on Easter Sunday - a vivacious, loving Brazilian family with a daughter and two sons who were some of the greatest kids I’ve ever met. They doted on any kids and I am praying my kids grow up to be like them one day. So much love from this family. 

- meeting the Parodi family - JC, Gema, and Sarah. Loved watching this family worship with such joy and passion amidst hardship and loss. Sarah and the worship team led us in such beautiful multicultural worship, in so many languages and styles. I literally could not stop crying during every worship service, it was so powerful to witness and God’s presence was profoundly felt. There is something about knowing the history of suffering in some of these missionaries and to see them pouring out their praises, declaring the goodness of God - it built up my faith so much. 

- being stopped by a young Australian man in a Turkish kebab restaurant in Zakopane. He asked us what we were doing in Poland, and I responded, “Oh, we’re here for a conference.” He asks, “Oh, is it a Christian conference? Do you know Steve Richardson?” The Richardsons had just told us the day before about how they had met such a wonderful random group of young people while waiting in line for hours to visit Auschwitz. The odds were just too crazy! 

- listening to Jenn Chen’s beautiful talk about living as God’s beloved. Realizing how many strongholds I have just allowed in my heart that are rooted in fear, barriers that have often kept me from receiving God’s love in its fullness. 

- taking a cable car up to the top of Mount Gubalowka and getting to share a meal with Eric and Ellen Peters. I look up to this couple so much, and hearing story after story from missionaries whose lives were so impacted by their care and prayerful presence was just so powerful. 

- Running into Sandro who graciously carried my son up the entire mountain to where we were staying

- staying up until almost midnight with a group of ladies who invited me to let Eden put down the kids and to join them for tea, meeting Aselia, a lovely Kazakh missionary whose testimony impacted me deeply. 

- getting free babysitting (woot woot) and getting to have a dinner date with Phil and Ann Baur, hearing about their lives and just enjoying them so much. 

- having a time of multigenerational prayer with the youth, hearing the testimony of a 12-year-old who was assigned to pray for the parents in the conference, and her having such a profound intimate moment of God speaking that moved her to tears as she shared. Watching young people worship God with their hands raised, knowing how many of them have dealt with isolation from being the only Christian in their community, of pressures without and within, but having a deep, living, sustaining relationship with God that isn’t just riding on the coattails of their parents’ faith. 

- A powerful message from Kefas, a Nigerian pastor turned missionary in England. Him sharing the story of Amadu. 

- getting to share intimately with a group of 2 other ladies about some of the things we were having a hard time entrusting to the Lord. Was so encouraged by their vulnerability and got to pray together. 

- getting to have lunch with John and Jenn Chen (another couple that are my heroes, do you notice a theme here?) and getting to connect and share our lives together. 

- learning about each of the needs and opportunities in the countries in Northern Europe, praying in our small groups. 

- Had a less than gracious moment with Talitha after she made a mess. Had a time of apologizing to her, that I wanted to be more calm and less reactive, that I will always love her no matter what and she said ever so sweetly that she loves me so much. I told her that I’m so glad I’m her mommy, and she said she’s so glad she’s my daughter. 

- sharing in our small groups about the people that have been vessels of God’s love for us. So powerful to see the impact that consistent and faithful love and care can have on a person. 

- Our kids starting to have hangry meltdowns while waiting for our lunch and how Arlene quickly jumped into action, cutting off a large piece of her burger and insisting that we take the majority of her fries which just communicated so much love and care to us. 

- Hilder giving our family a sweet little photo session, sweet time of connecting with her

Takeaways that I want to Remember:

- From Jenn’s talk: 

- We don’t need to make our life work on our own.

- Vulnerability is letting others see the gospel at work in our lives 

- What if we saw ourselves as we really are? As beloved? 

- God wants us to keep pulling off the layers and taking off the masks that are keeping us from experiencing him fully

- What would it look like to let go of our ego and our fear? To just be so consumed by God’s love? 

- Our God is a global God - He can be praised in every language, no culture is outside of Him. It was so beautiful to see a different side of God as people all worshipped in their cultures. 

- We are all Amadu’s. Kefas shared a story about a man named Amadu who, in an effort to get the missionaries out of his area, invited the missionaries to a meal before a pot of soup. He then defecated in front of them, wiped himself with his hand, and put his hand in the soup. Somehow, Kefas was able to stay, to actually take the soup and drink it, and that single act of gracious response melted Amadu’s heart and he gave his life to Christ. We are all those who did heinous acts, and yet the love of Christ pursues us. His grace overwhelms us and will not let us go. 

- Jenn, during our meal, confirming to me after I shared about my insecurities and struggles with comparison that “you will glorify God in the Carolyn way.” 

- From Alan’s talk: 

- We are the visible portrayal of the invisible.

- We both obey and portray Jesus, we are a pointer to who He is. 

- Mediate means to be a vessel 

- The way we can impact others is by imaging Christ in their lives. We are in God’s family, so we are part of the family business. 

- Loving others with God’s love is the fulfillment of our priestly duties. We must legitimately reveal Christ to others. 

What a privilege to meet these men and women and to be able to see into a glimpse of all that God is doing in hearts and lives around the world. I couldn’t capture it the way I wanted to in writing, but this will do for now. 

[the-forest-library]

May 2023 Reads

Thief! - Megan Whalen Turner

The King of Attolia - Megan Whalen Turner

A Conspiracy of Kings - Megan Whalen Turner

Thick As Thieves - Megan Whalen Turner

Painted Devils - Margaret Owen

The Other Merlin - Robyn Schneider

The Future King - Robyn Schneider

Happy Place - Emily Henry

The Fiancee Farce - Alexandria Bellefleur

Emma of 83rd Street - Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding 

To Swoon and to Spar - Martha Waters

Evvie Drake Starts Over - Linda Holmes

Summer Reading - Jenn McKinlay

The Boyfriend Candidate - Ashley Winstead

Imogen, Obviously - Becky Albertalli

Lying in the Deep - Diana Urban

This Book is My Best Friend - Robin Robinson

Quietly Hostile - Samantha Irby

Broken Horses - Brandi Carlile

Honey, Baby, Mine - Laura Darn & Diane Ladd

Live Wire - Kelly Ripa

Beautiful Trauma - Rebecca Fogg

Monsters - Claire Dederer

Bird by Bird - Anne Lamott

Raw Dog - Jamie Loftus

Bootstrapped - Alissa Quart

How to Date Men When You Hate Men - Blythe Roberson

Excellent Advice for Living - Kevin Kelly

Hot and Bothered - Jancee Dunn

You Will Find Your People - Lane Moore

Betting on You - Laurie Ruettimann

I Saw You... - Julia Wertz

How to Die Alone - Mo Welch

CraftFail - Heather Mann

Random Illustrated Facts - Mike Lowery

This Book is For You - Worry Lines

Around the World Vegan Cookbook - Niki Webster

Bake, Make, and Learn to Cook - David Atherton

Bake, Make, and Learn to Cook Vegetarian - David Atherton

Bold = Highly Recommend Italics = Worth It Crossed out = Nope

Thoughts:

This month continued my Queen’s Thief obsession. Highly recommend this series - each book goes in a new and exciting direction. 

Also, Happy Place broke me and then built me up again. Painted Devils did not disappoint, and the Emry Merlin series was a nice surprise. 

Goodreads Goal: 174/400

2017 Reads | 2018 Reads | 2019 Reads | 2020 Reads | 2021 Reads|

2022 Reads | 2023 Reads

[crazy56u]

Currently batting two for two in the “Have to watch the new episode after the fact due to work” category, yay for me!

We open in on a pregnant woman in a parking lot.

Ben legitimately almost had a panic attack when face with having to deliver a baby.

The quickest, cleanest baby delivery.

Now if only the rest of the Leap was this easy.

And Addison decided to just rip the bandaid off and say the episode’s title.

If only Ben leap into the grunge scene instead of the ER scene…

I don’t know how to feel about the asshole she’s talking to being a Stephen…

Dr. Turk. …so, basically, this is Scrubs.

“Why are you here past your shift?” “I delivered a baby! :D” “Yeah, get off the high horse, pal…”

“You can’t save everyone.” That moment they telegraph the moral three minutes in.

And as Ben learns he has to save multiple lives, the sound department decides to crank the knockoff Creed!

Nurse Carolina, not to be confused with Nurse Nebraska.

Thank god for that white coat, otherwise Ben would be looking shifty right now.

Annnnnd they ain’t in the system yet, so in about 10… 9… 8…

“Code trauma.” Ding!

What if those two ambulances did a head-on collision just then?

Okay, so question: Why didn’t they have Ben leap in to stop the train crash?

“If they can walk, they can wait. If they are currently standing, fuck ‘em!”

Ben was about to black out then and there.

“Ziggy says there’s a 100% chance all three were on that train!” Tell Ziggy “No shit.” for me.

Okay, not for nothing, but if they said she had shrapnel in her fucking heart, I don’t have high hopes for her…

Watch as Nurse Carolina decides to brush off the fact that the resident, from her perspective, predicted three of the train victims prior to them arriving.

…is Dr. Harper’s first name “Stephen”, by chance?

In the 90s, hospitals were just playgrounds for mad science experiments, I guess…

Ah, so this hospital sucks, glad to know!

Addison, so what if they “didn’t know” Respiratrex was dangerous. People didn’t know Thalidomide was dangerous in the 50s, and look what happened there!

50/50 odds on her survival, glad to know God’s about to flip a coin in this bitch.

Ben’s logic: “Fuck it, I’m a better doctor than Harper, and I’m a time traveler, fuck his paper!”

“If Dr. Harper finds out you changed his script, he’ll Nike your career!” “Dr. Turk, you won’t understand this saying for a couple decades, but ‘YOLO’.”

[Okay, legit, Peacock crashed after I did that.]

…I think she forgot the actual line, and just ad-libbed that “Bold”…

Meanwhile, in 2023, everything is somehow worse!

I still stick to my theory that they locked Janis in a broom closet last week, her being in the interrogation room changes nothing.

I love how Magic is just playing the Sam card right out of the gate, he is done with her shit.

Okay, I half expected Janis to immediately make a break for it once the cuffs came off.

“I wanna talk to Ben, and I don’t care if he’s currently doing hospital resident train crash victim shit.”

“Hey, you, I have a working memory, did you predict there was a train crash?”

It is in my strongest belief that the second Carolina learns of the third victim, she is going to punch Ben in the arm.

Okay, cool, so the episode’s depressing depressing, got it.

Being told you have a concussion is the shittiest way to learn you have a tumor, goddamn…

And Eli just wants to die, okay, what a fun episode to enjoy immediately after a long night of work, yay me…

Oh! Goody! He’s Sandra’s dad!

It feels weird having barely missed the pager era…

“Okay, look, I’ll keep your tumor a secret, you fucking stay put.”

[I just paused. Why are they not showing the right half of Louis’s head?]

[OH FUCK]

“Hey, audience? Tell me? Do I got something on my face?”

Ben must engage in casual chit chat, or Louis will fucking die.

Ben, this is the worst time to forget you are supposed to be a woman…

Okay, cool, one out of three so far…

And so Janis and Jenn get crunk.

About fucking time we remember the cowboy existed…

Again, why didn’t we have Ben try and stop the crash?

Why does it look like Ben is trying to invent Wikipedia?

“Got a patient with a brain tumor?” “Yep, and it ain’t your dad, so don’t worry a thing about it.”

“Man, I sure do have a patient with a break tumor, so, hey, on an unrelated note, wanna talk about your dad?”

So, in other words, Eli is the Saul Goodman of Quantum Leap.

MORAL OF THE STORY: If you suck at being a dad, you will create doctors.

Okay, in another life time, Ben is the guy who does the quick side effect reading during medicine commercials.

“Look, I know this drug has bad side effects, but the FDA helped me pay off my car, so I say you’re wrong.”

“Look, I know I can’t prove how I know she has an undiagnosed medical condition, but fuck off.”

I love how Dr. Harper thinks he’s the hero in this story.

Okay, at this point, I hope Dr. Harper slips on a banana peel and falls on his ass.

And there’s the rub: In order to stop the use of a shit drug, a daughter must make amends with her dying father.

“Look, I know I said I’d stay, but fuck it, I’m out.” “Eli, if you leave, the FDA will win!”

I really want to see the “Better Call Saul”-style spin off involving Eli…

“Maybe this cancer is the way the universe wants my story to end.” “Look, I already changed one script today, don’t you worry…”

[Okay, I was joking earlier, Ben legitimately practically told Eli “if you leave, the FDA will win”…]

…and now we have a character being declared brain dead… … …okay, I know that coincidences exist, and I am reading too much into this, but how in the fuck is this the second Quantum Leap story this month I have experienced involving this shit?

Man, Ben, this week just sucks for you…

BOY DO I LOVE HOW LIGHT HEARTED THIS EPISODE IS BEING RIGHT NOW, BOY OH BOY

“Hey, good news, the depressing scene is over!”

Episode, why are you insistent in turning the screws on Ben right now?

Okay, it’s defibrillating time.

Why am I now hearing “How To Save A Life” in the back of my head?

And speaking of depressions going back to baseline!

“Hey, are you psychic, tell me now!” “So, about your dad’s tumor-”

“So, what do you think?” “Man, Jenn, I dunno, this episode’s fucking depressing…” “Magic, I was talking about Janis.”

Is the endgame of Janis’s plot arc just hiring her onto Quantum Leap?

Wait, was Ian even in the episode yet?

Also, calling it now, the dead wife’s gonna be the heart donor.

“FUCK these papers!”

CALLED IT

I choose to believe that this is Ben himself admitting he should’ve been allowed to prevent the train crash.

Now watch as Dr. Harper tries to fuck up the heart transplant…

CALLED IT.

Is Ben about to fist fight Dr. Harper, please god say he is…

“Look, I’m still processing my dad has a tumor-” “TOO BAD, DR. HARPER IS ABOUT TO KILL KIMBERLY”

“FUCK THESE CROWDED HALLWAYS!”

WHAT THE FUCK, BEN?! “Look, if you don’t hear us out about the murder drug, THE IV BAG GETS IT!”

Just fucking saying, Sam Beckett never fucking held a person’s life hostage in order to save the day, so that’s how you know Ben has bigger stones.

Ben got so pissed off with the sexism, he forgot the plot.

“Look, if she had that stupid disease, we’d know by now!” “(practically slaps him in the face with the chart) Bet.”

“…okay, fine, fuck it, use the other drug, I give. Now, just let the IV Bag go.”

Honestly, Ben should’ve been allowed to keep the scalpel, he earned it.

What if Eli already left?

I love how Ben didn’t leap yet, so now he’s chilling in an ambulance.

“What if all of this was for nothing, and I let you down?” Ben, the show got renewed, you’re fine.

Also, calling it now, the situation with Addison is revealed in the season finale.

“Stop being afraid.” “Oh, okay. (leaps)”

“Okay, look, I just got done with helping Ben stop the FDA, so this better be good.”

“Look, I ain’t happy with this situation either, Addison, but that doesn’t mean I have to put up with this shit.”

“Tell Ben to shut up, or the Secret Leapers will get us all. Yes, I know this sounds like conspiracy theory bullshit, but I am being legit.”

And now Ben is in the elevator from Speed, I already saw the promo, I know the punchline.

…is Ben in fucking Chernobyl?

So, just to reiterate: Ben defeated the FDA by holding an IV bag hostage, and Janis is a borderline conspiracy theorist.

It is a legitimate crime we have to wait three weeks for the next episode…