Inkpot Droplets | April - June 2023

Hello, dear readers! Wow, so I somehow haven't written a monthly newsletter since April, so we're a bit behind. You'll see why in the quick and dirty breakdown below, but goodness me, it's been bit of a doozy these past few months. Please forgive my absence in your inboxes.

These past few months have been a complete whirlwind. So much so, many things have fallen by the wayside (my newsletter, reading and blogging, in particular). I really miss them all, so I hope I can get back into the swing of things!

Here's some highlights:

• Celebrated some birthdays (my partner's 39th, my sister's 28th, my friend's 40-something)
• I got a new job! I actually started it last week. It's going to be a lot to learn, but I'm excited to have escaped the toxic hellscape that has been my reality for the past few years.
• This weekend, I turned in my thesis! So I only have to defend and then I am done with my MFA! The joy I feel! I'm very ready to be done with this program and focus on my goals moving forward.
• I started therapy again!
• I also got to attend my town's local pride parade this year (first one ever) and it was so amazing. I also went to a queer mixer by our local bookstore that I'll absolutely be going to again.

And, of course, some lows:

• Didn't recognize my burnout until it was too late, so now trying to recover.
• Had the worst mental health I've had in months, until I found a new job (but, the world also makes it hard to "keep a positive outlook," as it were).
• Had a health scare with my dog (she's fine!) that cost a nice $200 I would have liked to spent somewhere else.
• The entire state of America right now makes it really hard to try and improve your mental health.
• I'm very stressed financially. I have no idea how I'm going to pay my student loans. I'm so tired of being in debt. Yet I can't figure out how to live any other way, so...

Content Consumed

Reading has definitely taken a backburner, due to mental health struggles, Diablo IV releasing and just not having the time nor energy. Still, I did actually get to read a bit these past few months:

• Paradise-1 by David Wellington
• Reign and Ruin by J.D. Evans (a new favorite!)
• The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick

Considering I'm averaging about a book a month and am roughly 20 books behind on my yearly reading goal...OOF.

Other media I've been enjoying includes:

• Diablo IV: now that the game has fully released, I am fully committed and playing it practically every night. I have a few of my partner's friends that I play with sometime, which makes it really fun. I'm a level 71 Rogue named Amadea, who I named after Erin M. Evans' character in one of my favorite books ever, Empire of Exiles. So at least if I'm not reading, I'm still honoring it somehow? *lolsob*

Highlight Hello

I want to highlight a few blog posts that I've really enjoyed recently (as I was able to spend the afternoon blog hopping and actually catching up).

• Meredith's update post had me rooting for her so hard! If you're not following her blog, you should be!
• Charvi's post about writing and fearing to write resonated a lot with me, obviously.

Also, I have a few friends who have published books recently, so I want to hype them up, too. They include:

• ​Ice Upon a Pier by Ladz
• ​Jagged Emerald City by R.K. Brainerd
• ​Kingdom of Blood and Gold by Joyce Chua

Advocacy Action

I think it's safe to say we all love books here? As the world because more and more of a trashfire, let's help make a banned bookstore come to life! Support Leah Johnson and her vision for a banned bookstore in Indianapolis by donating to the GoFundMe here!

Thanks for Reading!

Thank you all for joining me on this newsletter! Again, I apologize that it was long overdue. I hope you're hanging in there! Also, if you ever want to connect on the various socials, you can always find me via my LinkTree! (I really hope Twitter doesn't die, because I really don't want to to do visual or video platforms, but alas.)

Until next month!

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