Last Updated on July 6, 2022 by ThoughtsStained
Hello, lovelies! Welcome to another Bookish Breakdown installment, my monthly wrap-up post. In these Bookish Breakdowns, I discuss life generally for the past month. Also, I share last month’s reading, as well as life musings, blog hopping links and intention updates!
Is it too dramatic to label June as one of the worst months of my life? Well, it fucking was, so I guess if that makes me dramatic, so be it. After two and a half years of being so bloody careful, I got COVID. And, because my doctor’s said it “wasn’t necessary” to test officially, no idea what strain.
I do plan to write a bit more about this as a blog post (maybe next week?), so I won’t get into a lot of detail here. Trust me: that post is going to be a doozy. But, I started showing symptoms of June 14th and I am still trying to recover now (July 6th). I think that in and of itself tells you a lot.
Then, you know, SCOTUS is still a thing and fucking up people’s lives and rights.
So, yeah. June was abysmal.
I feel like, because of this, this Bookish Breakdown is going to be very, very short. Because creatively? Well, I didn’t do much of a damn thing.
Bookish Breakdown: Reading
What I Read
You’d think being sick for a month would get your girl to read more. Alas, my brain had the energy for nothing. I did enjoy both of my reads, though: Star Eater by Kerstin Hall is going to leave me thinking for a long time. While Dare to Be a Duchess by Sapna Bhog was a very pleasant historical romance!
What I Hauled
Nothing! And thank God for my wallet for that.
Reading Challenges Update
What: A yearly challenge tracked via StoryGraph of how my books I want to read this year.
Goal: 50 Books
Status: 15/50 Books
What: A personal challenge I’ve put upon myself to read at least one antiracist book a month (or 12 a year).
Goal: 12 Books
Status: 3/12 Books
What: A personal challenge where I want to do a better job that of reading books written by (or featuring protagonists) that aren’t the publishing “standard”, i.e, white, male, able-bodied, straight and based on Western cultures or Christian/Catholic religions.
Goal: More books that break away from that “standard” than books that do.
Status: 10/25
What: A yearly challenge hosted by Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction and Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight where you write and share your bookish discussion posts!
Goal: 24 Discussion Post (Chatty Kathy Level)
Status: 14/24 Posts
Posts:
- Let’s Talk Bookish: 2022 Reading Goals
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Blogger and Audience Relationship
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Changing Book Ratings
- Book Bloggers, Why Aren’t We Kinder to Ourselves?
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Maintaining A Blog Aesthetic
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Updating Old Content
- When A Reader Fights Reading
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Evolution of Book Blogging
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Book Blogging Joys and Pet Peeves
- The Importance of Commenting on Book Blogs
- Reading and Mental Health
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Rapid Fire Book Blogging Takes
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Book Blogging Friendships
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Tracking Your Reading
Bookish Breakdown: Blogging
What I Posted
My consistent blogging schedule was severely broken in June. First, it was because we entered our busiest season at work and I was too drained to do anything. Then, COVID hit and well…three posts made it when I usually average 14-16 a month.
Oof, I miss blogging. 😭
Posts Published May 2022
Read Around the Blogosphere
Also, I really feel like I should have been able to read blog posts, right? Yet the idea of trying to catch up on my 300+ posts listed on Feedly always felt too daunting. So, no blog hopping for me. Which I also severely miss.
Other Bloggers’ Posts I Loved
- SOON
Intentions Check-In
As you saw from my intentions post, I tried to narrow in my focus this year. So, I check in each month below. Mostly, so I don’t lose sight of what I’m hoping to achieve, change and celebrate! Bookish Breakdown felt like a good place to do just that.
^^ At least, that’s what I usually do. Not this month. Maybe next.
TBD
TBD
TBD
Looking Forward
Thanks for reading this month’s Bookish Breakdown. It is the shortest monthly wrap up I think I’ve ever done. I very much look forward to (hopefully soon) getting involved once more in the things I love. I’m trying to take it slow and recover as much as my day job will allow, despite that being seriously challenging.
Thank you for everyone for being so understanding, especially those on my Patreon who have received no content for a month. Thanks for sticking with me.
🖤
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![Not me needing to repost this announcement because my first post had a typo. I promise I can actually edit! 😅
REPOST of original message below:
I've been thinking a lot about publishing and the barriers it places, particularly on traditionally underrepresented and marginalized writers. As an editor, I wanted to try and break down those barriers a bit.
So, going forward from now and forevermore, if you identity as a queer, BIPOC or disabled writer, you'll receive 10% any full manuscript edit. No need to self-disclose how you qualify. I will trust you at your word!
Another stigma (that's being broken!) that still exists is that self-published authors write at less quality than trad--pubbed writers. We all know this is bullshit! But, to help support my indie badasses, your first edit with me for a novel you plan to self publish will be 10% off.
**Please note these discounts are for full manuscript edits, including: developmental edits, copy edits and proofreading.**
Curious? DM me or email me through my website, linked below!
Link here: https://thoughtsstainedwithink.com/editorial
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Man, sorry COVID hit you so hard! Seems like everybody who’s managed to avoid it so far is getting it now; I got it in early May (though it was thankfully mild). Hope you can rest and recover and find a way to hit the mental reset button. New month, new start hopefully!
Thank you, Caitlin. I’m pretty nervous to see the next few months, pandemic wise. I don’t think it’s going to be good here, so here’s hoping we can avoid it in the future (and I’m *so* glad your case was mild).
I’m so sorry that you got COVID and that it hit you so hard. My whole family recent got it after my parents came back from traveling to Europe and some of them are also still recovering and trying to get back to “normal” again. I hope July sees you feeling better and I hope you can get back to doing the things you enjoy soon! 🙂
Thank you so much, Dini! And I’m so sorry to hear about your family too. I hope they are recovered and have no lingering side effects!
So sorry to hear about your COVID. It’s like a double-whammy when it comes after being so careful, isn’t it? Agree with the above, hope July and onwards are much better 🙂
It *definitely* feels like a double whammy. Thank you, Calypte!
June SUCKED! I am sorry you were knocked down by COVID though. I know people said the brain fog makes it near impossible to read, so don’t feel too bad about it. I hope you’re better now and reading all 5 star books!
Thank you so much, Kal. 🖤