Last Updated on June 30, 2020 by ThoughtsStained

Hello, lovelies!

Well, this has been a month, that’s for certain. COVID-19 cases continue to rise since the US has not only tried to reopen everything way too early, but it has also: a government that cares more about white supremacy and money than it goes protecting it’s people; too many people who care more for themselves than doing something for the collective good; turned something as simple and protective as wearing a face mask into a political issue, amongst a plethora of reasons why our country continues to be laughing stock and embarrassment on the global scale.

Then, the university I work for announced that it is going to hold in-person classes this fall, with an average population of 35,000+ students, and isn’t allowing anyone to stay home and work remote unless they divulge health-related issues, despite having the obvious ability to work from home.

It’s also orientation season, which is where we are completely overworked, so that’s been really draining.

Then, in publishing, it’s been hit after hit, as racial inequality has been confronted with the #PublishingPaidMe realities and the lack of diversity amongst staff. Then, many brave victims came forward to discuss the names of those authors who have been serial abusers and sexual predators at cons and other professional spaces, like Paul Krueger, Myke Cole, Sam Sykes, amongst others. I haven’t read any aside from Sykes, who I praised and supported. I announced I would no longer support him or his works, unfollowed all of them from Twitter and will no longer read their books.

So, yeah, I’m not particularly bummed that June is over, but I’m also not bummed it happened, either? Because this is the work that needs to be done, even though it’s hard to live through.

Despite all of that, it hasn’t been the worst month. I didn’t read much, but I have made a lot of progress on my edits for BLOOD PRICE. I got to be there for my little sister as she got married. I ate good food and played fun video games with my boyfriend and my dog is still as cute as ever. I have been working on confronting my own role in our racist system through starting the Justice in June work and sharing those resources here on my blog. I celebrated Pride with so many others online. I started therapy.

There’s darkness, but there’s also light.

What I Read

Scenes and Sequels: How to Write Page-Turning Fiction by Mike Klaassan [RTC]
Song of Blood and Stone by L. Penelope [Review]

What I Hauled

ARCS

**Nothing this month!**

Library Snags:

**Nothing this month**

Purchased:

**Nothing this month**

Received for Review:

**Nothing this month**

Gifts:

**Nothing this month**

What I Posted

In this section, I like to share posts that I personally wrote this past month that I either really enjoyed writing, am really proud of or wish might have gotten a little more attention.

🏰 Black Lives Matter
🏰 Moving From Performative to Actual Allyship
🏰 The Latest Step in My Editing Evolution

Reading Challenges Update

A new section I decided to add this year, so I can actually keep track of the challenges I signed up for (so I’ll hopefully actually complete them this time around).

2020 Discussion Challenge: 3/12 Discussion Posts

Not exactly where I need to be, if I want to hit my goal of 12 posts at the halfway point of the year, but I am not giving up hope, as there is still time!

• Write What You Love
• Readings Habits: The Proud and Needs Improvement — An Inspired Post!
• Tropes I Want to See More Of

Year of the Asian Readathon: 1/20

Definitely need to start making this a priority!

StartonYourShelfathon: 7/143 (3/67 ARCs)

Goodreads: 19/150

*cries in reading slump*

Intentions Update

Another new section! To try and hold myself accountable, I’ll be sharing where I’m at on the goals I’ve made for myself this year, all of which I detailed in this post.

Write two novels, edit one and write for me ✔️

Not to brag, but I am absolutely killing this goal. And, with how the next week should be a little slower, I am hoping to make a lot more process.

Productive Routine That Promotes Self-Care ✖️

Re-dedicating myself to figuring this out this July!

Six Clients ✔️

I have booked my sixth client, which is so exciting, so I reached my goal for this year. <3 Of course, I am hoping this will continue to grow, but I am pretty stoked with my progress.

Read More ✖️

Joined social media again and look what happened. Fixing this this month, let’s hope.

Cook New Recipes ✔️

We made sweet rolls from Skyrim! Does that count? 😂

Cherish Connections and Friendships More ✖️

I need to do a better job at reaching out to people. And catch up on letter writing, my goodness!

Less Social Media ✖️

And then all that progress of last month went out the window. I NEED TO CHANGE THIS.

Finish Home Projects ✖️

Negative, Commander. Although we did deep clean out house yesterday, which was sorely needed and felt really good.

Wear My Style More ✖️

*shrugs* Maybe I should alter this to actually not being afraid to buy clothes in my size (XL) and then work on finding a style?

Take More Pictures ✖️

*thumbs down*

Posts I Enjoyed

Curious what blog posts I really enjoyed around the blogsophere this month? Check them out here:

⚔️  Em @ Em’s Bookish Musings calls out the book community in regards to performative allyship and racial inequality for black people. Read. Listen. And DO BETTER. They also share a It’s Queer Here mini-blog series that’s awesome, so check it out!

⚔️  Mathieu @ Mathclrn shares their perspective on what you can do to help create hope in a world completely dominated by racism.

⚔️ Beth @ Just B More calls out fellow white people about how to do more than just performative allyship.

⚔️ Tina @ Tina’s Reading Blog shares what they read in May, as well as some great resources to help support the Black Lives Matter movement (thank you for doing that emotional labor on top of everything else, Tina!)

⚔️May @ Forever and Everly shares more fantastic resources for the Black Lives Matter movement in her monthly wrap-up post, as well as an amazing 50+ list of YA books by QPOC about QPOC!

⚔️ CW @ The Quiet Pond shares great places to start if you’re looking for how to support black lives, as well as a series of wonderful posts celebrating Pride Month!! I highly recommend you read them all, because they are amazing.

⚔️ Kal @ Reader Voracious shares different ways to get involved in the Black Lives Matter movement, from resources to education to books to videos.

⚔️ Marie @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books shares 20 YA books to read for Pride! She also shares this amazing post about book bloggers and if our work is valued. I felt it in my soul and EVERY book blogger should give it a read. Publishers, too, honestly.

⚔️ Cait @ Paper Fury discusses how to support diverse books all the time.

⚔️ Both May @ Forever and Everly and Marie @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books are hosting the 4th Annual Book Blogger Awards this year! Please go and nominate all of your favorite bloggers!

I know it’s getting hard. I know it’s an emotional, exhausting time. But, let’s hold onto this and remember:

Cheers.