August Highlights

SO I OFFICIALLY STARTED SCHOOL ON MONDAY AND IT'S ACTUALLY NOT AS BAD AS I REMEMBER?? And somehow I gained the superhuman strength of speed-of-light note-taking?? MAYBE THIS IS A RESULT OF REALM MAKERS. *deeply ponders this awesome new superpower*

Anywhozens, life. Things! *feels so eloquent*

• I'm a junior! I have six classes and twelve textbooks. *dies a little, inside*
• I finally saw The Phantom of the Opera! Not the play, of course (I wish!), but I did get to see the movie and the Royal Albert Hall recording! I'm so in love but also kinda weirded out because I BASICALLY GOT WHIPLASH FROM THAT LOVE TRIANGLE (#TeamRaoulForever). Still, all the Paris Opera House aesthetics. 💗
• Once Upon a Time, season six, is now on Netflix. SO MUCH YES.
• Our congregation had a bonfire (pic below)! AND WE SAW GLOW-IN-THE-DARK PLANKTON.

READING CORNER

So it looks like I totally cheated and only read two short stories and an essay this month but I promise that, in reality, I READ MORE. Since I kinda meshed my July Highlights with parts of this month's, I got, like, A TON of books read "in July". SO THERE. I have officially defended myself.

1. Tyra by Jaye L. Knight [4/5]. (I CANNOT WAIT TO READ EXILES. THIS BOOK MADE ME LOVE/MISS THE LAND OF ILYON SSOOO MUCH. *scribbles on planner to buy Exiles ASAP*) Anywhozens, the verdict: Tyra was such a sweet story! AND ALL MY BABY CHARACTER FAVS IN ONE PLACE. ❤ Jace and baby Tyra and baby Tyra and Jace. ❤ OH MY HEARTS.

2. Threadbare by Bethany A. Jennings [5/5]. ALL THE FEELSSS. This story had a little bit of a different vibe from Dragon Lyric; it was more like Percy Jackson meets... Once Upon a Time or Harry Potter, maybe? I do not know. BUT IT WAS BASICALLY AWESOME, OKAY. I WILL ADORE BETHANY'S BOOKS ALWAYS AND FOREVER. 😻

3. How to Say Nothing in 500 Words by Paul McHenry Roberts [4-ish/5]. This was actually pretty decent for assigned reading (backstory: I USUALLY LOATHE ASSIGNED READING). I really liked how Roberts zeroed in on the showing versus telling!

BOOK HAUL

So I somehow ended up with, like, a ton of books this month?? #noproblem I ALSO CAME TO THE HORRID REALIZATION THAT I WILL PROBABLY DIE BEFORE I READ ALL 3000-ish BOOKS ON MY GOODREADS TBR. *ugly sobbing* Oh well.

You may have noticed that my camera lighting and I had A VERY HEATED ARGUMENT. Neither of us was very happy with the other.

1. Zombie Takeover by Michele Israel Harper.
2. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.
3. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard.
4. Unraveling by Sara Ella.
5. Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen (not pictured).
6. The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson.
7. Matched by Ally Condie.
8. The Rise of the Wyrm Lord by Wayne Thomas Batson.

WRITING DESK

SO I CONQUERED MY AUGUST GOALS AND NOW BECAUSE OF MIDNIGHT POISON IS OFFICIALLY OUTLINED!!!! *throws confetti* *holds an epic dance party*

September Goal: Write draft one of BoMP! My original goal was to handwrite it, -- that's right, ALL of it -- but then I remembered that I may be a superhero, BUT I'M NOT CRAZY. Between History notes and Pre-Calculus notes and Physics notes and even more notes, I have decided that Because of Midnight Poison WILL (hopefully) be typed!

Current/Overall WIP Goal: Finish draft one in October! And then, LET EDITING COMMENCE. *releases a fierce battle cry*

AUGUST BLOG POSTS*

*Since my last wrap-up post. 😉

ELSEWHERE IN THE BLOGOSPHERE

Hannah S.J. Williams finished her third draft of Moonscript! *bursts into applause* I'm so excited for Hannah and her being one step closer to publication! 💜

AmyNikita of A Magical World of Words, Katie Grace of A Writer's Faith, and Savannah Grace of Scattered Scribblings all celebrated their blogiversaries this month! Congratulations, girls! Here's to many more! *hugs*

Kendra E. Ardnek revealed her six new covers for The Bookania Quests trilogy, The Ankulen, and The Rizkaland Legends series! Let me just say, THEY ARE GORGEOUS. *raises glass to Alea Harper and Kendra's expert cover designing* Kendra's also running a giveaway to celebrate, so be sure to swing by!

~

Speaking of giveaways, I have a rather exciting surprise to share on Monday... JUST STAY TUNED, 'KAY? 😉 💖

Yo, Dragons! 🐉

What's up in your world? Have you started school, yet?

❤,