Thoughts on the Journey

Life has been full with fact-checking and interviews because the job search is always present. Today I had a tough interview that I got through and feel like I presented myself as I wanted to in. I'm also reading a lot of good books and have finished a mix of great and okay books. Also last week, I saw Hal Holbrook's Mark Twain Tonight and the choices he made of using Twain's words to speak about racism was amazing and I want to write in more depth about it. It struck me with the power of theater.

What I finished reading

Uprooted by Naomi Novik, this book hit me in a lot of places I knew. The worry of not fitting, stories, not being who you're supposed to be and how to be yourself when everyone wants you to be someone else. This is one of the best books that has a fairy tale at its heart but is its own thing that I've read in a long time.

I Kissed An Earl by Julie Anne Long, part of her Pennyroyal Green series. I enjoyed reading this book that plays with the tropes of a bored debutante and a captain with a hard past but it didn't hit me as hard as I expected. An enjoyable romance, well written, great characters and a wonderful understanding of certain tropes but not my favorite of her books.

What I'm currently reading

the Book of Phoenix by Nnedi Okorafor which is fantastic. The writing is beautiful and the setting is fascinating. I've been meaning to read her and I'm hooked.

The Attenbury Emeralds by Jill Paton Walsh, this is her third Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane mystery. When they first came out, I read her books and was impressed with how she wrote Peter and Harriet. This one is definitely hooking me.

Welcome to Paradise by Rosalind James. This is an ebook I picked up because the author's from New Zealand and I was curious. Its caught me which I never expected. The setting is a reality tv show that's a cross between Survivor and those shows where people have to live like its another era. I also find the use of a reality tv show clever as she can play with tropes and intense situations and it works in a way that it doesn't always in contemporary romance.The writing and characters feel real so I think I'll be reading more of Rosalind James.

What I'm reading next
Probably Brothers in Arms by Lois McMaster Bujold which is technically a reread as I have some ideas about writing fic and RP for Ivan Vorpatril. Before I do that I have to remind myself of the various versions of him and this will turn into an entire canon reread.

At the middle of this week, I'm feeling pretty good. I have an interview for the beginning of July and I'm finding some other job openings. Also there was a gorgeous thunderstorm last night which I was able to get pictures of, the clouds were unreal.

What I've finished reading:
For Your Arms Only by Caroline Linden which is my favorite type of historical romance. The characters feel real, there's a discussion of the Napoleonic War and no one's perfect. This book cemented for me that a well written wounded hero realizing that they do bring good into the world and the partner who helps them heal and grow is one of my romance catnips.

The Murder at Hazelmoor by Agatha Christie, which was one I hadn't read before and a mixed bag. It had a wonderful young woman sleuth who was solving the mystery to save her fiancee and she worked with an interesting journalist. The mystery was complicated but the characters were intriguing, the end kind of annoyed me as the romance story went a weird way. I hate the trope of the strong woman staying with a weak man because she'll keep him out of trouble.

What I'm currently reading:
Huck Finn's America: Mark Twain and the Era That Shaped His Masterpiece by Andrew Levy. I picked this book up at the library since I'm always interested in Huck Finn and was in a nonfiction mood. So far I'm liking how the author is pulling in a lot of aspect of the time that Twain grew up in and wrote in about how that changed his writing.

What I'm going to read next:
I think The Baron Next Door by Erin Knightley as I picked it up as a hold. Other than that I don't know, picking the next book is always tricky and depends on my mood.

Life has been busy for me in some good ways but also tiring ones. The air is full of pollen so I seem to always be a little bit congested but its not too bad just annoying. Job stuff is full as I've had interviews and have some others lined up and I substituted yesterday. I feel hopeful like maybe this year, I'll have someone say, yes, we want you. Though I'm also spending a lot of time waiting which is where substituting is helpful, money and it keeps me busy and I enjoy teaching.

I've gotten behind on noting what books I read so I'm going to do that today.

What I finished reading

Love with a Perfect Cowboy by Lori Wilde. I read this book for the Smart Bitches, Trashy Books RITA reader reviews and I enjoyed it. I don't normally read a lot of contemporaries but I enjoyed this one. Its set in this little town in Texas called Cupid and starts with the heroine, Melody, an ad exec in New York City getting fired and dumped. It really resonated with me in terms of how sometimes life just happens a lot at you and she felt real. Then she meets an old flame and goes back to Texas. I liked the book though some of the sex scenes were a bit too much of beautiful people and not as much the characters. It reminded me a little of Gilmore Girls in terms of tiny town and characters I cared about.

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh which is an amazing book I picked up at the ALA Midwinter conference, it comes out on May 12th and retells the Scherazade story. I loved it as the focus is on Shahrzad who's sister was killed by the Caliph Khalid and she volunteers to marry him and try to change what's happening. There are elements of romance, politics and even some magic in it and its apparently the first book of a series. It reminded me of many of my favorite stories with a fantasy/fairy tale feel like The Seven Realms' Books by Cinda Williams Chima and Deathless. I recommend it.

What I'm reading now.

Last Friday was the library book sale and I picked up a lot of books but at the moment I'm only reading There is a Tide by Agatha Christie. I'm pretty sure I've seen the Suchet of this book and probably read it at some point but I can't recall when.

What I'm going to read next.

I'm thinking that I'm going to read some nonfiction as its been a while since I read any. I have a couple of interesting choices that I picked up at the library book sale. One called Flower Confidential about the flower growing industry. Chrysalis about a woman naturalist, Paperboy, a memoir by Henry Petroski, an engineer who's writing I enjoy and one about Nellie Taft. Though I might end up choosing from among my huge pile of books to read, but I'm thinking nonfiction next.

I don't want to get sick as there are a lot of chores I have to do for various job stuff, cover letters to write and a test to take for a part-time job.

The weather here is windy and cold but not snowing and I just helped my parents to clean the big freezer. They're getting ready for another trip and now it will be set for my use.

In a good accomplishment, I finished up a little fic that I've had in mind for a while with The Flash and I think I'm going to end up with a few fics for the Golden Oldies Porn Battle. I have a whole bunch of prompts that I didn't use in other years and I feel like I'm starting to get my writing groove back.

Always a cop (670 words) by FiKate
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Flash (TV 2014)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Barry Allen, Iris West, Joe West
Additional Tags: Families of Choice, Police, Adopted Sibling Relationship
Summary:

After Joe told Iris she couldn't apply for the police academy, Barry tried to help and mainly succeeded. A glimpse into an earlier time in the West household.

She bit her lip before going up to her room, she wouldn’t slam the door or cry, not where he could see her, she was an adult. There was a creak as Barry’s door opened a few inches while he peered out, “Iris?”

“Why are you even here? You have a dorm room.”

From umadoshi a meme I like as I'm starting to reach that moment of eek, a week from today I'll be in Chicago for Midwinter and I'm getting substitute calls. All of this is good but a lot at once so I'm going to do a writing meme.

When you see this, share 3 random lines from 3 WIPs. Now all of these WiPs are ones that I haven't touched in a while, maybe all the upcoming travel will help to get my writing game in gear again.

The first is a bit that was originally in my ineedmyfics story about Sam Wilson but didn't fit.

“What happened next, Miss James?” The lawyer’s voice was kind as Teresa, who had been a mechanic in Iraq clenched her hands and sought out his eyes. He gave her a nod, he believed in her and understood what had happened.

Then there's an AU about Charles and Erik where they're both captured and their memories are messed with.

She gave him a look and he managed a smile for her as she left, he didn’t want her to become annoyed with him, but he needed space and Erik. Why was it so important to have Erik there?

The last one is me going through the October Daye books with a slant on Quentin and Raj, this is a moment from Late Eclipses.

Quentin grumbled before Raj laid down on top of him and immediately fell to sleep with a rumbling in his chest that felt sort of nice. The way Raj was it was hard to move, so he ended up sagging and finally sleeping until the alarm on his phone went off and he felt Raj’s claws in his legs, “Ow, get up.”

I still have days open on this meme, leave me topics or fic prompts over here.

Before I start on the meme, I wanted to mention how amazing my yesterday was. I'd heard from my mentor that there was an opening at another local library, so my mom and I decided to drive out to get a look at it. The library was a little odd, because of a strange interaction but also a good one with the people at the desk. From that awkwardness, we decided to head to another nearby library and found out that they have an opening which I applied to today. It would be doing what I want to, not full time but enough hours that I could make it work with other options. I'm feeling rather hopeful.

For today, dodger_sister asked me favorite Christmas memory.

There are two memories that are tied for me on this and both happened when I was younger. The first one was when I got Kirsten, the American Girl doll for Christmas. I was younger than ten and I loved American Girl, I was slowly collecting all of the books for the original three. Every month, I think I would get the catalog and it was a dream catalog for me, I didn't expect to ever own one of the dolls since I knew how expensive they were. I remember in the kitchen and throughout those years, my parents explaining how much they cost and I came to accept I wouldn't get one. It wasn't always easy but I manaaged. I had friends who had them, but my focus at that point was on the books which felt possible. Kirsten was my favorite because we have the same birthday.

Then on Christmas Day, after we had opened most of the presents, my parents brought out another box for me. It was Kirsten, they hadn't put her under the tree, because the size of the box was too recognizable. That was one of the best Christmases and I still have her and many great memories connected to her.

The second one is from when I think I was a little younger, I don't remember how old but also elementary school. My brother's room was next to mine and he put a sign up telling me to stay out, he normally didn't do that, so I was confused. Then I found out the reason on Christmas Day when this tiny kitten, all white except for a black V on her head and the ends of her paws was brought down for me. She was named Mary and the first pet who was truly mine. Sadly she didn't live very long, but I loved her a lot.

The world has been rainy and strange these past two days as I get ready to head off to an interview. Yesterday, I dreamed of the interview and last night I dreamed of Charles and Erik arranging an art auction to raise money for mutants. They were both nice but strange dreams. I'm taking care of all my bits and pieces before heading out for this trip and trying not to get sick. Tea is helping a good deal as does the fact that nothing is too far away.

In a sure sign of how I'm nervous, I've written fic thanks to a great ficathon that Ashie recommended.


A multi fandom women comment ficathon (#3)
(click on the picture)


A burst (183 words) by FiKate
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Iron Man (Movies)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Relationships: Pepper Potts/Tony Stark
Characters: Pepper Potts, Tony Stark, Aldrich Killian
Additional Tags: Domestic Violence, Canon-Typical Violence, Established Relationship, Iron Man 3, Prompt Fic
Summary:

Written from the prompt: iron man, pepper potts(/iron man), i am an avenging goddess at Mortals shall bow; a multifandom comment ficathon.

Near the end of Iron Man 3, Pepper thinks on the violence in and around her, reference to past domestic violence and canon violence.

Promise you the Moon (588 words) by FiKate
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Gilmore Girls
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Rory Gilmore/Jess Mariano
Characters: Rory Gilmore, Jess Mariano
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Past Relationship(s), Kissing, Prompt Fic, Journalism, Travel
Summary:

Written for the prompt: gg, jess/rory, she said i had a dirty mouth, but she kissed me like she meant it at the Mortals shall bow; a multifandom women comment ficathon.

As Rory travels with the Obama press, she thinks of past kisses and reconnects with Jess in Philadelphia.

Now for more tea as I try and get my thoughts in order.

Summer has arrived bringing with it all the tourists, drives that normally take me ten minutes, this weekend suddenly take twenty and no one knows how to cross a street. Fact-checking is keeping me busy but this one is going faster than the other and it will be done before my birthday. I've been reading such a variety of reviews of Days of Future Past, I think I just need to take a deep breath and see it. Though if anyone wants a visit to the shore and a chance to help me react, my place is open. Everyone lives too far away.

Apparently a weird side effect of fact checking while in the house on my own is I write fics that stand on their own and appear in my head. Last night, I wrote a crossover of Archie Goodwin from the Nero Wolfe books and pre-Captain America Steve and Bucky. This was fun to write as I adore Archie's narrative voice and if you want someone to visualize, Timothy Hutton played him in the TV version.

Another witness (1089 words) by FiKate
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Nero Wolfe - Rex Stout, Captain America (Movies)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Archie Goodwin, James "Bucky" Barnes, Steve Rogers, Fritz Brenner, Nero Wolfe
Additional Tags: POV Outsider, Pre-Captain America: The First Avenger, Friendship, Brooklyn, 1930s
Summary:

Archie Goodwin's investigating a case and has to haul out to Brooklyn to get an art student named Steve Rogers for Nero Wolfe to interview. A brief glimpse into Steve and Bucky's lives before the War and Archie in the midst of an annoying case. Thank you to Ashie for betaing.

The next witness was out in Brooklyn and I wasn’t bringing the sedan out that way, I’d take a cab and the client could eat it. It took the cabbie a bit to find the address, but I did and went looking for number 5C and the Barnes’ residence where Steven Rogers was living.

I finished my fact-checking job! I found out that I really like fact-checking even though it kind of eats all my mental space. It reminds me of when I was working at the Seaport Museum and I got lost in logbooks to prepare them for archive precis, but this time I'm making sure the history given to kids is right. Also people pay me to go poke history and go, you know, that seems way too simple. What's really going on? I love it and they pay me. I don't know if I'll get another book since I'll be traveling to DC the rest of the week and then off to LA for a job interview the next week but this is a freelance job I could do.

Since I'm uploading and emailing it all away and tomorrow driving to DC for the job fair, I'm going to open myself up to prompts. I miss writing and road trips are the best for giving me time to think and hopefully words to come out. DC folks, I'll have my laptop and if you need my telephone number, DM or PM or whatever me, because want to see you guys. I recall a fantastic Mexican place that I went with college friends somewhere around Dupont Circle that I want to find again and its Winter Soldier time. Movie watching probably won't happen as that always requires major planning but coffee, dinner, whatever works for me. I'll be free after 4:30 on Friday and all day Saturday.

Now for a great prompt meme from walksbyherself. Below the cut are One Hundred Prompts. Pick one or two or however many, give me characters and get a drabble or more. Open to AUs, RPs, everything. I want to write again.

( 100 Prompts! )

And I really need to do a road trip or something up New England way as this fact-checking reminded me that I last was a tourist in Boston when I was in high school. It was a marching band trip and a lot of fun but a few decades away.

I don't think I'm going to do the year end meme this year as the majority of my year was spent reacting to what happened in the early part of last year. Instead I'm going to focus on what's ahead and on creating some new roads for myself.

Yesterday I was part of one of the best New Year's Eve celebrations that I've ever been a part of. I helped the children's librarian set up something called Noon Year's Eve, a party for the kids with crafts, food and a balloon drop. We opened the doors at 11 am and I left at around 1 pm and it was fantastic. This is the first time that the library has done this kind of party though they happen at other museums so we didn't know how many people would we get. At the max, we had about fifty kids plus attached family members, it was wonderful and chaotic. People swirled in and out, and entire families stopped by. I did a lot of corralling of kids and families, smiled so much that my mouth hurt and was reminded of how I love being a children's librarian. One of the people there even asked me if I'd organized it all, which was a huge compliment. Then I came home and didn't do a lot until some family friends arrived at 7:30 for some drinks and my parents and I had a quiet night in.

Today I slept in late and I've been slowly spending the various gift cards I got and I'm pushing through The Book Thief. I don't like it at all, it feels very contrived and like the author was going hm, what sort of book will get me the most accolades without requiring much work to write? I'm reading it because the children's librarian had a copy and lent it to me, also at some point its going to be a book for my parent's book club. Normally I would have given up on it, but it was lent to me and I want to write a really scathing review and I'll feel more comfortable doing that if I finish it. I feel like some of you on my flist have read it, but can't recall who. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

In terms of plans for the next few days, I'm going to be writing up the app for vorpatril, finally sending off some holiday stuff and getting back into the world of job finding.

For Yuletide, I had a great year and received two wonderful stories and wrote one in a new fandom for me. NightsMistress wrote me by blood and breath, the post canon Sameth story that I always wanted with the complicated and painful dynamics of the family and Sameth's view on the world. Astolat wrote me Twice Removed, a brilliant Nero Wolfe story that feels like Rex Stout could have written it.

My own shield (1818 words) by FiKate
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Eight Days of Luke - Diana Wynne Jones
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Luke/Sigyn (Eight Days of Luke)
Characters: Astrid Price, David Allard, Luke (Eight Days of Luke), Þórr | Thor, Sif (Norse Religion & Lore), Sigyn (Norse Religion & Lore)
Additional Tags: Families of Choice, Past Relationship(s), Divorce, past imprisonment, Adulthood, References to Norse Religion & Lore
Summary:

The request for this fic was for Astrid after canon with some Loki tossed in and I went with that. I got to wondering about how would she find her way and if perhaps some of those other Norse gods might come and help. This fic ended up being Astrid, Sif and Sigyn have conversations about being your own woman while David, Thor and Loki are off doing other things. I hope you enjoy it as I found it a pleasure to write.

Small warning for references to an unhappy marriage and a home life of neglect.

It truly was armor somehow, captured in the knitting to reflect her true self like how if you looked just right, Thor’s hammer was always on his belt. Astrid had read of her, a warrior who had to prove her worth but respected by all the gods and warriors. And now she was standing in this small kitchen, with the stove that spat fire if it wasn’t lit correctly, having tea.

GloriaMundi wanted a fic about Astrid, who I enjoyed when reading Eight Days of Luke, so I had a beginning right away. Then I got stuck until I started thinking about Norse goddesses and that helped the story to come together for me. Ashie was my wonderful beta. I love being part of Yuletide and I've read a lot of fantastic stories.