Recent Reads #1

I’ve been reading nonstop all year. More now with a purpose than ever before. Thanks to grad school, there is a more analytical focus to my reading than ever before. Don’t get me wrong, I still read for mindless fun, but I also read to grow my gargantuan brain. And it all varies by what’s on the agenda and what I’m writing. For example, I’ve spent a good part of this year reading possible comparable titles for my own novel, so my list is very YA heavy.  And I’m usually always working my way through something nonfiction, usually on the craft of writing, which I probably won’t bore you with. 

I’m trying to get back in the habit of sharing my Recent Reads, so here it goes… 

Rating System

(And since I know how hard it is to write a book, my rating system begins at three stars; yes, you get two free stars just for finishing and publishing a book). 

⭐⭐⭐ Eh, at best. Proceed with caution.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good, especially if it’s your genre.  Admittedly, a WIDE range.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ FANTASTIC. Read it. For real.

The Handmaid's Secret by Freida McFadden ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Millie has her secrets, which is why she can’t be too picky when it comes to employers, especially those who pay well. I’ll be honest. I thought Millie might have wisened up since the last time, but no. For fans of Jane Eyre and book one in the Handmaid’s series, this is a quick read. 

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (YA) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

A professor of mine introduced me to Jennifer Lynn Barnes at a St. Louis YA Book Festival, where I watched teenagers FREAK out for her work, so I had to know. And I loved it! Avery Grambs, the twists, turns, puzzles and mysteries, not to mention the entire Hawthorn clan, good, bad, indifferent, manipulative, sneaky, and as sinister as they can be. This book lived up to the hype. After finishing book one, I ordered the next two. 

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hilarious magical realism about a nanny who finds her place caring for the senator’s children. They aren’t bad kids; they just happen to catch on fire. 

I read an excerpt of this in one of my MFA classes, and swooped it up on Kindle with digital credit when it went on sale.

The Witness by Nora Roberts ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cute. Fun. A bit twisty. It’s been a while since I read Nora, and she’s still a quick read. A little sappy for my tastes in my cynical, jaded old age, but the ending was a good one, and the dog lived. 🙂 

What are you reading? What do you recommend? Have you read these? I’d love to hear from you. Share your thoughts in the comments. 

Until next time, find your creative, embrace your wild side, stay sane(ish), and happy reading!

Best, Aspen Hite

Happy International Writers' Day

 

📷credit: Chen

Can I See Your ID? 

Last night, I cruised through Hit-N-Run (a drive-thru convenience store where a human comes to your car, takes your order, gathers your items from the store, and then brings them to you in your car).

The young clerk (probably 20-ish, but he looked 12) took my order.

Him: Can I see your ID?

Me: Aww…aren’t you sweet.
Him: Why’s that, ma’am (the tell-tale lingo for an old lady)?
Me (as I reach for my ID): Well, I’m gonna be 49 this year.
Him: You know, ma’am, 49 isn’t that old; it’s like middle age.
Me: I’m not sure I’m gonna make it to 100.
His face drops. Him: Oh yeah. I guess not. (Then he works really hard to recover). But you know, ma’am, you really only look about 32, maybe even 30.

He smiled at me and collected payment before he walked back inside. Grinning and giddy, but without any cash on hand, I rifled around the vehicle gathering, every last quarter I could find and gave them all to him as a tip. He thanked me profusely. And I him.

He was a sweet kid, and he's gonna need all his extra cash for a good eye doctor. 👀🤷‍♀️🤣

The End

I appreciate you stopping by. Feel free to leave your thoughts on this super-short Creative Nonfiction in the comments section. 

Until next time: Be creative. Find your wild side. Stay sane(ish). ✌️

~Aspen Hite

Advice from Mulligan the Wise: Old Dogs and New Tricks

 

Does Your Dog Write Stories? Mine Does. 
Meet Mulligan, my 10 yr old black lab and one of my greatest muses. (***He's also pure perfection with the sweetest soul of any creature I've ever met, so there's that.💓 )

Well, he's been working on this story, and he's adamant I share it. He worked very hard on in, so please be patient. And remember...he's a dog.
Enjoy his story 😉📝🐕‍

Hello, my name is Mulligan. I'm also known as Muggies, Snuggies, Snug-a-bug, Snugtasticness, Sweet Boy, The Sweet Angel Baby, Big Silky, and in truth, the list goes on...my lady has an imagination and comes up with new stuff all the time. She might be a little crazy, but she's mine, and I love her.

Anyway, I'm the one who doesn't get as much screen time. I imagine you've all heard about Bo? It’s always ‘Bo this’ and ‘Bo that’…UGH! I call him Jerky (well, I have other names, but my lady said they weren't appropriate for a public story). And let me tell you... Jerky's no peach to live with. 🙄

When that guy arrived, my life was turned upside down! I lost my toys in the house for a looooong time because he couldn't play responsibly. He's rough. He's steals my stuff. He jumps on me. He takes my lady's attention. He's a menace. Yes, I know he adores me deep down in his odd socially inept way, but still!

Anyway, the point is not to wallow about Jerky's flaws, it's about sharing what I've learned. With my age has come some wisdom. Yes, he is younger and faster (...I mean seriously, have you seen him move? Sheesh! Like lightning ⚡ ), and he's way more agile, but I'm smarter. Plain and simple.

I want the toy Jerky is chewing on? No problem. I just sidle up to my lady, snuggle and give her a big wet kiss. She turns to goo and it drives Jerky wild. He dismisses everything in front of him and runs to her! This is great for me...I just got my snuggle on and now the Lovesac and the Kong are open...free...and ripe for the picking. Plus once I get to all the glory, my lady will never let him take it from me. Sucker. Too bad he's impulsive and obstinate. But he's learning, too.

In fact, we recently went on a road trip. Not only did my lady put Jerky in his place, but she showed me I'm really the boss. In fact, I've always been the boss...it was inside of me all the time.

So now, I'm here to tell you old dogs can learn new tricks. Totally. Sometimes all on their own. Sometimes with the help of others.

By Mulligan the Wise (aka Boss Man)