Recent(ish) Reads #3

 

Welcome back! I appreciate you tuning in. Clearly, I’m terrible at keeping up with my own-self-created schedule. I can’t even pick a day of the week to post consistently (haha). And after each post, I can’t help but wonder…does anyone even read this (or any blog) anymore? 

Eh (insert a shrug), on we go…

A gentle reminder of my generous rating system. Yes, you get three stars just for writing and publishing a book. I’ve done this, and it’s no easy feat. Kudos, you get to start from the middle. 🙂 

*** Rating system ***

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

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

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ FANTASTIC. Read it. For real.

Recent(ish) Reads

A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Follow Lady Trent, the world’s preeminent dragon naturalist, as she details her very first travels to the perilous mountains of Vystrana and her first dragon interaction. 

This was not in my wheelhouse, but it was a personal recommendation by my chiropractor, and great to vary and expand my library. I got lost from time to time in the minutia of both the science and the fantasy of it, but Lady Trent is a fantastic protagonist. I quite enjoyed her first-person account of chasing a dragon, something women of the time did not do. In truth, I love any story about a woman doing something she’s not supposed to.  For fans of sci-fi-fantasy and/or adventure memoir-esque tales.

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell ⭐⭐⭐⭐+

Tremendous. Could’t put it down.  Alternating POVs between Alix and Josie. Alix is a podcaster. Josie is a ‘listener’. The plot twists and turns quickly. And when you think you know, you are wrong. Unreliable narrators, which? Both? Maybe. Maybe not. It is typical Lisa Jewell.

So why four+ stars? The twist was wrapped up a bit too quickly and neatly for me. The anticipation was spectacular. The closing was a bit anticlimactic. From a craft perspective, she’s talented as all get out. And would I love to write like this? You betcha! 

Gilded by Marissa Meyer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A YA reimagining of Rumpelstiltskin. A girl with an incredible imagination, a willingness to help those in need, and the bravery of an army crosses the terrifying and vile Erlking. She winds up in his haunted castle, where she meets a creature who can spin straw into gold, and he saves her life, more than once, but at what cost? 

This came as a suggestion for a possible comparable title (like when you buy/sell a house…same with books). When I send out query letters and pitches, I need intriguing, realistic comp titles. Not only does this one work, but it’s a wildly creative and well-told reimagining.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book stands solid in my top three with To Kill a Mockingbird, and a slew of others, all vying for third. This was my first reread (second reading), and it was much more purposeful this time, with a specific intent: to analyze Death in his omniscient narration. His voice, his perspective, his motivations, how he tells a story, what he gives the reader, what he keeps from them, and the manner in which he interacts with the reader. Death is an excellent narrator, and the writer in me got everything she needed. The reader did, too. I couldn’t help but fall in love, head over heels, with it all over again: the stories of Lisel, Rudy, Papa, Mamma, Max, and even the mayor’s wife. Even better than the first read, if that is possible. Also noteworthy is how the same book can be so magnificently perfect with each read and also so different. I guess some of that depends on where the reader is in life, too. Wherever you are, read (or reread) this magical book.   

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore ⭐⭐⭐⭐+ 

This book was recommended by a fellow writer specifically for the omniscient narration. And it is a GREAT interweaving of multiple stories, characters, and kidnappings. That said, I found the differing timelines a bit bouncy and choppy. The fantastic ending almost makes it a five, but the flipping back and forth to orient myself in time kept it at a four+ for me. 

Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Supposed to be a mindless mystery, but it was interesting. At first, I thought it was a guy reviewing mysteries, but it was more than that. Then our protagonist turns out to be a murderer. Not THE murderer of the story, but a murderer of another in another story. It ended up much more intriguing than I thought it would, and I’m very interested in our ‘protagonist’, so I would read the next in the series. 

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

  

Thesis Time: When grad school and "Star Wars" collide...

 

Photo credit: Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

Time to write the thesis. 

Do you remember that Dunkin Donuts commercial from the 80s? With the sleepy man mumbling the slogan time to make the donuts? I digress. 

Anyway, it’s Thesis Time!

What am I doing for it? That’s a really great question. I have several projects I’d like to finish, but I could end up writing something brand new. It will definitely be fiction. Will I finally actualize my dream of the last thirteen years and write a New York Times bestseller? Or will I end up on a completely new path?

Time will tell, and you'll definitely hear a lot more about it (I assure you), but even more significant is the start date of my thesis: January 12, 2026.

You know, in Star Wars, where Obi-Wan Kenobi dies and becomes more powerful? I didn’t get it, then, and maybe for most of the years afterward. 

And then my Dad died. 

And now the first birthday without him is here. Boom. 

But…

This year, on his birthday, my brother starts a new and very promising job, and I embark on my thesis, culminating with the completion of my MFA.

Whoa.

And wait...was my Dad a Jedi?

Yes. I'm pretty sure this is definitive proof (and also super cool).

So now, we know: Connections transcend time. Tomi-Wan Dadenobi is quite powerful in Death. Great dads never stop looking out for their kids. I lucked out in the Dad department (to an infinite degree). 

What we don’t know: The focus of my thesis. But that will sort itself out with the ticking of time.

Here’s to wherever this adventure leads next. And stay tuned for updates on the thesis. I’m sure you’re as excited as I am. 😉 

Until next time, find your creative, embrace your wild side, stay sane(ish), and be kind to you. 💜

Best, Aspen Hite

Pictured: Tomi-Wan Dadenobi and his two Padawans circa 2016

The End is the Beginning

 

I was young, between a kid and not yet a teen. And I would wake up during the thunderstorms, the lightning flashing and the thunder rolling, only to find my Dad staring out my window with his camera in hand, completely mesmerized by the light show outside. As soon as he knew I was awake, he would grin and invite me over to see the show and take pictures.

“It’s the middle of the night,” I would say groggy but not surprised before rolling over, pulling the covers over my head, and going back to bed. 

“One day, you’ll get it,” he’d say before he went back to snapping away. 

This post was supposed to have a cheery holiday feel-good vibe, but those merry words eluded me like time, flitting in and out, prolific and rhythmic, as long as I was far from the keys or a pen. At first, I couldn’t quite put my finger on why. And then it dawned on me: this is the first Christmas without my Dad.

And whoa. 

And fuck. 

And this sucks. 

The end of his life brought me to the beginning of a life without him.

It’s a uniquely painful road to travel. A heavy numbness. A gray void. Darker. Dim. A wide chasm of nothingness.

And there’s nothing you can do but endure. One step in front of the other. One moment at a time. Learning to live with an ache that will never heal. 

It’s so fucking hard to be merry and bright. 

In my Gen X-pick-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps way, I kept myself as busy as I could. A particularly grueling grad class (read and discussed two novels, wrote two stories, and workshopped 25 short stories from my peers) and a 30-hour anatomy course to renew my yoga credentials (hit that deadline with hours to spare) worked nicely.

Until they were over. And the holidays were here. Plop in my lap. Fuck.

But I’ve got some pretty great people, places, and furry friends to support me. And all things good it has been: family, friends, laughter, delicious eats, porch sits, exciting new reads, a great new show to binge, and rest.

And even though I can’t hear his voice or feel his pat on my back, I know he’s here. Always. His presence is felt in the cardinal chirping in the maple, or as the wind chimes tingle in the breeze, or the lights flicker, or my brother tells a silly Dad joke, or a photo. A photo I felt compelled to capture. 

The river view (pictured above) is my commute (I know, right?!?). One night on my way to work, Nature did her thing as she does. I had no choice but to veer off the road and snap that picture, to preserve that moment in time. 

I had no idea what it would mean to me later. I thought I was just diggin’ a sunset, as I do, but it was more than that. It’s an innate appreciation of the natural beauty in the world and the need to stop and preserve it– a connection I share with my father that spans space and time, through life and death whether it’s pulling off on the side of the road for a sunset, or getting out of bed in the middle of the night to catch the lightshow, or a stroll through Botanical Gardens, or a walk along a beach. The need to hold that moment in our hearts. 

Grief overwhelms and swells, ebbing and flowing and hurting like hell. The pinnacle of it all is that the very last thing my father would want for me is to be sad. All he's ever wanted for me is to find peace and contentment in the beauty and joy that surrounds us everywhere. And in general, I do a pretty good job of this. The catch-22 is that now, it's so much harder without his light, his guidance, his support. 

But I honor him as I can, stopping along the river to capture the moment, following my dreams, feeling my feelings, working on myself, and saying no to all the shit that no longer serves (which is harder than it sounds). But no matter where I am or what I’m doing, I know Dad is smiling over my shoulder. Always.

Not only do I have my own personal stops and starts, but we humans find ourselves in the throes of our annual endings and beginnings.  

Seems surreal to me that we are at the end of the last month of 2025. Autumn has ended, as have the darkening nights in the Northern Hemisphere. Beginnings are soon to follow. Winter and the return of light are here, and we’re mere days away from a new month and a brand new year. 

From me to you, hoping you had the merriest, brightest, most blessed, Solstice, Yule, Christmas, Kwanza, Hanukkah, your holiday celebration of choice. May love, light, laughter, alignment, health, wealth, prosperity, and goodness find you in 2026. 

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

Best, Aspen Hite

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

Setting Inspiration via the Haunted Mansion

Sunlight flittered through the trees as a warm breeze ruffled my hair, sending it in all directions. I pushed my sunglasses to the top of my head to contain my wild tresses and stepped into the shade. The temperature dropped, but it wasn’t just the loss of the sun; it was the house. Inside, my skin prickled under the air heavy with history, reeking from every corner. Bits of plaster and original crown molding hung here and there, and new boards supported the dilapidated, once-condemned building, and people milled about with smiles, like it was just another day, in just another place. But it wasn’t. 

I was standing in the very legendary and very haunted McPike Mansion…

They say to write what you know. The unspoken trick here is to keep fueling the Know Pile. This adventure started as a bit of setting research for my latest novel, and a bona fide interest in hometown history. Once I discovered that one of the most haunted homes in the nation was on the list, I sent out the group text, and, lucky me, I was able to gather a few of my favorite gals (we love hauntings), and we made a day of it. And a great day it was. All around.

There were other houses on the tour, and they were also pretty cool, with all their history and nuances, as well as their restorations, renovations, and modernizations.

Still, weeks later, it's the haunted mansion that sticks with me, not just the known history: Henry McPike, the abolitionist, lived on his 21-acre vineyard, intricately tied to the Underground Railroad, leading a life of mystery and intrigue, followed by a death and legacy shrouded in the supernatural.

But the unspoken history—the stuff only the ghosts know. The unanswered questions underneath the raw reconstruction, or the dark, dank wine cellar, or that mysterious crypt behind the house. What had that wine cellar seen? What secrets were hidden in the home? Who was buried in the mysterious crypt? All the things we don’t know on this plane and beyond.

For now, we know what is known and can speculate about the rest, but perhaps as the owners work through the long, laborious process to restore the home to its original glory, more secrets and unknown histories will be revealed.

Until then, the McPike Mansion has inspired a bevy of ideas. In fact, it might make the perfect backdrop for the Grey Mansion. What if the McPike Mansion had never fallen into ruin, but instead had been lived in by a prestigious Lycan family?

Inspiration is everywhere in everything, all around us. How will you find yours?

Thank so much for tuning in. And a special nod of gratitude to my gals for embarking on this adventure with me. 💜

Until next time, find your creative, embrace you, stay sane(ish)

Best, Aspen Hite