The Weekly Missive 11/10
I Will Tell You This: It's Friday and I've got some good stuff to share!
Thank you for being here! If you’re returning, thanks for coming back. If you’re new, I hope you’ll return. And please do consider subscribing— I hope that this platform will allow me to create the community I once enjoyed through my blog, Cheaper By The Half Dozen. (Anyone remember that? Those were the days!)
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Though I am planning additional content (free and paid), my goal is to post this basic format every Friday, free to all subscribers. I hope you have a great weekend and I’ll see you next Friday! Warmly, Marybeth
Quote of the week: “It is impossible to get better at something and look good at the same time.” Julia Cameron
Post of the week: The Writer As Magpie on Crime Reads— One of my favorite quotes is “There is no true fiction,” and this post touches on how fiction writers glean inspiration from real-life sources. My current novel was inspired by a movie I watched over and over in the 80’s, and collated research on several missing boys cases in the 80’s. I put all the random info into my story stockpot, gave it a good stir, and watched what happened.
What I’m reading: Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson. This one’s not out till 4/2/24 but I’m enjoying an early read (courtesy of Netgalley) about a crumbling mansion that was long ago turned into flats. And the unlikely allies that form to play detective when one of the residents is attacked after protesting the building owner’s plans to knock the place down. It’s a found-family novel (I’m a sucker for those) with some definite A Man Called Ove vibes. Except this time the curmudgeon is a woman called Dorothy.
What I’m listening to: The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen. I wanted to re-read this in November, so I decided the audio was the best way to go. I can usually listen to one audiobook/month and this one felt perfect for November.
What I’m watching: Looking forward to watching the new JFK documentary on Hulu this weekend!
What I’m googling: The tide chart for my area (for best times to walk on the beach), Thanksgiving recipes (looking for maybe one more dessert— this apple slab pie looks GOOD)
What I’m cooking: Still trying to eat healthy so our meals look like more of the same these days— salad and meat, veggie and meat, maybe add a little fruit just for variety’s sake. My favorites this week have been salad topped with deli ham, berries and some diced boiled eggs, and a true taco salad, topped with ground beef, salsa, diced tomatoes, and avocado. So far, I’m not sick of salad… yet.
What I’m following (True Crime): Annie Elise on You Tube had a great recap this week on the latest disturbing facts about Ruby Franke so I turned that on while I did some housework this week. This case both fascinates and horrifies me.
What I’m learning: If you injure your neck by doing sit-ups improperly in your 20’s, it can come back to haunt you decades later…
What I’m writing: Editing my current novel. And working on Substack paid content.
Gratitude: An absolutely amazing weekend with friends and family in Beaufort SC last weekend. (I got to extend my trip by one day on either side, so I was away from Thursday-Monday and relished every last minute of it.) Gorgeous weather. Safe travels for everyone. Coming home. Answered prayer. Laughter. And wine. (Though admittedly I had enough of that to last me a while on my trip last weekend.)
Photo From the Week:
(Though I’ve adapted it, this format was originally inspired by author Kim Hooper’s blog. I loved her novel No Hiding in Boise. You should check it out.)