Happy Holidays!
Frantically Reading, Furiously Crocheting, Christmas Trees and Colorful Lights, Art Market, and Good Writing News
What have we been making?
Anna
On Thursday, December 8th from 5-8pm I’ll be selling earrings, zines, and comics at the Big Grove Holiday Art Market in Iowa City! I’ve been making lots of earrings to prepare, including a new crochet Christmas tree pattern:
Rachel
November was a great month for writing. I was able to make some headway in my novel and revise some of my older essays and short stories after some much-needed distance and perspective. I also received some great news in November!
A flash fiction story of mine, “Unraveling,” was awarded honorable mention in Pigeon Pages’ 2022 Flash Contest! I am so glad that this story found a home there, and am grateful to have been considered for this prize. If you check out my story, make sure to also check out the contest winner, “Linda Liu” by Nicole Zhu!
I also found out that two of my stories have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize! “Waves” was nominated by Thimble Lit Mag and “Cock Block” was nominated by Moon City Review. Many thanks and much gratitude to these magazines for the honor and opportunity. Now I’ll just keep my fingers crossed!
What Have We Been Enjoying?
Anna
While furiously crocheting I like to watch TV to distract myself from the hand cramps, and this past month one such show was Wednesday. It’s a weird and creepy show, but since it’s Tim Burton the horror stays well within camp. And I’m a sucker for high school drama.
Rachel
This December, I am making a mad dash to read all the books I started this year but haven’t finished. This list is long and distinguished, and all these books are in various stages of completion. These include The Alchemist, Song of Solomon, 13 Ways of Looking at the Novel, Moby Dick, and (still) Ducks, Newburyport. I am hoping to wrap these up to make room for all the new things I want to read in the new year and all the books I’m sure I’ll get as gifts for both Christmas and my birthday! December is a great time for cozy reading with hot cocoa while the flurries twirl outside the window or for squinting at the words under the festive glow of your Christmas tree lights. I am looking forward to finishing up these books along with 2022!
I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the year and that your holidays are safe, joyous, and festive. I will see you all in 2023!
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