Hello beautiful friends and fellow book devourers,
I’m so thankful that you are joining me here and supporting my books. Whether you are entering spring or fall, I hope the change in season is being gentle with you and filling your world with color and joy.
In today’s post at MIRI AND THE MUSE—which serves as both my indie author newsletter and a personal journal into living a creative life filled with delicious glimmers—you will find:
an update from me in the writing cave
a delectable freebie to devour
a chance to take a peek at recent additions to my book hoard
As I mentioned in my last newsletter, the Muse asked for a wee break after multiple attempts at a pressing anthology deadline. September has been all about refilling the well, maintaining positive daily habits and slow dancing with the Muse.
Do you remember SALTY EMBRACE? It was a wee ditty inspired by the big wave energy which hit our coast back in April. I published the original in my WILD SHORT READS section of this newsletter.
Well, I’ve always wondered what happened next to my surfer and her fated mate after the siren’s magic saved her life, so I thought I’d start exploring that story as a way to ease back into my writing flow.
This tale has transformed itself into a salty love triangle between Sofia Lazarus (a human surfer), the siren who came to her aid, and a local shark shifter who has butted his way into Sofia’s convalescence. It’s proving to be a tumultuous transition for Sofia into paranormal life and tensions are running deliciously high!
While I keep noodling away, why don’t you have a read of the original WILD SHORT READ which inspired this fated mates story?
This month’s literary snack—which you can download and start devouring today—was written by London Kemaker. It’s called THE DRAGON HEIR’S OMEGA.
Avid omegaverse readers will have a fair idea what to expect from this spicy MMM. Suffice to say, two bonded alphas stepping up to save their omega mate from being exploited by other rich and powerful dragons is a gimme gimme!
Read the full book description and claim your freebie here.
My mother and I shared a love of books and reading. It’s one of the ways I keep her close now that she’s gone. So, naturally, discovering new treasures to add to my hoard is one of my great pleasures in life. And I treat my books like dear friends… I love them well and visit them often, usually while drinking a cup of something hot and delicious.
Happily, I married a reader, so it’s not much of a surprise that both of our kids are growing up to be avid book devourers as well. It makes for a book-stuffed home with piles of finished or half-read paperbacks left on every surface. I often find myself daydreaming about squeezing a new bookshelf into our common spaces.
What I add to my personal library serves as a reflection of my values, my desire to support other artists and thought leaders, and as a way to refuel my creativity.
With the rise of violence against certain communities—many of which I identify as being a part of and include people I care deeply about—the Muse has been urging me to fill our shelves with inspiring fantasy tales, moving memoirs, non-fiction tomes, and graphic novels which celebrate creativity, science, history, and the joyous rainbow of human experience, love and compassion.
Some recommendations have come from creators, educators, and allies on social media. Others have come from writers, journalists, activists, academics, and thought leaders I follow in various blogs, newsletters, podcasts and even as creators here on Substack.
Although I haven’t yet had a chance to read all of these, the ones I have already devoured have promoted a sense of peace, taught me something vital, expanded my capacity to love and embrace diverse experiences, or fueled my soul so that I can write more words, take actions in line with my commitments, and have those difficult conversations.
Regardless, each and every new addition has brought joy to my heart as they arrived in my life.
Diverse LGBTQIA+ experiences:
Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
The Out Side: Trans and Non Binary Comics (an anthology of short graphic works which originated as a kickstarter campaign and is now published by a small indie press)
Women’s health, empowerment, and sexual wellness:
Kinky History by Esme Louise James (Australian author)
The Menopause Manifesto by Dr Jen Gunter (Canadian author)
Social justice, being a source for change, and diverse voices in history:
Calling In by Loretta J. Ross
The Humanity Archive by Jermaine Fowler
A True History of the United States by Daniel A Sjursen (waiting for this one to arrive)
The Pocket Change Collective (many of which are still in transit):
Taking on the Plastics Crises by Hannah Tasta
Concrete Kids by Amyra Leon
This is What I Know About Art by Kimberly Drew
The Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon
Imaginary Borders by Xiuhtezcatl Martinez
Continuum by Chella Man
The New Queer Conscience by Adam Eli
I was particularly thrilled to discover this collection of autobiographical short works to share with my kids because they cover a diverse range of topics from social justice, LGBTQIA+ rights, environmental impact and becoming a change-maker, disability awareness and more. My purchases were made even sweeter because I managed to order many of them second hand from Harry Harthogs Independent Booksellers.
Have you already devoured one or more of these beauties? If so, leave me a comment below to tell me which ones and what lit you up about them!
Sadly, some of these books may already have been added to banned book lists. If that is the case, hopefully you will be able to find a copy in a second hand bookstore near you or by ordering online.
Banned or not, by requesting a book from your local library, it allows librarians and organizations advocating against book bans to know which titles readers care about when trying to prevent banning or when re-populating the shelves once a ban has been successfully lifted.
Many of the works I’ve highlighted here are non-fiction this month, but my family and I are constantly adding new book babies which are fantasy, sci-fiction, paranormal romance, urban fantasy, contemporary fantasy and other forms of fiction as well. At the bottom of my stack you will see that I snuck in my current read, Accomplice to the Villain, by Hannah Nicole Maehrer.
No matter what you choose to read and which authors you support / genres you adore, know that the act of reading itself is a powerful form of resistance.
What I love most about reading—especially genre fiction—is that it invites me to slow down and sink into a fantasy world. To breathe. To feel all the things. To be seen and heard. To rest. To heal. To ignite my curiosity. To explore and celebrate the kaleidoscope of human experience. And, yes, to dream.
Reading non-fiction also builds trust, hope, empathy, resilience, while keeping us informed and connected with the world.
So whatever tickles your fancy, devour away… because a whole new world is just around the corner. Happy reading, my creative friends and fellow book devourers!
With love,
M.S. xox
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