It’s a new year, and I’ve never been much of a resolution maker. Instead, I prefer to make adjustments. A little more of this, a little less of that. Incremental changes, not huge lifestyle swings. Those never stick for very long, am I right? Just tweak something and you won’t even notice what’s changed until you’ve created a new habit.
For 2023, I’m making a personal pledge to read more novels. I’ve mostly been reading short fiction, but it’s time to move on. After all, I do want to write novels too, so it’s time to start absorbing them as well.
The last novel I read was Fight Club, for an episode of the now defunct movie podcast I co-hosted, called Film Loop. You can listen to this episode on Spotify here.
I hope the new year is better for all of us. I hope you take a smaller step towards that thing you’ve always wanted to do, no matter what it is. Want to look for a new job? Go for it. Write a poem? Do it. Eat healthier? Take that first step. It’s not easy devouring a six foot long party sub by yourself, but if you take enough small bites, you will eventually finish it. Apologies for the bad food metaphor, eating an entire party sub in one sitting is never a good idea.
What is it you’re hoping to achieve this year? Let me know in the comments.
What I’m Reading:
I said I wanted to read more novels. I also don’t want to continue reading any novel that I can’t get into after a few chapters. I used to read to the end of a book I didn’t like. Not anymore. Next for me is The Last King of California by Jordan Harper. Harper is a crime fiction author on the rise and very talented to boot. Keep an eye on this guy, he’s going to the top, and will be our next James Ellroy.
What I’m Writing:
I’ve been working on a number of short pieces, jumping from one to another when I get bored. One of them is a horror story set in the 80s, another is a sci-fi piece about Hedy Lamarr and aliens. Another is a horror piece set in 90s L.A. about cemetery workers. As you can tell, I’m all over the place. I hope you’ll get to see these soon.
What I’m Listening To:
Inspired by Rick Beato, a musician and music aficionado on YouTube, I’ve been listening a lot to The Cure recently. Check out Rick’s video here. The Cure’s sound is unmistakeable. Robert Smith, the band’s frontman and lyricist, has really defined the band’s aural “footprint” so much that you can instantly identify any song of theirs after just a few notes. How many bands today can you say that about? Not many, let me tell you.
What I’m Watching:
Over the holiday break my wife and I finally made the time to watch RRR on Netflix. OMG. What a ride. Sure, it’s corny, and so over the top as to soar into the stratosphere, but that’s what so appealing about it too. The movie wears its heart on its sleeve and makes no apologies for it. The result is a cinematic tour-de-force unlike anything else you’ve seen. The three hour-long adventure is teeming with a love of movies and all they have to offer an audience. Please see it if you can!
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Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time.
"... a sci-fi piece about Hedy Lamarr and aliens..."
YES!