TBR of Doom Tri-Cities Edition (Patreon)

I had to drive 4 hours to an event last weekend. Driving from where I live to the tricities area of Washington is long, but a fairly straightforward drive and quite pretty in some places.

Unless you have a headache bordering on a migraine, which I definitely did have. I was by myself, so I had no other option really than to keep going. I took lots of breaks, drank water, tried to stretch when I could. It was pretty miserable, but I made it. I was hoping for a quiet hotel night--my event was at noon and I didn't want to get up at like 6AM so I could drive four hours and THEN event, so I went the day before. I was not aware that my hotel had a sort of island theme. It was a bit noisy, especially since it was on the river and people kept driving by with boats blasting their music. (Which, obviously, the hotel could not control.) Despite all this, my stay was fine--the staff was nice. The nautical themed bar where I ate dinner was cozy. The event itself was really lovely and made me feel like the time and expense to get there was worth it. 

Most people don't know this, but authors aren't paid for book events. (Unless it's like a lecture series or something special. But a bookstore event? No.) Our publishers also only cover our expenses if they set up the event. If we set it up, we're on our own. So most of my books events are out of pocket. That's why when you ask authors, "when are you coming to my city?" the response is usually, "when my publisher sends me." The majority of us can't afford to fly about for an event, especially since we have no idea if we're going to sell any books or not. Generally, I'm going at these things at a loss, but it's a tax write off and to me it's worth it to meet readers, see new or favorite bookstores, and meet other authors. 

So I was out about 8 hours of drive time, gas, food and a night at a hotel, but I think the event was worth it. Travis Baldree and KRR Lockhaven were a delight. The B&N in Kennewick was lovely as usual. I took the conversation off the rails about 50 times. (They gave me coffee. It was a mistake.)

On the way down, I listened to Magic Rises (Adult, SFF), continuing my Kate Daniels relisten. My brain was trying to crawl out of my skull, so I didn't want to try a new book anyway.

At the hotel, I started to read Bookshops & Bonedust (Adult, SFF), Travis Baldree's second book, because I was lucky enough to get a digital ARC of it. I'm not far into it and I'm not sure where he's going with it yet, but if you liked Legends & Lattes, I do suggest you preorder B&B because Travis has the cutest swag. Seriously. I stole all of his stickers while I was there.

While I was there I also finished Uncanny Times by Laura Anne Gilman (Adult, SFF). It's set in the early 1900's and follows a pair of siblings, Aaron and Rosemary Harker, who are both Huntsmen, meaning they hunt uncanny creatures that are dangerous to people. I liked this book--the characters are interesting and I love their complicated relationship. Also, now I want to get a dog and name it Botheration. Lots of good mystery and creepy creatures. There's no romance in this one, so if you avoid that sort of thing, this book might be for you.

While I was at the event I picked up The Marauders, the Daughter and the Drag by KRR Lockhaven (Adult, SFF). I haven't started reading it yet, but from the things Kyle mentioned, his books sounded really fun and I felt this was a good one to start with. (I mean, DRAGONS. Sold.) Plus a percentage of the proceeds goes to help fund a free summer camp for burn survivors ages 7-17. (Kyle's day job is a fireman/paramedic.)

For those that don't know, Travis Baldree is also an audiobook narrator. I asked him if he had any books that he'd read that he thought I would love and find funny and he recommended the Ripple System series by Kyle Kirrin. The first book is called Shadeslinger (Adult, SFF). The first book is about a corporate burnout who decides to go live in a new virtual reality game because he hates his life. There's a talking ax named Frank. So I'm in.

On my way home I stopped at a Circle K and regret deeply that I forgot to get a picture so I could post it on IG with the line "strange things are afoot at the circle K." Few people would have gotten the joke, but I'm here mostly to amuse myself anyway. I also decided to download the first book in the Mercy Thompson series, Moon Called (Adult, SFF) because it's set in tricities, WA and it felt appropriate.

Last night I stayed up too late to finish A Lady in the Smoke by Karen Odden (Adult, historical mystery). This was my first book by this author and it was a compelling read, especially if you're the kind of person who absolutely does want to know about early train travel, the horrific accidents involved, and the dawning of the kind of medicine that would respond to those kinds of injuries. Odden wrote papers on trains in the Victorian era, and knows her stuff. She was great at juggling all of those cool historical details with action, intrigue, some romance, and interesting characters. Oh, and class differences. I'm a sucker for that stuff. It was compelling enough that I was irritated to put it aside to work yesterday, so I stayed up until 3 AM to finish it. I regret nothing. 

I'm obviously a fan of the Bad Decisions bookclub, because I was up until like 2 AM the night before finishing The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen (New Adult, Contemporary Romance). I've read Sarina Bowen before--I think she writes about hockey really well. (To be fair, am I a hockey buff? I am not.) She always writes fun characters, good dialogue, and all that stuff. This book was interesting because it's about two hockey players that have recently been injured--one has a broken leg and is out for the season. The other has been permanently injured and has to learn to function in her new reality, while dealing with the loss of her dream/life as a hockey player. I'm not disabled, so I may be way off on this, but to me it felt like Bowen handled the topic with honesty and compassion while tackling the way people tend to respond to disabled people. Which, while usually meaning well, isn't great. 

Finally, I added a new book to my pile last night after a conversation with Olivia Waite--which, by the way, I am tremendously spoiled to have so many current and former booksellers in my DMs. It's like have access to a book concierge ALL THE TIME. Olivia used to work with me at the bookstore and is also the romance reviewer for the NY Times. She is very good at pinpointing which books I would love. She recommended Molly Molloy & the Angel of Death by Maria Vale (Adult...romance? It's probably romance.) Her pitch, "Death screws up and does not reap the soul of a Hooters Waitress. They fall in love. It is one of the funniest things I've ever read." She said it had The Stupidest Angel vibes. If you have Kobo Plus, it's free on there to read.

Okay friends, hit me with it--what are you reading?

--Lish