The Lunar New Year is fast approaching, dear reader, and I am thrilled to finally start my new year. Stepping into 2024 without a plan felt odd, but I adjusted my mindset as the month of January unfolded, and I am NOW ready to get the ball rolling on accomplishing my aims for this year.
RESET is my word for 2024. After the dreadful demise of 2023, I have been desperate to hit the reset button. My plans for this year are to replace some bad habits with some good ones, clean up the clutter in my environment, and boost my sense of creativity and play by cultivating an existing interest. That last plan, regarding creativity and play, is the result of taking Gretchen Rubin’s Habits for Happiness Quiz.
In addition to my one-word theme, I created a 24 for 2024 list with my aims for the new year. Almost all of the items on my list are new; however, I did carry over three items from last year that I did not complete but really want to accomplish this year. Pretty much all of my aims fall into one of my three plans which have to do with habits, clutter-clearing, and creativity/play. Take a look at what I have planned for myself for 2024.
Kat’s 24 for 2024 List
1. Time-track at least once per quarter (March, June, September, December).
2. Join The 5AM Club by getting up at 5AM each morning (The 5AM Club).
3. Implement the 20/20/20 Formula (The 5AM Club).
4. Implement the Pre-Sleep Ritual (The 5AM Club).
5. Quit Coffee.
6. Strength train two times per week.
7. Walk at least 30 minutes daily, preferably outside.
8. Get a massage.
9. Clear the clutter in my scrapbook room.
10. Buy a book cart.
11. Buy two bookcases for living room.
12. Organize home library.
13. Keep track of spending on books.
14. Get library cards (Tangipahoa, Livingston, and Baton Rouge parishes).
15. Start a new booktube project.
16. Read 24 Books that I did not get to in 2022/2023.
17. Have a Year of Christie (Agatha Christie) 2.0.
18. Buddy Read Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt with Alex @ Frankfiction.
19. Read The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and The Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.
20. Read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.
21. Read On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King.
22. Write about my adventures in Sicily on my blog.
23. Organize photos and video clips from my Sicily trip.
24. Scrapbook 24 times in 2024.
Other Fun Plans for 2024:
I am participating in Gretchen Rubin’s #Write24in24. The options are to spend 2-4 minutes or 24 minutes writing daily in 2024. This challenge is the third element of Rubin’s Happier Trifeca with the one-word theme and list of aims being the other two elements. According to Gretchen Rubin, “If you write consistently, you’ll be astonished by how much you can accomplish in 2024. We often underestimate what we can do if we work consistently.” Writing at least 24 minutes every day will be a fun daily challenge for me because I LOVE writing. My writing time will be devoted to blog posts, book reviews on Goodreads, scrapbook journaling, lists (to-do & ta-da), correspondence with family and friends (cards), notes for videos, and morning pages (The Artist’s Way). These are just a few of the writing activities I have planned for 2024; however, other possibilities might be added to my list throughout the year.
On Goodreads, I joined the 2024 Reading Challenge, and my goal is to read 100 books this year. Follow me on Goodreads (Katherine Loyacano).
I want to revamp the Chills, Thrills, and Kills Book Club.
I will participate in Booktube Book Clubs (FOMO, MGM, Cozy Cottage).
I will continue doing Collabs with Kelsi. Our collabs can be viewed on her YouTube channel, Slime and Slashers – A Nostalgia & Horror Channel. Please consider subscribing to Kelsi’s channel in 2024.
I will participate in Frugal February again. This is a NO spend month.
I will be doing a Birthday Message Project 2.0 in 2024.
I plan to keep a TA-DA list for 2024. This list is for goals or activities that I accomplished throughout the year but were not included on my original list. These accomplishments should be celebrated, too.
Additionally, I will continue creating videos for my Youtube channel, Kat’s Novel Adventures. I passed my one-year anniversary of releasing my first video on 28 October 2023. As of the writing of this post, I have 769 subscribers and 152 videos for public viewing. My little channel is growing slowly, and I am hoping I will reach and surpass 1,000 subscribers in 2024. That channel milestone would be a HUGE happiness boost! I have included a video about my Happier Trifecta below if you are interested in hearing more about my plans for 2024. Please consider subscribing to my channel, giving me a like, and leaving a comment.
As you can see, dear reader, I have planned a year of good habit-forming, organizing, reading, writing, and scrapbooking adventures for 2024. All of these aims and activities will give me an opportunity to RESET my life and get back on track. Well, that is my plan anyway. Happiness!
“Every sunset is an opportunity to reset. Every sunrise begins with new eyes.” ~ Richie Norton
A weird feeling came over me upon January’s arrival as I gazed at the fireworks outside the window of my mom’s room at Ochsner Hospital. I felt out of place in both space and time, like I should be somewhere else. I felt uneasy, unprepared, and unhappy which is the total opposite of how I usually feel entering a new year. The lack of excitement for 2024 without its clean slate and plethora of possibilities waiting in the wings to take flight were marred by an unfortunate event and the recent death of my best friend. Never in the history of my life have I entered a new year in a state of disarray, discomfort, and despair.
There is nothing wrong with grieving after a loss or feeling a sense of hopelessness after an accident. However, getting bogged down by negativity can be tempting if the grief or hopelessness remains constant. Thankfully, a negative outlook on life is not my nature. I understood that I was in a season of sorrow at the end of 2023, but oh, how I wanted to enter 2024 in a season of celebration. Life is full of surprises, some are pleasant while others not so much. When those unpleasant surprises arise, I generally take a step back, feel all the feelings, then take a deep breath, and put the unpleasantness in perspective.
Therefore, that’s exactly what I did at the beginning of January. In the past, I announced my plans for the new year along with my one-word theme on January 1st or 2nd. At the start of 2024, my plans had not even been put on paper, and I was struggling with my word for the year. Even though I accepted that I was behind in this area of my life and had plenty to catch up on, I still fretted a little over the delay. I wanted my clean slate. I wanted to begin anew.
Finally about mid-month, I settled on my word for the year, and I started writing out my 24 for 2024 List. I recently filmed a couple of videos to close out 2023 on my channel and participated in a number of readathons, including one of my own, while also preparing for another one happening in February.
I realized this week that I have actually been laying the foundation for my year ahead throughout the entire month of January. On January 4th, I started reading, The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and The Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. The meditations for the month of January are focused on clarity. Then, yesterday evening, I saw a comment on the Happier in Hollywood FaceBook Group where a woman and her family, who encountered some unexpected surprises, are starting their year on February 10th, the Lunar New Year. I thought, “What a terrific idea!“
So, dear reader, I have decided for 2024, I am starting my new year on February 10th. I will be announcing my “Happiness Trifeca” in the coming days which includes my one-word theme, my 24 for 2024 List, and the 24 in 2024 Challenge that Gretchen Rubin has chosen for this year. I look forward to sharing my aims for the year with you. Have you set resolutions or made plans for 2024? If so, did you start on the first day of January or did you pick another day to start your new year? Happiness!
“No matter how hard the past is, you can always begin again.”~ Buddha
As promised in my last post, Review 23 for 2023 List, I am sharing my TA-DA List for 2023. The first half of 2023 was amazing! I experienced some exciting adventures, developed some new relationships, and made some wonderful memories. The second half of the year presented some challenges and heartbreak with my mom’s dementia diagnosis mid-September and the death of my childhood best friend Shelly at the end of November. I may not have completed my 23 for 2023 list, dear reader; however, I kept myself busy by spending quality time with family and friends, working, traveling, reading, improvising, creating content, and taking care of my health, family, friends, and home.
TA-DA 2023
Health (Dental Implant Crown; Bone Density Scan; Ultrasound; Biopsy; Cardiologist; Regular Crown; Yearly Eye/Dental appointments)
Lunch dates, movie nights, dinner dates, and drink nights with friends and family
Attended Plays (Sound of Music, Romeo and Juliet, OZ, To Kill a Mockingbird)
Participated in various Readathons on Booktube throughout the Year
Live Streams with Kelsi (books/movies: May, July, and October)
Chills, Thrills, and Kills Book Club (run monthly with Kelsi; January-July)
Buddy Read The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson/Zoom Meeting Discussions with Rachel (January-March)
Anubis: Improv Level 3 8-Week Class (January-March)
Helped Mrs. Billie with health-related issues (January-August; December)
Helped Claire with Editing Assignments (January-November)
Birthday Message Project (January-December)
Kaitlyn’s Bridal Shower (January)
Pokeno Sub (January and May)
Created/Hosted Folklore February Readathon for my YouTube channel (February)
Couples Shower for Kaitlyn and Marc with Barry, Sr. (February)
Attended Gnarley Gras with Barry, Sr. (February)
Auditioned for Clue at The New Octavians & got the role of Mrs. Peacock; unfortunately, play was cancelled (February)
Orange Beach, Alabama trip with Barry, Sr. (February)
Applied for my first Passport (February)
Proctored/Supervised ACT at Southeastern University (February, April, and June)
Kaitlyn & Marc’s Wedding with Barry, Sr., Andrew, & Barry, Jr. (March)
Andrew’s Juried Art Exhibit at Southeastern University (March)
Anubis: Improv Level 3 Showcase (March)
International Honor Society Ceremony/Banquet for Andrew (March)
Buddy Read The Midnight Library with Mary @ Booking Through Life (March/April)
Anubis: Improv Level 4 8-Week Class (March-May)
Annual Crawfish Boil (April)
Created/Hosted Zombiethon Readathon for my YouTube channel (May)
Zombie Awareness Month (May)
Andrew’s Thesis Defense in Art History at Southeastern University (May)
Anubis: Improv Level 4 Showcase (May)
The Cure Concert in NOLA with Barry, Sr. (May)
Andrew’s Graduation from Southeastern University (May)
Duran Duran Concert in NOLA with Barry, Sr. (June)
Scrapbooking (attended TAC Scrapbook Event with Shelly and Donna in June)
Fr. Jamin’s Farewell Party at St. Margaret Church (July)
Readings for Amityville ’74 at Columbia Theatre (July)
Booktube Besties Retreat (July)
The Producers Concert in NOLA with Barry, Sr. (July)
Helped Mom with health-related issues (July-December)
Lunch with cousin Danny and his wife Patty who were visiting NOLA (August)
Started Title I Tutoring Job at Mater Dolorosa School (August)
Guest on Margaret Pinard’s Fireside Chat (August)
Volunteer at HGCS’s Book Fair (August)
Sicily Trip with Andrew, Dad, Rachel, Lee, and Emma (September)
Halloween Decor Shopping with Kelsi (September)
Family Fall Fest at Nalco with Barry, Sr. (October)
Livestreams with Andy @ Self Pub with Andy and Emma @ Emma Bennet (October/November)
Visited Andrew at Library in Baton Rouge (November)
Helped plan Shelly’s Funeral Mass at St. Margaret Church (December)
As you can see, dear reader, 2023 started off with lots of new adventures, opportunities to learn and grow, and treasured time making memories with family and friends. Even though the second half of the year did not go as planned, and I did not cross off every item on my 23 for 2023 list, I still feel like I made strides in 2023 towards creating a better life for myself. I will forever be grateful for the special friendship and bond I shared with Shelly and the memories we had made together since the 3rd grade. And, I am thankful that I still have time to make more memories with my mom. Life is not only short, unpredictable, and at times unfair, but it is also precious, beautiful, and at times full of adventure. Live life to the fullest and make every day count. Happiness!
“Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you! Let nothing be lost upon you. Be always searching for new sensations. Be afraid of nothing!” ~ Oscar Wilde
Note: Photo was taken by me at the villa I stayed at in Scopello, Sicily in Italy.
2023 started off full of promise, projects, and possibilities. The first six months of the year flowed smoothly. Then, I hit a speed bump in July, thus beginning my season of sorrow and the reason I have not posted anything in the last six months. That story will be told another day.
Today is the day to reflect on my 23 for 2023 list! I chose CREATE as my word for 2023, and for the most part, it worked well with the aims I accomplished on my 23 for 2023 List. I completed nine items and started three items on my list this year.
Schedule dental appointment (implant crown). YES (February; implant process complete)
Buy two white bookcases for office. YES (I bought four.)
Buy a book cart. NO (suffering from decision fatigue)
Deal with digital clutter. (email, photos, documents). STARTED (still have lots to declutter)
Organize home office. YES
Organize home library. NO (need more bookcases; bought one for livingroom)
Write my personal manifesto. NO (never thought about it)
Write a will. NO (dragging my feet)
Scrapbook monthly. NO (only at annual June event with girlfriends)
Complete Year of Gratitude scrapbook. NO (sadly)
Learn StreamYard to host sprints on my YouTube channel. YES (now host weekly sprints on Wednesdays)
Host two Readathons on my YouTube channel (February/May). YES (Folklore February – February and Zombiethon – May)
Read 23 Books that I did not get to in 2022. STARTED (only read 9 books and 1 novella from my 23 Books in 2023 List)
Have a Year of Christie (Agatha Christie). YES (love reading Agatha Christie stories)
Read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. NO (attempted in June, but too overwhelmed)
Read The Galveston Diet by Mary Claire Haver, M.D. NO (on hold after seeing new cardiologist)
Revisit Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin. NO (no time)
Read Tranquility by Tuesday by Laura Vanderkam. YES (really enjoyed it and participated in project)
Complete Becky Higgins Classroom: Photo Tips + Work Flow. STARTED (need to finish in 2024)
Complete the WordPress Blogging course. NO (disappointed; maybe try again in 2024)
Update theme (layout) for blog. NO (still suffering from decision fatigue; disappointed; maybe try again in 2024 )
In addition, I participated in two reading projects which I am still participating in one of them (Goodreads) until the end of today because I am hoping I can finish the book I am currently reading by bedtime. I joined the Goodreads Challenge again and set my goal to read 75 books in 2023. I reached my Goodreads goal back in September and hope to complete 95 books this year. I also read 6 terrific books with members of my Chills, Thrills, and Kills Book Club. Sadly, the book club has been on hiatus since the fall, and I am not sure what its future will be in the upcoming year.
I participated in three book clubs on a regular basis throughout 2023. They are the FOMO Book Club, the Middle Grade March Book Club, and the Cozy Cottage Book Club. I read some fantastic books and attended some enjoyable meetings with wonderful discussions. I plan to continue participating in these book clubs in 2024.
I participated in Collabs with Kelsi, participated in Frugal February, and created birthday videos for most of my family/friends for my Birthday Message Project. Circumstances out of my control prevented me from creating videos for everyone this year, so I may consider creating birthday videos for those peeps I missed in 2024. Finally, I did not keep a TA-DA list for 2023. If I can wrangle up some time to create one in the near future, I will do it and publish it in January. I would like to acknowledge my wins this year. The only other extra project, where I was not consistent, was #Outside23in23. I am disappointed that I did not do better with this project, but I did not make it a priority.
Overall, I think I did okay with my 23 for 2023 list considering the turmoil that entered my life in the second half of this year. I could never have predicted that I would be ending the year in a season of sorrow. Sadly, I will still be in this season starting 2024.
Currently, I am thinking about my one-word theme for 2024. As soon as I settle on one, I will start creating my 24 for 2024 List. January will be a month of wrapping up loose ends from 2023 and planning for 2024 since I did not have the time I usually have in December to wrap up the current year and plan for the upcoming year. How did you do with your goals in 2023, dear reader? Happiness!
“When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. When life is bitter, say thank you and grow.” ~ Shauna Niequist
June was an amazing reading month for me. Despite everything I was involved in throughout the month of June, I managed to read a total of nine books. Four of those books were read for Kelsi’s Killer Corn Readathon which I wrote about in a separate post. Three books were for book clubs, one was for my Year of Christie project, and one was just for fun. Many of these books counted for the Summer Book Bingo Readathon that I am participating in for the very first time, and I earned my first bingo. Exciting!
COZY COTTAGE BOOK CLUB
A Princess of Wind and Wave by Melanie Cellier is a young adult, fairy tale retelling of The Little Mermaid. Isla is a mermaid princess, who feels stifled by her father’s strict rules. She longs to leave the underwater kingdom to live on the surface where her people once lived, especially after a chance encounter with a boy she once saved from drowning. Her desire to leave Merrita becomes a reality when her home is threatened by a dangerous opposition.
Even though A Princess of Wind and Wave started off a bit slow, it turned out to be an enjoyable read. Michelle Cellier does a fine job with creating likable characters and a formidable foe. There are twists and turns as well as some unexpected surprises. It is the sixth book in the Beyond the Four Kingdoms series; however, it worked well as a stand-alone for the Cozy Cottage Book Club. I enjoyed it enough that I want to read the other books in the series. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
MIDDLE GRADE MARCH BOOK CLUB
The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson is a middle-grade historical fiction novel with an intriguing mystery at the center of it. Candace is staying at her late grandmother’s house for the summer with her mother and discovers a letter addressed to her grandmother while exploring the attic. The letter holds the clues to
an unsolved mystery leading to a substantial hidden treasure. With the help of her new friend Brandon, they decide to solve the mystery which could help the town of Lambert and clear her grandmother’s name.
The Parker Inheritance is fast-paced, moves through dual timelines from multiple characters’ perspectives, and tackles tough topics relating to history and social justic issues. The novel is well-written with well-developed characters. I enjoyed the terrific friendship between Candace and Brandon, the references to middle-grade books, and the mystery. This novel is not only thought-provoking and heart-felt, but it is also clever and entertaining. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
FOMO BOOK CLUB
The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood Hargrave was the May/June book club selection for the FOMO Book Club. It is a compelling historical fiction novel set against the backdrop of the mystifying dance plague that seized the city of Strasbourg in the early 16th century. At the heart of the novel, pregnant Lisbet lives a quiet life on the outskirts of the city with her husband and mother-in-law where she takes care of bees on a modest piece of land. Living conditions are hard for many of the people and the church makes unreasonable demands upon them. When
Lisbet’s sister-in-law Agnethe returns after a long absence, life becomes more complicated and secrets are revealed, leading to heartache and dire consequences.
The Dance Tree is a beautifully written novel, and Hargrave does a wonderful job of taking a grim period in history and intertwining it with a story of forbidden love, loss, and the struggles women had to face in so many aspects of their lives. Despite its melancholy tone, it is a story of strong female connections, abiding love, and women exerting a level of control for themselves and finding self-worth in the midst of horrible circumstances. This was not an easy read; however, Hargrave does end the novel on a hopeful note which lifted the heaviness I felt throughout much of the novel. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
YEAR OF CHRISTIE
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie is the exciting debut of Hercule Poirot, the famous Belgian private detective extraordinaire. Detective Poirot is invited to Styles, an Essex country manor to assist in solving the mysterious death of Emily Inglethorpe. Even though the evidence points to her new
husband, there are plenty of other members of the household who could benefit from Mrs. Inglethorpe’s demise.
I loved the introduction of Hercule Poirot, and his intelligent assessment of Emily Inglethorpe’s crime scene. He is patient, good-humored, and dresses impeccably. I enjoyed his friendly banter with Mr. Hastings, who is the narrator of this mystery and tries his hand at amateur sleuthing. This novel has plenty of sudden twists and turns with a surprise ending that I did not see coming. Unfortunately, I was unable to guess the murderer. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
One of the squares for Summer Book Bingo is to read a book outside of your comfort zone. Well, in my case that would be romance. I have become friends with the British romance author, Emma Bennet. When I asked her which of her novels I should read first, she suggested her cozy contemporary romance, Her Perfect Hero. What an excellent choice!
Bronte, a romance writer, lives with her cat Mr. Darcy in a comfy cottage in a charming village outside of London. After a bad break-up, she is determined to
find her “perfect” hero like the ones she writes about in her books. Bronte finds herself in a dilemma when the handsome Ryan Murphy moves into the cottage next door, and she is rescued by the dashing Sebastian Fairfax. Both have appealing qualities, but who will prove to be “her perfect hero?”
Her Perfect Hero is the perfect summer read! It is a well-written, lighthearted romance with an awesome setting, interesting characters (including a clever cat), humorous scenes, and witty dialogue. I enjoyed that it was a sweet romance that left out the steaminess which is more my speed, especially since I rarely pick up this genre. At times, I felt like I was reading a romantic comedy. I will definitely be checking out more of Emma Bennet’s work in the future. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you want to hear more about my thoughts on this book or the other books I read in June, please check out my June wrap up video.
I am so late with this post that July literally ends tomorrow. My personal life has been a bit out of sorts lately, so my reading during July and creating content has been put on the back burner. It seems like I will be carrying over some books I am currently reading plus some books on my July TBR over to my August TBR, and that will just have to be okay. It is definitely not the end of the world, dear reader. Hee Hee! Instead of lamenting on the books that I did not get to in July, I will celebrate the ones that I did read. Hopefully, my July wrap up post will be more timely. To see my current book reviews or books I have read in the past, follow me on Goodreads at Katherine Loyacano. Happiness!
“Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another’s skin, another’s voice, another’s soul.” ~ Joyce Carol Oates
I am one of many Kelsi Corns who participated in her Killer Corn Readathon from 01 June – 11 June. Who exactly are Kelsi Corns? We are patrons of her YouTube channel, Slime and Slashers, and we receive bonus content for supporting her creative endeavors. For participating in Kelsi’s mini slasher readathon and completing 8 prompts, I received two killer cartoon corns (a candy corn and a corn on the cob) and earned accessories for both of them. While the theme was slashers, participants did not have to read slasher stories to earn their corns. Additionally, Kelsi allowed books to be used for multiple prompts.
Killer Corns
Prompts
Read a book ending in an even # of pages.
Read a book ending in an odd # of pages.
Read a book set at summer camp or at a carnival.
Read a book written by a woman.
Read a book published before 2020.
Watch a Slasher Movie.
Read a book with only 1 word OR with more than 3 words in the title.
Read a book without red on the cover.
I read a middle-grade book about a dangerous summer camp, a slasher novel, and two supernatural novellas to earn my candy corn witch and my kitty cat corn on the cob.
In addition, I attended the watch party on Kelsi’s discord to watch the slasher movie, Hello, Mary Lou: Prom Night 2, with friends. I gave it a 1/2 star because it was awful and not at all connected to the original Prom Night, starring the fabulous Jamie Lee Curtis.
Prompts #3 and #5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dolly (Prompts #1, #4, #8) ⭐⭐⭐⭐; The Man In the Picture (Prompt #8) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Prompts #2 and #7 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Welcome to Camp Nightmare by R.L. Stine is a delightfully dark middle-grade horror book and the 9th book in the original iconic Goosebumps series. It is about a young boy named Billy who is shipped off to Camp Nightmoon for his first summer camp experience. Even before arriving at Camp Nightmoon, Billy and his new friends encounter some strange situations. Welcome to Camp Nightmare was a fast, suspenseful read. This tale kept you guessing until the very end with plenty of mystery, frightening moments, and twists and turns that lead up to a VERY surprising and satisfying ending. This was my first 5-star Goosebumps.
Dolly by Susan Black is a supernatural story surrounding a damaged doll that mysteriously manifests itself through the transgressions of those who possess it. Timid Edward and his haughty cousin Leonora spend one summer as children at Iyot House in the English countryside with their Aunt Kestrel. Their time together is spent amicably enough until Aunt Kestrel presents Leonora with a large baby doll made of china for her birthday. Leonora’s reaction to the doll changes their lives forever. 4-star read for me.
The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill is a haunting story that involves a mesmerizing painting with a precarious secret. Oliver travels to Cambridge to visit his former professor, Theo Parmitter, who happens to be an art collector. One evening, Theo shares an unbelievably strange story with Oliver concerning a painting of masked partygoers at a Venetian carnival that he aquired many years ago. 4.5 star read for me.
My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones is an homage to slasher films. High school senior, Jade Daniels, is complicated and a hardcore fan of slasher movies from the 80s. A new community is being built across the lake from her small town in the national forest that triggers bad feelings amongst the townpeople, conjures up the urban legend surrounding Camp Blood, and sets off a chain of events right out of a slasher movie. This novel starts off at a slow pace but quickly picks up speed, and Jones keeps you guessing until the bittersweet end with plenty of twists and turns. 4-stars for a slashery good time.
If you want to hear more about my thoughts on this book or the other books I read for the Killer Corn Readathon, please check out my Killer Corn Readathon Vlog. I had a great deal of fun with this readathon.
The Killer Corn Readathon kicked off my reading for June; however, I read plenty of other amazing books during the first month of the summer which I will hopefully be sharing with you soon, dear reader. Do you participate in readathons or reading challenges? Please let me know in the comments below. I love reading about the reading adventures of fellow bibliophiles. To see my current book reviews or books I have read in the past, follow me on Goodreads at Katherine Loyacano. Happiness!
“Can’t I just like horror because it’s great? Does there have to be some big explanation?”~ Stephen Graham Jones, My Heart Is a Chainsaw
According to Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, “observing Halfway Day on July 2nd is a catalyst for reflection.” Six months ago I shared with you, dear reader, my one-word theme for 2023, my 23 for 2023 List with my aims for the year, as well as a list of other fun plans I wanted to participate in alongside my aims. All of these tools set into motion the resolutions I wanted to achieve for myself throughout the year. Today, I am sharing how I am doing with my one-word theme, my aims, and my additional projects thus far.
My one-word theme is CREATE. YES, my year has been all about creating through 1) bringing (something) into existence (content, organization of my office), 2) causing (something) to happen as a result of my actions (relationships-community, friends, family; memories), 3) originating a role by playing a character for the first time (performing improv; graduating from Anubis Improv; auditioning), and 4) investing with new rank or title (myself through personal development; cohosting content with others).
My 23 for 2023 List
1. Schedule dental appointment (implant crown).
2. Buy myself flowers quarterly. (1st and 2nd quarter) ongoing
3. Buy a new vacuum cleaner.
4. Buy two white bookcases for office.bought 3; planning to buy a 4th one soon
5. Buy a book cart.
6. Deal with digital clutter (email, photos, documents). slow going; bought additional photo storage
7. Organize home office.
8. Organize home library.
9. Write my personal manifesto.
10. Write a will.
11. Scrapbook monthly. only scrapbooked 2 days at event in June
12. Complete Year of Gratitude scrapbook.
13. Learn StreamYard to host sprints on my YouTube channel.
14. Host two Readathons on my YouTube channel (February/May).
15. Read 23 Books that I did not get to in 2022. slow going; I’ve read 6 so far.
16. Have a Year of Christie (Agatha Christie). slow going; I’ve read 3 so far.
17. Read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. started in June; postponed
18. Read The Galveston Diet by Mary Claire Haver, M.D.
19. Revisit Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin.
20. Read Tranquility by Tuesday by Laura Vanderkam.
21. Complete Becky Higgins Classroom: Photo Tips + Work Flow.
22. Complete the WordPress Blogging course.
23. Update theme (layout) for blog.
Other Fun Plans for 2023:
#Outside23in23 super inconsistent; recommitted on July 1st
2023 Reading Challenge (Goodreads) 47/75 (10 books ahead of schedule)
Chills, Thrills, and Kills Book Club ✅
FOMO Book Club ✅
Collabs with Kelsi not as many as last year; The Shining and Year of King wrap up; cohost Old School April (sprints); cohost live chat of Night of the Living Trekkies
Frugal February did well for the majority of the month; spent a little moolah on an overnight trip to Orange Beach-room free of charge (had to use voucher in February); visited bookstores, but spent very little on used books; dinner out
Birthday Message Project 18 birthdays so far
TA-DA List keeping one loosely
Even though I have only completed 7 aims, there are 4 aims that I have been consistently working on (slowly) since the beginning of the year. I have accomplished a great deal on my YouTube channel, my reading life has expanded, and I am making wonderful memories with family and friends. The second half of the year will see a major lifestyle change that will affect my health (hopefully positively), recommitting to some of the aims on my 23 for 2023 List, and a trip to Sicily in September. I am looking forward to the adventures I will be having from now until the end of 2023. Dear reader, what are some aims you reached in the first half of this year? What are you looking forward to accomplishing or experiencing in the second half of 2023? Happiness!
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” ~ Aristotle
May was a fun reading month for me because many of the books I read were related to ZOMBIES. May is Zombie Awareness Month and in celebration I usually go a little overboard reading zombie books and watching zombie movies and television shows. More so this year since I hosted Zombiethon on my channel, Kat’s Novel Adventures. I completed nine books. Of those nine books, I read six for Zombiethon with one of the zombie books being chosen for May’s Chills, Thrills, and Kills Book Club selection. I finally got around to reading Rise of the Princess by D.A.L. which was a book on my 23 Books for 2023 and Good Night, Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian for the FOMO Book Club. Lastly, I read the first selection for the Middle Grade March Book Club called The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill. In addition to Zombiethon, I also read 5 short stories about zombies for Horror Mayhem. May was another month of reading a variety of genres and discovering new authors; and, I revisited characters from a middle-grade zombie series I started last year.
ZOMBIETHON READATHON
Zombiethon was created by ME. This month-long readathon/watchathon was my second event on my channel, and it fulfilled #14 on my 23 for 2023 List. I could not be more pleased with the zombie short stories and books I read throughout the month of May. In addition to reading prompts, there were movie prompts, live chats, and reading sprints. I selected a group read, Night of the Living Trekkies by Kevin David Anderson and Sam Stall. I created seven reading prompts which inspired my Zombiethon TBR.
Zombies can be __________________, so…
Zany: Read a humorous zombie story. (Kate Walden Directs: Night of the Zombie Chickens by Julie Mata)
Open-Minded: Read a zombie story with romantic vibes. (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After by Steve Hockensmith)
Moody: Read a middle-grade zombie story. (Blue Moon by James Ponti – Book 2 in Dead City series)
Brainy: Read a nonfiction article, an essay, or book about zombies. (“Do Zombies Feel Pain? Exploring Sensory Neuropathy” by Luke W. Boyd)
Imaginative: Read a comic book, a graphic novel, a manga, or a picture book related to zombies. (Brains! Not Just a Zombie Snack by Stacy McAnulty)
Enterprising: Read a zombie story that made it to the little or big screen. (The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey)
Spontaneous: Mood Read (Night of the Living Trekkies by Kevin David Anderson and Sam Stall)
Zombies can be ZANY! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Zombies can be OPEN-MINDED! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Zombies can be MOODY! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Zombies can be BRAINY! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Zombies can be IMAGINATIVE! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Zombies can be ENTERPRISING! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Zombies can be SPONTANEOUS! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I loved that my zombie literature varied with some middle-grade books, humourous undead books, articles and essays, short stories, and even a picture book about brains.
Kate Walden Directs: Night of the Zombie Chickens by Julie Mata is more about the ups and downs of friendship in junior high than zombies, but it was still a fun read. Kate is a young filmmaker who hits a roadblock filming her zombie movie when her best friend decides to snub her for the popular girl in school.
Dreadfully Ever After by Steve Hockensmith is the entertaining sequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Elizabeth Bennet and her husband, Fitzwilliam Darcy, are enjoying wedded bliss when an unfortunate encounter with an unmentionable threatens their happily ever after.
Blue Moon, the exciting sequel to Dead City, by James Ponti is zomberific. Tagging along with Molly and her Omega friends for another action-filled zombie adventure in New York City was enjoyable. The group discovers the origin of zombies in “The Big Apple” as well as the identities of the Unlucky 13 and which ones hold the power in Dead City.
I read the article, “Do Zombies Feel Pain? Exploring Sensory Neuropathy” by Luke W. Boyd on the Zombie Research Society website. According to Boyd’s research, “Zombies have most likely experienced nerve damage that contributes to the common notion that they experience little to no physical pain. It could just be due to trauma, injury, infection, or Trioxin. But they most certainly seem to ignore discomfort in their ultimate pursuit of human flesh.” Interesting article about zombies with a scientific approach of whether or not they can feel pain.
Brains! Not just a Zombie Snack by Stacy McAnulty is a cute and informative picture book about brains. A friendly zombie girl informs readers about the importance of the brain, its parts and their functions, and the comparisons of the human brain with other animal brains. I love this whimsical way of teaching a science concept to children of all ages.
The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey is a refreshing new take on zombies which are called “hungries” in this post-apocalyptic novel. Melanie is a zombie girl; however, it is not evident just by looking at her or talking with her. She is highly intelligent, experiences emotions, and enjoys reading. However, she also craves the flesh of animals (including the human ones) when their scent triggers her. An unexpected and vicious attack at the military base where she lives propels her and a small group of people beyond the base’s border and into a wasteland. Now, humanity hangs in the balance. 5 stars for this well-written novel with well-developed characters and its fresh approach to the genre of zombie fiction!
Night of the Living Trekkies by Kevin David Anderson and Sam Stall was chosen as Zombiethon’s group read as well as May’s selection for the Chills, Thrills, and Kills Book Club. I love zombies and comic cons, so I thought this comedy-horror book would appeal to me. Jim Pike is an assistant manager at the Botany Bay Hotel with no real aspirations in life. He is on duty for the annual Star Trek convention where a strange virus is attending along with loads of Star Trek fans. Night of the Living Trekkies has humor, heart, and hordes of zombies along with plenty of action, gore, and a twist. It was well-written, so much fun to read, and would make an excellent zombie film. I gave this zomberific good time 5 stars!
I did a Zombiethon wrap up video on my Youtube channel which not only included my readathon but also included my watchathon if you are interested in the zombie movies I watched throughout May.
HORROR MAYHEM
My friend Mindy @ Mindy’s Book Journey was one of the hosts for the month-long readathon, Horror Mayhem. The criteria for this readathon was to read short horror fiction that was less than 250 pages. I wanted to support her reading event, so I chose to read 5 zombie-related short stories from Zombies: A Compendium of the Living Dead edited by Otto Penzler. I am always looking for an excuse to incorporate more short stories in my reading life.
“Eat Me” by Robert McCammon ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Jumbee” by Henry S. Whitehead ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“The Outsider” by H.P. Lovecraft ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Home Delivery” by Stephen King ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I did a Horror Mayhem wrap up video on my Youtube channel if you are interested in hearing more about these short stories and my thoughts on them.
Good Night, Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian was the March/April book club selection for the FOMO Book Club. Since the lovely ladies who run this book club did not meet until 07 May, I was able to complete this one right at the beginning of May and join their discussion. This middle-grade novel is my first ever by Michelle Magorian. Despite heartbreaking moments in the novel, I absolutely loved the story, many of the characters and their relationships, as well as the amazing setting where the majority of the story takes place.
Good Night, Mr. Tom begins on the threshhold of World War II. Willie Beech is sent from London to Little Weirwold in the English countryside to live with a kindly old widower named Mr. Tom. Willie is skinny, apprehensive, and terrified of all the new sights and sounds of country life. Mr. Tom soon discovers that William comes from an abusive home, and William soon discovers that Mr. Tom is a kind and patient old man. Together, they form a close relationship that makes them learn to love the world again. This literary gem is a compelling and heartbreaking historical fiction story that tugs at the heart strings and shows the triumph of the human spirit during challenging experiences. This new favorite of mine easily earned 5 stars.
23 BOOKS FOR 2023 (Reading ARC)
Rise of the Princess by D.A.L. was the Reading ARC (advanced reader copy) sent to me by the author Daniel back in December. I already had a full TBR in December with the three readathons that I was participating in that I did not get to it. It is one of the books on my 23 Books for 2023 list which ended up on my TBR for February, March, and April. I finally started it at the very end of April and finished it the first week in May.
It is a terrific fairy tale adventure about two princesses, Lizzy and Ruby, who go on a quest with a fairy named Blake to rescue
Ruby’s sisters from a few impolite trolls. They experience all sorts of magical creatures along the way. Rise of the Princess has heart, humor, and heroics to make for a worthwhile middle-grade read. This whimsical reading experience earned 4 stars from me.
MIDDLE GRADE MARCH BOOK CLUB
The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill was the first book club selection for the Middle Grade March Book Club which launched in May. This online book club is run by four wonderful booktubers: Krista @ Books and Jams, Amanda @ The Curly Reader, Katie @ Life Between Words, and Jenna @ Jenna Reads n Writes (Instagram).
The Ogress and the Orphans is a beautifully written middle-grade fantasy with a fable-like quality. Once there was a lovely town called Stone-in-the Glen where warm-hearted citizens lived and worked together as a harmonious
community. Then, several tragic events cause the idyllic town to fall on hard times and neighbors no longer act neighborly.
The Ogress and the Orphans was my first experience reading Kelly Barnhill, and I absolutely loved it so much. It is a long book and is a slower paced story; however, I did not mind that at all because the story kept me engaged with its lyrical prose. This story is about kindness, empathy, the importance of books and family, as well as what it means to be a good neighbor. “The more you give, the more you have” is a theme that runs throughout the book. While there are some heartrending moments, there are many tender moments that made reading this story enjoyable. It was a fabulous 5-star fantasy for me!
If you want to hear more about my thoughts on this book or the other books I read in May, please check out my May wrap up video.
Dear reader, June is nearly wrapping up. I completed 4 books for Kelsi’s Killer Corn Slasherthon, a patreon exclusive reading event held at the beginning of June. I have also completed 3 books for a reading project and book clubs. I am currently reading The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson for the Middle Grade March Book Club and Her Perfect Hero by Emma Bennet for Summer Book Bingo. In addition, I have Beloved by Toni Morrison still left on my TBR which I’m hoping I will be able to get to before the month ends. So much fun reading going on in June. To see my current book reviews or books I have read in the past, follow me on Goodreads at Katherine Loyacano. Happiness!
“A library is a medicine cabinet. What can heal one person may not work at all for somebody else.” ~ Sandra Cisneros, A House of My Own
April was another wonderful reading month for me. I completed ten books. Of those ten books, I read eight for Old School April. This readathon was part of an epic nostalgiathon. I finally completed Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley which I had been reading since January to kick off my Year of Christie reading project. I buddy read one book off my 23 Books for 2023, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Lastly, I read We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix which was the selection for the Chills, Thrills, and Kills Book Club. I enjoyed a variety of genres, discovered four new authors, and revisited a couple of old school favorites.
Old School April Readathon
The Old School April Nostalgiathon was created by Kelsi @ Slime and Slashers. She invited 7 other booktubers, including me, along with one Instagrammer to cohost this month-long event with her. It was a blast! In addition to reading prompts, there were movie prompts and bonus activity prompts. There were nine reading prompts for inspiration, and I used one book for two prompts.
Read a Goosebumps or Book that fits AYAOTD vibes (Night of the Living Dummy 2 by R.L. Stine)
Read any 80s Horror Book (The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker)
Read an Animal Attack Book (The Werewolf of Fever Swamp by R.L. Stine)
Read a Book with Old Technology on Cover or in Story (The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene)
Mood Read (The X-Files: Earth Children Are Weird by Jason Rekulak)
Read a Fear Street, Point Horror, or Christopher Pike Book (Double Date by R.L. Stine)
Read a Book with Magic or Cursed Objects (The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker)
Read any 90s Horror Book (The Unexpected Guest adapted by Charles Osborne)
Read a Book by Female Author or with Female Protagonist (We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix)
The Night of the Living Dummy 2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Hellbound Heart ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Werewolf of Fever Swamp ⭐⭐⭐
The Secret of the Old Clock ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The X-Files: Earth Children Are Weird ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Double Date ⭐⭐⭐
The Unexpected Guest ⭐⭐⭐⭐
We Sold Our Souls ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really enjoyed reading the picture book featuring young Mulder and Scully. This book is my first written by Jason Rekulak and illustrated by Kim Smith. The story was fun and the illustrations were well-done. I would love to purchase more picture books in this series featuring other nostalgic characters. The Goosebumps books and my first Fear Street book were entertaining. I loved revisiting The Secret of the Old Clock and The Hellbound Heart. Both stories are terrific! Nancy Drew is extremely nostalgic for me. I loved reading her mysteries in middle school. The Helbound Heart is not for the faint of heart with its body horror and sadistic Cenobites, but a classic for horror fans and fans of Clive Barker. I substituted The Unexpected Guest for the 90s horror prompt. This book is my first Agatha Christie story for the year. It was originally written by Agatha Christie as a play and later adapted as a novel by Charles Osborne. This book is the first I have read by him. I rather enjoyed it and would have loved to have seen the play performed on the stage. Of course, I did not guess the murderer. Christie is so clever!
We Sold Our Souls was the April book club selection for the Chills, Thrills, and Kills Book Club, and it was a rockin’ good time. Kris Pulaski, lead guitarist for a heavy metal band, is close to making the big time with her bandmates when the lead singer, Terry Hunt, sells them out for fame and a solo career. Kris is the only member of the band who is not on board with signing Hunt’s plan for the future of their band. After no options and reluctantly signing a questionable contract, her music career and relationships with her bandmates cease, leaving her alone, broke, and extremely bitter. Years pass, but she is still bitter. While driving home early one morning from her dead-end job, she spots a billboard of Terry Hunt advertising his upcoming epic concert and decides to reclaim her music and her life. I enjoyed this story with its heavy metal references, a well-developed protagonist, and off-putting creatures amid a social commentary about capitalism and conspiracy theories.
Year of Christie
Many thanks to my friend Rita for recommending Agatha Christie: An Elusive Womanto me at the end of 2022. I knew next to nothing about Agatha Christie’s personal life or career and have only read a handful of her mystery novels. Lucy Worsley wrote a fantastic biography that included plenty of photos of Agatha Christie and the cast of characters that impacted her life. I liked the way Worsley formatted the book and gave examples of where Christie’s life made its way into her fictional stories. Agatha Christie was a fascinating woman and a wonderful writer who lived an interesting life. I look forward to reading more of her mysteries this year. 5 stars!
Buddy Read
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig was an AMAZING read for me! It is one of the books on my 23 Books for 2023 list which I buddy read with my friend Mary @ Booking Through Life. We had two wonderful discussions about this terrific book.
Nora Seed’s life is less than ideal. She is extremely unhappy with her current job and nonexistent personal life. After the one bright spot in her life is unexpectedly taken from her, despair completely takes her over, and she ends her life. However, she finds herself inside the Midnight Library, between life and death,
where she is greeted by her childhood school librarian, Mrs. Elm. The books inside this library are the lives that Nora could have lived if she would have chosen them. The Midnight Library is a well-written, captivating story about purpose, choices, success, and second chances. Nora struggles with her purpose in life in regard to her relationships as well as what it means to be successful. I loved how Haig connected elements in the story to growth. Nora Seed, Mrs. Elm, a root life, and “then the tree-the tree that is our life-develops branches” all point to growth and the development of the many lives we live. The fact that Haig chose an elm tree, a symbol with the Underworld in Celtic mythology, to name Mrs. Elm was wonderful to me. She is Nora’s guide and someone who connects her between life and death.
This book made me pause and examine my own life, my choices, as well as my regrets. In our first meeting, Mary and I discussed whether or not we would want to see how our different lives played out or keep our current life. At first, I was all for wanting a sneak peek, but as I read on and experienced Nora’s different lives, I agreed with Mary that our “root life” or our current life is exactly where we need to be. Choosing an alternate life has far-reaching consequences not only for ourselves, but also for others. I think once you make peace with your past and your present circumstances are embraced, your current life then opens up to plenty of possibilities. It is no longer about changing the past, but living in the now and paving the way for your future. 5 stars!
If you want to hear more about my thoughts on this book or the other books I read in April, please check out my April wrap up video.
May has gotten off to a great start. I completed two books that I carried over from April and have finished three books already for Zombiethon, a month-long readathon/watchathon event that I am hosting on my channel. The Chills, Thrills, and Kills Book Club chose a zombie selection for May called Night of the Living Trekkies by Kevin David Anderson and Sam Stall. It also happens to be the group read for Zombiethon. It is a humorous zombie story. I am also joining the Middle Grade March Book Club, and their May selection is The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill. So much fun stuff to read in May.
Lastly, I have two winners for the Middle Grade March giveaway. Congrats to Kathryn and Katie for winning a copy of Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling. The books are on backorder, so as soon as I receive them, I will contact you. Thanks for participating. To see my current book reviews or books I have read in the past, follow me on Goodreads at Katherine Loyacano. Happiness!
“Man reading should be man intensely alive. The book should be a ball of light in one’s hand.” ~ Ezra Pound
Happy Zombie Awareness Month, dear reader! I am super excited to celebrate ZOMBIES this year because I am hosting Zombiethon: Zombie Awareness Readathon & Watchathon on my channel, Kat’s Novel Adventures. I have created another Zombie Fun List just for this year. It will include everything related to zombies, such as movies, television shows, books, short stories, articles, cocktails, and clothing. I also created a Discord for my channel which includes the Zombiethon event. I will be hosting live chats, reading sprints, as well as a book giveaway. It promises to be a zomberific good time!
In the past, my books and movies were mood reads or mood watches. This year, I decided to create reading and watchng prompts to guide me in picking out my movies and books. Having prompts this year added a bit of whimsy to the choices I made for this year’s celebration of Zombie Awareness Month.
Zombie Fun List
Movies
Television Shows
I plan to catch up on Fear the Walking Dead with the 8th and final season coming out on May 14th. If I have some extra time in the month, I would also like to watch a few episodes of Kingdom which is currently streaming on Netflix. Kingdom is a South Korean zombie show set in the 16th century.
Books, Short Stories, and Articles
As for short stories, I plan to read “Eat Me” by Robert R. McCammon which is included in a collection of zombie stories titled Zombies: Encounters with the Hungry Dead edited by John Skipp. My article to read this month is “Do Zombies Feel Pain? Exploring Sensory Neuropathy” which was posted on 17 February 2023 by Luke W. Boyd. You can find this article as well as plenty of other articles and information related to zombies on the Zombie Research Society website.
As always, I am delighted to be celebrating zombies throughout the month of May. If time permits, I will sprinkle a zombie post here or there throughout the month. Of course, dear reader, you are invited to participate in all the zombie shenanigans I have planned for Zombiethon. Who do zombies avoid eating, and why? Clowns, because they taste funny! Happiness!
“A non-frightening zombie is a lame zombie.” ~ Scott M. Gimple
"Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviors. Keep your behaviors positive because your behaviors become your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny." ~Gandhi
Run/Walk Schedule
Week #1: Walk 30 minutes a day, at least three times a week.
Week #2: Continue week-one workout but pick up the pace, pump your arms. Break a sweat!
Week #3: Walk 10 minutes. Run 1 minute. Walk 2 minutes (repeat this 3-minute session 5 times). Walk 10 minutes.
Week #4: Walk 10 minutes. Run 2 minutes. Walk 1 minute (repeat this 3-minute session 5 times). Walk 10 minutes.
The Kat Files 