Can you believe we’re almost halfway through December? The last few months have been busy, so I wanted to share a different kind of post to update you on what I’ve been up to recently. In addition to my usual posts, looking forward to 2023, I plan to share more of these more informal behind-the-scenes posts. If that’s not your thing, don’t worry, there’s plenty of my usual writing and editing content planned for 2023.
Recent Reads…
I’ve read some excellent books recently! I’ve officially gotten hooked on the Lore Olympus graphic novel series by Rachel Smythe (fair warning, I devoured these in an afternoon and I’m a bit salty that now I’ll have to wait until May 2023 for the next instalment).
V.E Schwab continues to blow me away with her writing. Vicious was no exception. If you love X-men and morally grey characters, this is one to add to the TBR.
Daughter of The Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan was a breath of fresh air. Lyrical prose paired with an unfamiliar (to me) folklore made for a compelling reading experience. I’ll be checking out the sequel soon, though going into this book I was incorrectly under the impression it was a stand-alone fantasy.
After all the fantasy, I was in the mood for something different and with a contemporary setting. A dear friend recommended The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston to me a while back, so I picked up a copy. This book has my heart. The black humour, small-town vibes and slow-burn romance were excellent. I’m now on a mission to check out Poston’s backlist.
Adventures…
During November I had some delightful times, as well as some challenging ones. But one of the bright spots was getting to travel to Tasmania for the first time. My mum was there for her work and so I packed up my laptop and fully embraced the #freelancerlife for about two weeks while we travelled around the island.
I loved working in different libraries and cafes. Working from home fully can get isolated sometimes, so it was refreshing to change up my environment and refill my creative well.
Highlights included:
- Salamanca markets: if you get a chance to go, definitely too. This sprawling market is filled with artisans and lots of amazing food. I even got a head start on my Christmas shopping! (And if like me, you enjoy a nice gin, this is the place to meet the makers)
- Trying my first oysters (@devilscornerwine has ruined me, in the best way possible, for oysters. I’m not mad about it)
- Discovering some bookish gems. If in Launceston, be sure to check out @quixoticbookstasmania for gorgeous writing spaces and hard-to-find books.
- Fresh air and stunning scenery — not to mention the food! We visited so many wonderful places and I’ve only mentioned a couple in this post. Special shout out to @vdlcreamery and their salted lime sorbet. @st_albi bar and @inthehanginggarden for the excellent food, drinks and on-point ambience.
Work Wise…
When I’m busy at work on current projects, it can be easy to lose sight of making time to celebrate. I’m working on making more effort to celebrate the publication of recent projects where I’ve been involved in editing. November was a huge month for releases for my recent clients!
Congratulations to Shawline publishing and their authors on the release of the following titles:
Next Up…
I’m home and it’s December, so we’re decorating for the holiday season! If you have any cozy holiday read recommendations or if you have had your own Tassie adventures, I’d love to hear about them in the comments!
Steph Huddleston 
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