Saturday Miscellany – 12/8/18

I started a new job this week, which is what I’m blaming my relative silence on — I did almost complete a few posts, to be honest (and a little self-justifying). Just nothing I’m quite ready to push “publish” on. But I have an ambitious schedule for December, so I need to get busy (and I have a little bit of November to finish with, too — oops). Here’s hoping next week is busy around here.

Anyway, here are the odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

• Reasons for Blogging Slumps. — The Tattooed Book Geek’s post seemed an appropriate place to start with (although I’m not technically in a slump, I don’t think). Also, it’s a good one.
• The joy of not finishing books: if you don’t like it, don’t read it — James Colley’s piece is entertaining and wise — worth it for the last ‘graph alone.
• Why We (Still) Love Crime and Comic Book Heroes: On the Flawed Heroes and Superheroes of Modern Genre Fiction — I started this week off with a post about Meghan Scott Molin’s debut novel. Seems fitting to end it pointing to this from Crime Reads.
• Behind the Scenes: The Making of ‘Storm Cursed’ — I’m a fan of Dan Dos Santos’ work (and looking through his portfolio this week, I realized much of what I’d previously liked I had realized was his). This is a cool look into his process in designing the upcoming Mercy Thompson cover.
• It’s that time of year — best of lists. TBR pile fodder abounds. Here’s a few that I liked:
  • The Real Book Spy’s Best Thrillers of 2018
  • Guardian best books of 2018: across fiction, politics, food and more
  • Lit Hub’s Favorite Books of 2018: 59 Books That You Should Probably Read Some Time in 2019
  • Michael Connelly’s Favorite Reads of 2018 — blah
  • Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Graphic Novels of 2018 — from Powell’s Books’ Staff
• Who Is The Most Instagrammed Writer Of All Time? — huh
• ‘P Is for Pterodactyl’ alphabet book teaches kids some anomalies of the English language — this just looks like a lot of fun

This Week’s New Releases I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
• The Frame-Up by Meghan Scott Molin — a comic writer/artist consults with the LAPD in a hunt for a real-world costumed vigilante in one of the most enjoyable debuts of the year. I talked a bit about it Monday
• Blood of Ten Kings by Edward Lazellari — The third volume of the Guardians of Aandor — an Epic Fantasy/Urban Fantasy hybrid of sorts — hit the stores this week. Listening to Lazellari describe the books on the latest Once & Future Podcast sold me on volume one.
• King of the Road by R. S. Belcher — I missed the first novel in this UF series last year, but a group of Truckers descended from the Knights Templar who defends the roads of the US from supernatural threats — and a biker gang, apparently — has got to be worth a read.

Lastly, I’d like to say hi and extend a warm welcome to awesomeyou (nice blog, but I can’t read that side bar — as pretty as it is), whinney, Di Salvo Cambiamento (I assume the blog is nice, but I can’t read that language), Arganise Campbell (a very busy young woman) and Shalini for following the blog this week.