Happy May!

I didn’t do much to celebrate Poetry Month in April, but it was still quite a literary month for me. Most significantly, I have left the library/non-profit sector for a job in publishing. It has been a huge transition – I went from working one-on-one with the community to working in a pretty quiet office. (Speaking of which, I have own office! Which I desperately need to decorate…) Instead of chasing kids around, I spend much of my time in front of a computer, which has put a shocking strain on my eyes.

I haven’t been working at this new job for very long, but it has already been a rewarding experience. I’m learning so much about the publishing industry, as well as the how post-writing process goes for authors. I’m a writer who spends much more time writing than editing, but this job is further hammering into my skull how important it is to edit!

This transition time has taken up much of my energy to write, but I have been reading A LOT. This is partly because I have been too tired to write but not too tired to read, and partly because I now commute a fair distance – far enough that I have started listening to audio books again. Some of my favorite April reads include Inio Asano’s Goodnight Punpun Vol. 1, Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street, and Sarah Perry’s Melmoth. I am currently at 79 books read in 2019, well ahead of my goal of 100.

Reading has been a wonderful diversion, but I need to start writing again. I have my first festival performance in June and I have to ensure that I have an hour’s worth of content ready – what a daunting task!

On top of all this, I have been applying for and interviewing for grants related to writing/arts related programs I would like to start in my city. If I don’t get any of these grants, I’m going to take it as a sign that I need to slow down and focus more on myself and my work. But if I do get any of these grants, I am ready to make these programs happen. After that, I’ll take a break. 🙂

• Current drink: hot coconut chai
• Current book: The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo
• Current audio book: Sadie by Courtney Summers
• Current music: Uumamii – Caffe