Summer is coming to an end. In my house, we are enjoying the last two weeks before school begins, but are preparing for the new year: shopping for new clothes and shoes, cleaning up our room and donating clothes, wrapping up summer reading and more. I love Fall and I love the new routines and rhythms that come with a new year.

This week, I’ve got two unexpected books to share, lots of list-making and journal-creation, shower affirmation cards and more!

What I'm Reading:

I love when my reading life hands me an unexpected treat. This week, I got two! The first is a book that I would have never chosen for myself and the second is a delightful book that I might have overlooked. Thankfully, my Get Lit(erate) book club voted for this book as our August selection. Here they both are:

Miranda Writes by Gail Ward Olmsted

I almost didn’t finish reading this book after the first chapter. It packed a powerful punch and I wasn’t sure if my timing was right for this book. But it was. It was fantastic. Olmsted introduces us to Miranda, an up-and-coming law blogger and podcaster gearing up for her first daytime television show. But when a witness from a past case shows up unexpectedly, her world is turned upside down. What comes next is a series of events that has you turning the pages as fast as you can. There’s drama and suspense, there’s family and love and most importantly, there’s a whole lot of self-discovery. I’ve already shared it as a First Page Friday book inside my Get Lit(erate) community and am recommending it widely. 

The List That Changed My Life by Olivia Beirne

I think books find their way to readers just when they need them. And this book did that for me. Georgie is a single woman doing her best to pay her rent and stay afloat. Until her sister is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. When Libby gets sick, her whole world starts to change. Desperate to help, Georgie agrees to help her sister complete the bucket list she might not ever get to finish. From online dating and skydiving, to running a 10K and making the perfect sponge, Georgia starts to find a new version of herself and that new version might be just what her sister needs to heal, too. I’ll keep this book close to my heart for a while. 

What I'm Writing:

After reading The List That Changed My Life by Olivia Beirne, I am enjoying lots of list-making. =)

I decided to write my own bucket-list of top ten things I want to do THIS YEAR. That’s why I loved Georgie’s list so much. It wasn’t a list for a lifetime, it was a list for the immediate future.

So, I had some fun making my own list AND I made lists for those I love, too, just like Libby did for Georgia. 

The question is….do I share them with the others and issue a challenge?! 

I just might. 

What I'm Learning:

This week, it’s all about Canva again. I LOVE CANVA. =)

I shared a bonus episode inside my Get Lit(erate) Patreon community reviewing a few different kinds of reading journals. Since I’ve started the podcast, I realize that I need a dedicated space to collect the titles I want to bring to listeners, along with the themes, quotes and details I want to share, too. 

I started with a notebook, but quickly realized I wanted a specific journal to help. 

The trouble? There are many journals, but I haven’t found one that offers exactly what I’m looking for. 

So I am making one, thanks to the urging of my Get Lit(erate) community members. 

I’m hard at work inside of Canva to bring the book journal to life and will hopefully have it ready to order for the Fall reading season and holiday gifting. 

Stay tuned!

What I'm Loving:

Why didn’t I know about this website earlier? You can search for book titles based on a location you want to read about. It’s quick and easy and yields lots of excellent titles. But there’s more! Search for a book and follow the trail. This site gives you maps, images and information about the setting along the way. Fascinating. Head to The Book Trail right now. 

Wait. There are affirmation cards for the SHOWER? Yes, please.

These rice-stuffed tomatoes look amazing. They’re going on my weekly dinner line-up. 

There you have it! I hope this inspires you to make space for more reading and writing in your own life. What are the highlights from your literate life this week?