Author | Lightnews

Reposted by Cynthia Taylor

Matthew Nation, Author @matthewnation.bsky.social · 1d

Check on your friends who tell you they're fine. #fine #mentalhealth #checkonyourstrongfriends

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · 2d

Ok, so this week was not great. Missed a bunch of days while I coped with moving my mom. So I need to pull double duty for a while to catch up! 3000 words today. Need a few more days like this!

Quantity over quality, alas.

#NaNoWriMo #IAmWriting

1

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · 2d

Ugh, Never Lie was such a disappointment but I have been told as well that The Housemaid is better. I shall await your opinion :)

1 1

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · 7d

Note to self: the first chapter is FINE. Stop futzing with the individual word choices. Stop thinking about rewriting it. Just keep going.

#IAmWriting #NaNoWriMo

Donut chart of daily writing progress. 1630 / 1500 daily goal, 3322 / 75000 book goal.

1

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · 8d

Storygraph October Wrapup!

It’s been a weird few months. I’ve been reading like it’s a mission to distract me from the grief and the caregiver burnout, but I’m not sure I’m actually enjoying it like I should.

Going to focus on writing for a while and slow down.

1 2

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · 8d

20 BOOKS?!

Wow!

two men are doing push ups with the words " we 're not worthy " behind them

ALT: two men are doing push ups with the words " we 're not worthy " behind them

media.tenor.com

1

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · 8d

Accountability post!

Day 1 of #NaNoWriMo and I hit 1500 words!

Establishing the theme while I introduce my FMC who has carved out a relatively comfortable existence in an oppressive society.

Of course, we’re gonna rip that relative comfort away…

#IAmWriting

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · 12d

I have 63 books on my Goodreads “Want to Read” list, and probably 20 physical books

Is that an unreasonable amount of books?

And if I want to read them so much, why do I keep buying books not on my list and reading those?

1 2

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · 12d

I have a problem.

I can’t resist the Goodreads challenges.

Just finished “The Book of Accidents” to get the “Spine Tinglers”. But “Dark Academia” is next and it is not my favourite genre. I’ve already read any I found interesting.

But I just can’t leave a category untouched…

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · 14d

Ok, so I know #NaNoWriMo is officially not a thing, but I don’t care. I’ve wanted to do it for years and this year the moons are aligned. So… countdown is on. Engines are revving. This year I’m gonna do it.

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · 18d

Getting back to writing after a long break. The silver lining is that I gained some perspective. Have a rough outline in place to make sure that the pace is correct, cut a bunch of stuff that really didn’t add anything to the plot, refocused on character motivations and growth.

#IAmWriting again!

1

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · 22d

I’m going to take this post as a sign, showing up in my feed a day after seeing this book in my local bookstore and snapping a picture because the cover is so beautiful and I made a note to look it up.

Going back to buy it for my plane ride tomorrow.

1 1

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · 24d

Intellectually I know the zipper merge is the most efficient way to maintain traffic flow when reducing lanes.

It still doesn’t feel right. My Canadian inclination is to get into the other lane as soon as possible, and get pissed off at the people who wait until the last minute to merge.

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · 28d

Hubby and I have overlapping but not identical reading preferences, so finding audiobooks for our 14 hour drives can be challenging. Today, though, “Old Man’s War” by @scalzi.com was a success!

Enough character and plot for me, enough military for him, great writing for both of us.

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · Oct 6

I am currently reading “The Ministry of Time” by Kaliane Bradley. It has been on my TBR pile for ages, and, I have discovered, too long. I love her writing style. Mad props to anyone who can use “lugubriously” casually in a sentence and pull it off.

1

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · Sep 13

I had this strange idea that the loss of a parent would somehow be less painful as an adult.

I was so wrong.

A view of the lake I spent all my summers, from the home may parents built and have lived in for 20 years.

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · Sep 3

Just got up and running with The StoryGraph. I do like data - this could be my new favourite app.

1

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · Sep 1

Alas, not yet. I am planning to finish two books and hopefully publish them next year. Just finished my first draft and am taking the time to restructure certain things for the second draft.

And probably overthinking everything 😁

1 1

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · Aug 31

I have reached a level of introvert overload so profound the very idea of talking is abhorrent. And having all of my extroverted relatives continually ask “Are you OK?” is getting really tiresome. I know they mean well. But apparently introversion is still a vastly misunderstood condition.

1

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · Aug 30

Quiet peaceful morning.

A red Merle Australian Shepherd dog at the foot of a staircase next to a lake.

1

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · Aug 26

I tend to read quickly, and lately I’ve latched onto reading and hitting my GoodReads challenge goal as something I can control.

But some books need to be savoured. And “By Blood, By Salt” by J.L. Odom is one of those.

My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Cynthia's review of By Blood, by Salt (Land of Exile #1)

4/5: I’ve been leaning on reading as my main escape lately—part stress relief, part “how many books can I get through?” challenge. With everything else in life feeling out of control, hitting my Goodr...

www.goodreads.com

1

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · Aug 17

I am in need of good books, and I can’t think of a better option than the #SPFBO Champions league. I had already read a couple, so working my way through the rest. So far: good choice. Really enjoying the reads.

mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/2025/05/afte...

SPFBO Champions' League!

After 10 years we have 10 champions. So, the only logical thing to do is to line them up on a board and have a champions' league! All 10 cha...

mark---lawrence.blogspot.com

Reposted by Cynthia Taylor

Charlotte Clymer @charlotteclymer.bsky.social · Aug 16

"Don't feel bad if you're not reading every great book. No one ever has, and no one ever will."

Read Whatever the Hell You Want

Enjoy yourself.

charlotteclymer.substack.com

51 280 2.2K

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · Aug 16

I just finished “The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble’s Braids” and absolutely loved it. It was fast paced with a smart and snarky female lead who goes on a quest to avenge a friend and ends up involved in much bigger stakes.

My review on Goodreads here: www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Cynthia's review of The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids (Amra Thetys, #1)

5/5: This book hooked me from the very first chapter. The pacing is quick, the chapters are short, and yet each one feels fully fleshed out, drawing you deeper into the story without ever slowing down...

www.goodreads.com

Cynthia Taylor @cyntaylor42.bsky.social · Aug 15

Thank you!

1