I’m writing this from the frigid tundra of Chicago where the current temperature is -16°F. Yesterday morning, it was -21 with a wind chill of -50! My city is about the same temperature as the surface of Mars.
While I write about strong characters, I’m not an adrenaline junkie myself. 🙂 I did not venture outside yesterday. The cold is so brutal that you can get frostbite in under 10 minutes. I’m beyond grateful to have a safe, warm home.
There is beauty in extremes. Lake Michigan, which is a few degrees above freezing, appears to boil like a cauldron. Steam rises from the surface in roiling waves as water meets the arctic subzero air.
I read a lot of post-apocalyptic sci-fi, and it is eerie to see Chicago looking abandoned. Schools and businesses have closed. Train and air service has stopped, and very few cars are on the road. Nearly everyone stays inside their homes.
Recently, I read Birdbox. In the book, everyone hides inside their homes. It struck me as eerie to have the same type of situation here. Thankfully, it’s just 48 hours. The forecast is for warmer times ahead. I’m very grateful.
Birdbox is fantastic, and I highly recommend the book (grab it here). Read it before you watch the movie if possible. I’m also reading Cinder, a retelling of Cinderella but with a cyborg. I love it so far. Find it here.
What are you reading lately? Leave a comment below.
In writing news, I finished the Authors on a Train short story with my co-author. We had so much fun writing together. It’s a horror tale that contains voodoo and ritualistic magic. We channeled our inner Stephen Kings! I’ll let you know when the book is available.
Meanwhile, I continue making progress with Salvage (Book 4 in the Rogue Spark series). I am excited to be nearing the finish line. I had hoped to make the book available in January, but it’s taking longer than expected. Look for an announcement by the end of February.
Here’s a glimpse of the cover. What do you think?
