With summer right around the corner, I’ve been planning my TBR for the endless days of summer that we have here in South Carolina. The Corgis have been joining me on the porch, happy to toast their hammies in the sun and bark at our neighbors. Speaking of our neighbors, the Corgis keep trying to sneak across the way to visit them, running into our neighbors’ open door as I wave hello. The neigbors’ dog comes and visits me as well, like a weird game of dog swap. At least all the dogs involved are having a great time.
Before we get to the goodies, make sure to check out First Edition, the new podcast started by Book Riot co-founder Jeff O’Neal. It explores the wide bookish world, with interviews, lists, rankings, retrospectives, recommendations, and much more, featuring people who know and love books. Subscribe to First Edition on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your podcatcher of choice.
Bookish Goods
Easily Distracted By Corgi Book Lover Shirt by Poodle Gag
Sometimes I just look around Etsy for book related Corgi items, because who doesn’t love a strong personal brand? Since it’s warm enough now that I’ll be wearing a T-shirt everyday for the next six months, cute bookish swag is always on my list. $22
New Releases
Oh My Mother!: A Memoir in Nine Adventures by Connie Wang
In each of these essays, Connie Wang examines her relationship with her mother. She examines her connection to her mother from different angles, creating a collection both heartfelt and hilarious. Oh My Mother! is the perfect Mother’s Day read.
American Breakdown: Our Ailing Nation, My Body’s Revolt, and the Nineteenth-Century Woman Who Brought Me Back to Life by Jennifer Lunden
After author Jennifer Lunden moved from Canada to Maine, she became incredibly sick. At 21, she found herself struggling to stand or hold a glass of water. She searched for answers with various doctors, but found none. In American Breakdown, Lunden compares her experience with that of Alice James, a woman from the 19th century said to suffer from neurasthenia.
For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Craft in the Real World: Rethinking Fiction Writing and Workshopping by Matthew Salesses
Matthew Salesses introduces his book by describing how the fiction writing workshop was created by white male writers. Salesses reimagines the writing workshop, examining the elements of writing— plot, character, structure, etc.—from a new perspective. The book includes exercises, giving teachers resources to create better, more inclusive workshops for their students.
Before and After the Book Deal: A Writer’s Guide to Finishing, Publishing, Promoting, and Surviving Your First Book by Courtney Maum
A lot of people have a great idea for a book, but where do you even start? Publishing seems so overwhelming. That’s where Courtney Maum comes in. Maum has written my go-to publishing guide for writers who are looking to publish their first book. From finishing your manuscript to book contracts to second books, Maum is here to guide you through it all. She’s structured the book around a Q&A format, using headings and organized chapters to help readers follow along. Maum breaks up a daunting task into different parts, making a seemingly impossible thing actually doable.
That’s it for this week! You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave, over on Instagram @kdwinchester, or on my podcast Read Appalachia. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE bookish content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot.
Happy reading, Friends!
~ Kendra