Jessica McCarty, Author

"Sister, do not give up! Do not give in! The struggle and the fight are worth it." --Chika Anyanwu  Writing update  . . . Friends, I wrapped up revisions on draft two of my WIP this week! I'm currently taking a two week break before reading through it to look for any big problems that may still exist. After that I'll move on to smaller details and grammar. I've been working on this book for so long. It's definitely been one small step at a time. However, there are a few silver linings. During the lock down I realized I can, in fact, squeeze in a considerable amount of writing during the week. I also discovered an editing process that works for me after struggling with several hard to wrangle chapters. All that to say, I've made some major progress and am hoping to start querying by spring. Yaaay!!! To celebrate, I've added my playlist for this project on Spotify. I'm calling it "CoR" (because mysterious author secrecy). You'll find m...

 In lieu of sharing the music I'm listening to on this post (I've been listening to a lot of podcasts), I thought I'd share a Faroese proverb. I did an Ancestry test last year and learned that two to three percent of my DNA comes from Scandinavia, including the Faroe Islands. My favorite thing as of late is to scroll through pictures of this beautiful place on Instagram. And when I say beautiful, I mean absolutely breathtaking. The Faroes are volcanic islands with waterfalls, cliffs, valleys, and fjords; and I can't get enough. "A chicken likes her own eggs best." --Faroese proverb I'm not exactly sure what this means, but it made me chuckle. 🐔 What I'm reading . . . North: How to Live Scandinavian  by Bronte Aurell Nonfiction Are you sensing a theme here?😉This is the first nonfiction I've read this year that I haven't wanted to put down at some point or struggled to finish. It was interesting, easy to read, and had a delightful dash of humor...

  "Not my circus, not my monkeys." --Polish proverb I like this quote because it reminds me that not everything is my responsibility. I might want to worry about something or try and fix it, but that doesn't mean I should. Is it my circus? Am I the ringmaster? Am I in the act or watching from the stands? My level of involvement should determine my actions. I don't know about you, but if I'm in the audience enjoying my cotton candy, I'm not going to offer to put my head in the lion's mouth. What I've been reading . . . Jump  by Steve Harvey Nonfiction Audiobook Re-read Based off a viral video of Steve talking to the audience of Family Feud about the importance of opening your gift (you can Google it!), it's an inspiration/motivational book that's short and easy to read. Definite recommend. Amish Werewolves of Space by Kerry Nietz (Peril in Plain Space #3) Science Fiction "He also said not to let others define you. Let God do that." I...

 "Dream bigger." --Mary Weber This quote is giving me life, friends. I'm ninety percent through my first big edit of my WIP, and I still have so far to go. This project has felt overwhelming at times, too big for me, too ambitious. But I keep working, baby step by baby step. I keep dreaming. This book won't write itself. And I'm learning things along the way. What works for me. What doesn't. I'm getting there. It may not be as fast as I want, but I hold on to the hand of Him Who's helping me cross the lake (see Luke 8:22) and whispering in my ear saying, "Reach for more." What I've been reading... Brand of Light by Ronie Kendig Book 1, The Droseran Saga Science Fiction A young girl falsely accused of murdering her people. A tracker of fugitives tasked with bringing her in to a holy order. And the matching brands that link them to each other and to an ancient prophecy. This book was not only insanely good, but I was so taken (as a reader a...

  “A  library  is like an island in the middle of a vast sea of ignorance, particularly if the  library  is very tall and the surrounding area has been flooded.”  --Lemony Snicket Libraries are amazing! Agreed? Books, movies, free internet access, and so much more! But let's talk about the so much more part, friends. I'm convinced many don't know the resources available to them at their public library. Today's library is not the shushy, dusty place of old. Let's look at just a few of the fun things you can find at your library. You may be surprised! (Resources and services may vary. 😉) *bOokS!!! *faxing *copying (and scanning documents to email) *free internet access *family movie nights *tax documents *magazines *DVDs *Summer Reading program *arts and crafts *book clubs *teen groups *activities for kids: Storytime, Lego club, robotics, STEM, etc. *D&D *author events *interlibrary loan (Can't find a book? You can have it sent from another library.😍) *...

"Home is the nicest word there is." --Laura Ingalls, Little House on the Prairie 🏠 I think it's safe to say we've all been spending more time at home this year. Because of this, we've been forced to rethink how we're spending our time. We're baking, going for walks, working out in our living rooms, reading more, and discovering new TV shows to binge watch. For us, one of those shows is Little House on the Prairie . I have to be honest, I wasn't excited when Hubs started watching. I don't like shows that are overly sappy. But it didn't take long and I was absolutely pulled in. It seems this series was just what my heart needed. The Ingalls family and their little town of Walnut Grove honor things such as faith, family, and loving their fellow man. It doesn't matter to the Ingalls what faith, social status, or race a person is, they welcome them and show them love. I think we could use more of that in the world today, don...

"I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!" --Jane Austen I have to confess, this quarantine has forced me to get creative with my book choices. I'm often picky about what I read. I get most of my reading material via interlibrary loan, and I don't like to buy a book unless I'm already a fan of it (or the author).  So my May reading consisted of returning to an old favorite and picking up a book that's been on my TBR forever . I forgot about it until I came across it while perusing the shelves of my local library, an old familiar friend, but with a twist. My May reads: Reclaiming Shilo Snow  by Mary Weber This was my third time reading it. I never used to reread anything! If you like sci-fi, dystopian, aliens, or books with imperfect characters, grab this one. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies  by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith This book stays close to the original while happily weaving in zombies throughout. I sti...