Hello Friends,

Happy Sunday! Today I went for a walk (2 days in a row!) after a month of inactivity due to illness, laziness and winterness. I called Michael and said GUESS WHY IM GOING FOR A WALK! And he said, TO UNBIG YOUR BACK? And I said YES, BUT FOR A VERY SPECIFIC REASON..... you see, during the winter months I clean, I organize and I want to move around my bookshelves, which got me thinking, I'd like to buy a nice reading chair! And I found many Ikea chairs I liked, but before investing, I had to check out the specs (As a BIG BACK!) and most of them said they can hold up to 242 lbs. That seems like a very precise number. Like they did the math and 242.5 lbs was gonna break that summabitch, so I'd like to get down to 230 lbs and as a reward buy a cute reading chair. UNBIG MY BACK is now in progress.

Which brings me to my next topic: 75 BOOKED. I created a channel in our community Discord if anyone wants to participate! This is a trend, a version of 75 Hard for bookies, started by @emilypaigebooks and the rules are as follows:

• Complete two 45 minute reading sessions daily (one of them NOT being in bed)

• Finish a water bottle during each session. (STAY HYDRATED)

• Log all reading in a physical journal

• NO PURCHASING BOOKS- all books must be owned, bought second hand or checked out from the library.

I am started 75 booked this coming Weds! But you can start anytime and join in the convo in the Discord. You also can add your own little rules. One of my will be 3 of my weekly sessions have to be audiobook walks. (One of my goals for 2026 is to start a local audiobook walking club)

Speaking of Discord - We just finished our first SOUP READATHON! And it was such a wild success that we are doing it again (You make soup, read all weekend and chat) Join us 12/19-12/21

We also have been sharing soup recipes. Here are a few:

Garlicky Chickpea Soup

Slow Cooker Pesto Minestrone

Potato Leek Soup

Vegan Lentil Soup

Curry Lentil Soup

Black Bean Soup

Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup

Mexican Quinoa Stew

Creamy Zucchini Chickpea Soup with Spinach

Simple Sweet Potato Soup

Vegetable Coconut Curry Soup

Creamy Gnocchi Chicken Soup

Indian Spiced Lentil Soup

Crack Chicken Noodle Soup

I am getting ready to plot out next year's bookclub. This year we are going to go in four month increments! Expect some voting polls coming your way soon. (Like today or tomorrow soon!)

Who is going to join?

PS Publishing news coming soon! A cover is near for What Feeds Below and dare I say....another announcement is on the way?????????