In today’s fast-paced environment, relaxation or recreational activities with no purpose other than enjoyment can be seen as frivolous or a waste of time. Everything has to be a hustle. Enjoy crafts? Create an etsy page. Enjoy writing? Try to become a bestselling author.
There’s no room for simple creation without trying to account for that time anymore. In this side-hustle focused world, it can sometimes be difficult to allow oneself to relax and just be in the moment.
It is this realization that prompted me to start reading again. Yes, again. I haven’t curled up with a good book and read in a depressingly long time. I read some books on writing during vacation but that was more for learning than out of the pure love of reading.
I have a ton of books in my To Be Read list but I don’t think the best way to dive back in is with an unknown. I’m going to search my shelves until I find a book I’ve read over and over again. A comfort book. Something I can just sink into and rest on the laurels of its familiar cadence.
As a reminder from my post a few weeks back I will be selling at three (so far) events this summer. They are:
I’m very excited to meet anyone and everyone who can come out on one of those weekends! Would love to hear your thoughts on the book, sign a copy, and give you stickers and bookmarks!
Today we celebrate a two-fold holiday, honoring both mouthwatering pastry and math alike. Yesterday was also a holiday, though it really only has meaning if, like myself, Detroit is near and dear to your heart.
For those who aren’t in the know, yesterday was 313 day! 313 is the area code in Detroit so it’s kind of like a celebration of the city.
In other news, I’m officially actually finally for-real-this-time starting on the edits for Seer. I’m a tactile person so I had the PDF with my agent Amy’s edits on it printed out and I’m re-reading and re-familiarizing myself with the world I created before I start weaving in the finer details and nuances that I missed with my first go.
Things that happen when Emma doesn’t check dimensions prior to ordering stuff online: Exhibit A.
If you’ve been with me since the beginning, or at least since last spring, you’ll remember I had a ball (and made a good chunk of change) at the Royal Stagg Renaissance Festival in Marshall, Michigan last year. Well I signed up and will be there May 7th and 8th! And THIS time, I’ll have an actual full sized tent, lol.
In addition, I was waitlisted for a vendor spot at the Lakeshore Art Festival ‘Author’s Alley’ in Muskegon, Michigan and was notified last week that a spot opened up for me. I’ll be there the June 25th and 26th!
Very excited for the warm weather and events that this summer will bring.
Of the numerous books read to me as a child, the above is easily favored above the rest. I have a pair of my mother’s earrings that depict a scene, I have plans to get a reference to the story tattooed on my person, and I very much plan to read it to my children should I choose to reproduce.
The story of the mischievous raven is one of many beloved characters I grew to love. Borreguita, Anansi, Abeyoyo, Heckety Peg. The list goes on and on. Between both of my parents I was afforded the luxury of travel to lands near, far, and fictional.
During this month my blog posts will focus on reading and why it is so important to me.
Please don’t hesitate to comment with a book that you feel changed or influenced you in some fundamental way.
One of the many fun features tied into the running of a blog is that I can see where people are tuning in from. This doesn’t apply to those subscribed to my newsletter and get it in their e-mail but for people who actually go to http://www.emmakhoury.com they pop up on this little map. I have pretty consistent readership from the ol’ U.S. of A. of course but what has always surprised me is the consistent viewership from Nepal of all places.
The romantic daydreamer in my has visions of someone in Kathmandu, or even on the slopes of Everest itself, perusing my humble website. To the person from Nepal who checks out my page on the weekly, post in the comments!
I have, as many authors do, often fantasized about what my movie would look like, were The Sword & Shield to grace the television and/or movie screen. As I mentioned in previous posts, I have a very clear lead actor in mind, though by the time production would (in my hypothetical dreams) begin, he’d be a bit too old to portray the 32 year old Ezra Toth.
Below you will find my fantasy cast. Not a feasible cast as I have yet to gain access to the Fusion Energy Reactor that Doc uses to power his DeLorean. This cast is based on a combination of acting talent, mere appearance as it relates to my vision of the character, and hopeful daydreams. My original intention was to list them based off importance but that very much did not happen, lol.
So I ask you to go with me and, under the assumption that time travel is one day utilized by Hollywood, please see below for my dream cast:
EZRA TOTH As seen above, Zach McGowan portrays the pirate captain Charles Vane. It was from this character that I drew a good deal of inspiration whilst describing Ezra and if I had my ways a 30 something Zach would be my Ezra in whatever screen adaptation I might be blessed with.
While Kylie Rogers doesn’t have a huge body of work to her name, as soon as I saw her face I saw Marya. I can’t speak to her acting but, as a woman in her late teens she is the right age and look to play the fiery Ruskin seamstress and sister-figure to Ezra.
As an avid fan of K-Drama I will admit that Lee Dong-Wook’s acting in the show ‘Goblin’ made me sob. He would undoubtedly bring Christophe to life in ways I couldn’t begin to imagine. He’d definitely be too old to play the 20 something prince but a girl can dream.
The stern and dignified Joseph (Joe) as portrayed by Timothee Chalamet would be nothing less than perfect. His rare needs to meet the comedic bickering that ensue between himself and Ezra had me doubting Chalamet as a choice until I remembered his recent role in the film ‘Don’t Look Up’. No time machine would be necessary for this actor though given his A-List status, the chances of nabbing him for the role are just as unlikely as those requiring time travel.
Colton Haynes doesn’t just have the looks to match Prince Daniel, he has killer acting chops to boot! If you are a fan of the campy MTV tv series ‘Teen Wolf’ you’ll know he can convey both the sociopathic, rageful, and rare vulnerable moments that are necessary for this role.
Another big name I have no hopes of nabbing, Mads Mikkelsen is King Lionel to a T.
Another ‘Teen Wolf’ alum, Dylan O’Brien is a comedic genius without compare in his age range. Ian’s character would only be elevated to new heights if Dylan was willing to sign on for the role.
Are these the only characters in my book? Not even close! But these are some of the key players and some of the most vivid to be sure.
I would LOVE to hear from anyone who has read The Sword & Shield to chime in with their own ideal casting pics. Especially for characters not listed above.
Well, it finally happened. After months of checking the Delta app to watch the number of days till Check-In dwindle down to zero, I finally got my vacation! I stayed with my parents in Naples and achieved my ultimate goal: relaxation. I have been wound up so tight these past few months that this reprieve was much needed. I slept (a LOT) and read and had a blast!
Of course when I landed this is what greeted me but you won’t hear me complaining!
Crunch, Noom and Oculus are going to be things I (hopefully) mention quite a bit moving forward. For those unfamiliar, Crunch Fitness is a gym franchise and Noom is a habit tracking app. Oculus I’ll explain in a bit. I plan on utilizing all three to attain a healthier self in 2022.
I went to Crunch for two classes this past Saturday morning (with my bestie Amanda reluctantly dragged along) and have been spending about 10 minutes a day on Noom going through lessons and logging food/water/weight.
I’m also saving up to get an Oculus Quest 2. For those unfamiliar, it is a VR (virtual reality) headset and you can play games and exercise with it. I figure, fifteen to twenty minutes a day on the Oculus and the gym twice a week I can get to my healthy goal and then some by my birthday!
I’m coming to the realization that my body is a temple and it’s proving difficult to worship at the altar of creativity if that temple is crumbling. So I’m taking care of my body so that I can have a healthier headspace from which to write more books!
