My Writing

Stoked for This: June 2023

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

I got this set up and going on the right day haven’t I?? How exciting! I’ve starting to try and keep everything written down BEFORE the day of – that seems to be helpful.

RELEASE DATE: June 6, 2023

Pageboy

by: Elliot Page

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m not really one for celebrity memoirs – I mean, I’m also not one for memoirs in general (nonfiction is still harder for me to get into). But, I love Elliot Page and from the reviews I’ve seen around, I’m hoping this will be a good one to read.

The Wind Knows My Name

by: Isabel Allende

Why am I stoked for this release?

This novel follows two different timelines of children fleeing war/danger and immigrating to unknown lands. One set in Vienna, 1939, the other in Arizona, 2019.

Stories of immigration have been interesting to me, especially with the news at the US/Mexico border. How children get separated from their parents all while on the search for a better, safer life is crazy to me and I can only imagine what both a child and parents go through. I want to read these stories to know and understand.

The Endless Vessel

by: Charles Soule

Why am I stoked for this release?

In a few years from now, in a world similar to ours, there exists a “Depression plague” that people simply refer to as, “The Grey”. One young scientist from Hong Kong must travel through past and present and all over on her journey through the Endless Vessel.

This is a promise of The Midnight Library and Ready Player One, which are both books I very well enjoyed when I read them! Plus, as someone who battles with depression herself, I’d kind of like to see someone who is fighting in a world that has seemed to have given up.

My Murder

by: Katie Williams

Why am I stoked for this release?

This one is about a woman who is brought back by a government project after being a victim of a local serial killer.

Anyone who knows me, knows I love my ID network and can happily watch murder show after murder show. Some times, those stories have unanswered questions. I’m curious to see to how the writer tells this story about someone who comes back.

RELEASE DATE: JUNE 13, 2023

The Love Report

by: BéKa, Maya (Illustrator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a cute, middle grade graphic novel about two preteens trying to figure out what couples last, while others fizzle.

There wasn’t a lot of graphic novels aimed at middle grade readers while I was growing up so I do enjoy seeing the market for nowadays.

Plus, the illustrations on this look adorable.

On Earth as It Is on Television

by: Emily Jane

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’ve got two alien novel coming out this month I’m stoked for. This is first one where one day, out of nowhere, spaceships appear over various US cities – they block out cell phone towers and Wifi – but almost as quickly at they appear, they leave. This novel tells stories of their visit and it’s aftermath with various characters.

I’m not sure why I’m suddenly attracted to first encounter novels, but hey – it’s a fun thing to think about!!

RELEASE DATE: JUNE 20, 2023

Old Enough

by: Haley Jakobson

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is about a bisexual woman in college finding her adult group of friends and what it means for her friends back from high school.

I absolutely loved my college experience and the friendships I made while going. Being away from where you grew up really allows you to find more out about who you are on your own.

I miss my college friends so much and I feel like this book will be a fun read.

RELEASE DATE: JUNE 27, 2023

The Road to Roswell

by: Connie Willis

Why am I stoked for this release?

My second first encounter novel of June here. This time with someone abducted by aliens who then wants to help their new out-of-this-world friend out.

I’m going to be honest; I had no idea who Connie Willis was before I saw this book in a pile of ARCs at work. I feel like she’s someone I should know about, because some of her stuff sounds like a fun read – but I think I’m going to start with this one and go from there 🙂

Dead Eleven

by: Jimmy Juliano

Why am I stoked for this release?

On a creepy island town obsessed with the year 1994, a mother arrives, hoping to learn the truth about her son’s death but there’s more to this town than anyone knows.

I haven’t read a lot of horror, but I like 90s horror films, so I want to give this one a go. Plus, I was born in 1992, my sister in 1994 – so I’m curious to read about that timeframe.

Lay Your Body Down

by: Amy Suiter Clarke

Why am I stoked for this release?

This one is about a woman who returns to her rural Minnesota hometown and comes to find a radical evangelical pastor has poisoned everyone’s minds… and possibly a murder…

This is kind of another of my “guilty” pleasures – weird religious cults… mysterious behind them, how they members joined, what happened while in the cult, how they got out… it’s interesting to me.

This is also the author of Girl, 11, which is a book I know has received good praise, so I’m stoked for this one too.

Stoked for This: May 2023

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

I was already pretty bad at keeping up with this, wasn’t I? April kind of got out from under me, but I am trying to get my feet back on the ground for these next few weeks. I was lucky enough to have two extra days off last week and that allowed me to get caught up in some things. Of those things included my Stoked for This: May 2023 edition!

RELEASE DATE: MAY 2, 2023

Warrior Girl Unearthed

by: Angeline Boulley

Why am I stoked for this release?

Angeline Boulley wrote Firekeeper’s Daughter, which is one of my all time favorite Young Adult books – I’m constantly recommending it at work. In this book, Perry Firekeeper-Birch and a group of Misfits work together to give Warrior Girl and twelve other Anishinaabe ancestor’s remains back to their tribes. Boulley brought up Indigenous issues in her last book that I honestly wasn’t aware of and I’m anticipating I will learn a lot in this book as well.

Where You See Yourself

By: Claire Forrest

Why am I stoked for this release?

Always a goal of mine is to read more books with different representation. This one is about Effie, a senior in high school with cerebral palsy who uses a wheelchair, and her journey in finding the right college to attend the following year. I’m actually in the process of finishing this book right now and, while there is some romance to this, it’s not really the main focus (I’m not the biggest fan of YA romance anywho…). But the complexity of the disability representation is amazing and I’m exciting for this to hit the shelves.

Hula

by: Jasmin ‘Iolani Hakes

Why am I stoked for this release?

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month so it’s a perfect time for this release and read. I’m going to be honest and admit that I haven’t read a lot of novels set in Hawi’i culture so I’m excited to read this one that dives into mother-daughter relationships, dysfunctional families, and the history and culture of Hawi’i.

RELEASE DATE: MAY 9, 2023

A Shadow Crown (The Halfling Saga #2)

by: Melissa Blair

Why am I stoked for this release?

Technically I’m excited for both books of this Saga. I already knew I was going to love the first book and shortly after I had picked that one up, did I realize there will be another. I’m kind of weird when it comes to series – and weird in the way that I hate waiting to have to read one and will just wait for the next one to come out (but what if it’s a longer series – then I usually cave) Anywho… assassin female spies in a Fantasy land? Count me in.

Daughters of Snow and Cinders

by: Núria Tamarit, Jenna Allen (Translator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

Kaite got this in as an ARC from the publishers at work and I immediately asked for it because I loved the artwork. This will be the English debut of Spanish cartoonist and illustrator Núria Tamarit. But again, I’m so excited to see the storyline that goes with the art that I saw when I did a flip through.

RELEASE DATE: MAY 16, 2023

The Guest

by: Emma Cline

Why am I stoked for this release?

Did anyone else read Emma Cline’s book The Girls? I did quite a few years ago and I don’t remember a lot of it (it was before I would review all my reads) but I do remember that it was a crazy book. This one a young girl pretends to be someone she isn’t as a homeless “grifter” in Long Island.

The God of Good Looks

by: Breanne Mc Ivor

Why am I stoked for this release?

First off, please look at the cover of this book and tell me you aren’t intrigued! This one is about a young Trinidadian woman finding her voice and new kind of happy ending. I have a patron I adore who is from Trinidad & Tobago and this is novel will hopefully give me a bit more to insight to her island so the next time she tells me about her home, I may have more connection.

Paper Planes

By: Jennie Wood, Dozerdraws (Illustrator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

A summer camp for troubled youth after “an incident” where now to ex best friends have to rekindle their relationship? Give me.

RELEASE DATE: MAY 30, 2023

Witch King

by: Martha Wells

Why am I stoked for this release?

The description of this says, “A story of power and friendship, of trust and betrayal, and of the families we choose”. That pretty much checks off a lot of my favorite tropes, so that’s pretty self explanatory as to why I’m stoked for this…

Girls Like Girls

by: Hayley Kiyoko

Why am I stoked for this release?

A YA novel based on hit song, Girls Like Girls from Hayley Kiyoko. I was the type of girl who grew up reading fan fiction of stories based on songs. I’m curious to read the actual story of a song from the singer.

Ever Flowing Judging List

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to give a quick update so you all don’t think I’m M.I.A.

I’m judging two categories in a book award that are due here in May. Between the two categories, there are 22 books.

Here’s a photo reference (minus 3 that are digital copies):

And here’s a photo for reference against my 12-year-old cat, Mushi 🙂

But, I’ve also got a few books that aren’t under book awards with publication dates coming up that I’m hoping to have read before then.

Here’s a peak at how I even manage to keep all this in order:

The green & orange are the books in my two categories that I need to read. The yellow tabs are books that have been released or are going to be released soon.

The two tabs on the right are the ones I’ve finished for this month.

So, as you can see – I’ve got a bit of a pile I’m reading through, but because I am judging, I won’t be posting those books on my website.

At least not yet!

So, be patient with me – I’m always reading and I’ll have stuff to post, but there may be a bit between postings!

🙂 Alisha

Days of Reading…

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

I feel like I should be giving anyone who is actually following this a heads up on just about how many posts you’re going to see from me in the next day or two (I’m going to space them out a bit). I read 5 books over the weekend; I finished a novel, read a collection of short stories, read another novel, and then two graphic novels.

There were a few things that allowed for this to happen though.

Wednesday the library was closed in celebration of the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl and the fact that most of downtown was going to be closed for the parade. This allowed for me to read my currently novel at the timee after I watched said parade on my TV.

Thursday I slipped on black ice and fell down the set of cement stairs at my house, horribly bruising my entire left side and my car wouldn’t start – so I stayed home from work. I actually didn’t end up reading too much this day as I was laying on a heating pad 90% of the time, but I did read a few chapters in the evening.

Friday I worked but then had no plans over the weekend besides watching ID Network and reading.

Saturday and Sunday were split between house chores and reading.

Oh, and watching The Last of Us latest episode on Sunday night obviously…

I also had a day off on Monday for Presidents’ Day. I ended up getting a lot of random chores done, including calling the Personal Property Tax Office and sitting on hold for 20 minutes, in which time, I read my book.

I guess what I’m getting at with this post is that I don’t really go out much. I’m 30 years old and in all honesty the actual thought of going out and being around people gives me anxiety most of the time anyway. Reading has always been my escape and my next few reviews’ dates read will show that – and of course anyone who signed up for my email notifications will be receiving all of them.

Be kind. Be gentle. Escape with a book if you need to.