Happy almost May! We finally made it. After a long winter, and a weird (so far) spring, we're just about to dive into May, which is what we refer to here in Ontario as the start of patio/cottage season. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year :) I, for one, plan to take advantage by taking my laptop out onto the deck on writing days. There's just something about writing outside. I swear the fresh air inspires kickass ideas. But enough about what's to come, here's the Friday5 for the week!

1. LIFE & STUFF

It's been another busy week for me, full of everything from filing my taxes (this is late for me, a sign of how busy I've been), to freelance copywriting, to working on my long-neglected WIP. I actually really enjoy doing my taxes. I always have. There's something satisfying about that kind of paperwork. That said, I enjoy working on freelance assignments more, and I enjoy working on my WIP even more. This week involved a good survey of things I enjoy, juxtaposed in such a way that the enjoyment I feel when I'm writing my own stuff really stood out. It made me wish there were more hours in the day, and it definitely made me wish I could've spent the whole week working on my WIP. But, for now, life won't allow that. I was originally hoping to have this book finished by now, but I've still got a good 20-25k to go. Sometimes plans change, and probably the only good thing about not being published, is that I'm only on the deadlines I set for myself. I still take those seriously. I think any writer needs to. But if paying work comes in, I have to put that first, even if it sadly puts my WIP on the back-burner.

CC0 Public Domain; This is NOT what it looks like when I do my taxes.

2. BOOKS & PUBLISHING NEWS

In a potentially fascinating move by Bloomsbury, they've announced anthology that pairs YA authors with Booktubers (influential cook-centric vloggers), titled BECAUSE YOU LOVE TO HATE ME. The anthology will feature a collection of short stories and essays, with, of course, a common theme tying everything together (in this case, good vs. evil). The project is, to my knowledge, the first of its kind, and should be very interesting to dive into and dissect. PW has the full story here if you're interested in reading more: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/70101-bloomsbury-anthology-pairs-ya-authors-and-booktubers.html

Courtesy of Bloomsbury | Final Cover to Come — Courtesy of Bloomsbury | Final Cover to Come

3. POP CULTURE NEWS

I'm admittedly a little behind on my pop culture news, but I did come across this video and just had to share, because, well, you'll see :)

4. TRAILER WORTH WATCHING: THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN

Chills, you guys. Absolute chills.

5. NOTEWORTHY NEW YA: HEIR TO THE SKY by Amanda Sun

As heir to a kingdom of floating continents, Kali has spent her life bound by limits: by her duties as a member of the royal family, by a forced betrothal to the son of a nobleman, and by the edge of the only world she's ever known, a small island hovering above a monster-ridden earth, long since uninhabited by humans. She is the Eternal Flame of Hope for what's left of mankind, the wick and the wax burning in service for her people, and for their revered Phoenix, whose magic keeps them aloft.
When Kali falls off the edge of her kingdom and miraculously survives, she is shocked to discover there are still humans on the earth. Determined to get home, Kali entrusts a rugged monster-hunter named Griffin to guide her across a world overrun by chimera, storm dragons, basilisks and other terrifying creatures. But the more time she spends on earth, the more dark truths she begins to uncover about her home in the sky, and the more resolute she is to start burning for herself.

-Courtesy of Indiebound