Mid-Year Wrap Up,  Quarterly Wrap Up

apr – jun 2020; it’s a wrap

Another very late wrap-up, but well. This year has been really long, hasn’t it?

I was so hopeful in the first quarter that things could not get worse. I was wrong. I guess hindsight really is 20/20, eh? Eh?

But seriously though, while the lockdown here in Malaysia is not as strict as the first few months, we’re still taking care. I am immuno-compromised so i’m trying not to take too many risks, but I do have doctor’s appointments pretty much every month that I have to go for, and so we’ve been eating out those few days. My reading has been all over the place – May and June were pretty decent reading months, but by mid-June, I’d once again put books aside in favour of fanfiction.

My go-to comfort is fanfiction, I’ve noticed. Unfortunately, I haven’t been writing much, and even my bookstagram has dwindled down to maybe one post a month? If I’m lucky?

I feel like real life has been such a downer and I’m worrying more about that, and now the things that usually give me joy – blogging, reading, even filming BookTube videos – are stressing me out more than anything.

Though I have missed filming videos, so I may do one or two in this next quarter. Hopefully.

Because of this pandemic, I’ve suspended my Etsy store and am not taking orders. Despite this:

  • I’ve been working on a couple of new designs I’m excited about!
  • One of the rep packages reached my rep (I’m extending their rep period because, uh, pandemic) and she loved her bookmarks, and her photos have been so nice!

I hit my main target for the year by June, and while reading has once again slowed down, I am enjoying the books I’ve been picking up!

  • Goodreads Challenge: 17/10 books read.
    Not counting the one I finished in August
  • Currently Reading: Court Of Lions by Somaiya Daud
    Actually just finished this, review has been posted!
  • Next On My List: The Bookweaver’s Daughter by Malavika Kannan
    I am a part of the tour hosted by Caffeine Book Tours, and I am SO EXCITED.

I’ve not been very active either posting or reading on here, but I did post two new blog tour posts I am proud of (technically from this third quarter)! And please check out my BookTube as well.

I hope you’re all taking care, and you and yours are doing well in these extremely uncertain times!

I’m Ara, a Southeast Asian writer who someday hopes to have published a novel, and who is currently losing herself in the worlds created by others. I love books and food and television and blogging and I get distracted and sidetracked easily.

2 Comments

  • Yani

    Hi, Ara. That’s all right. Don’t down yourself because you haven’t posted much. Sometimes, we tend get tired that we can’t even do the things we love and that’s all right. Give yourself the break. Don’t let it stress you out. It’s mind over matter, really. 🙂

    And we have the same GR challenge goals this year. With work, I know I can’t read much so I gave myself at least 10. I decided to participate in the challenge mid year lol I am actually 3 books behind. Haha.

    • Ara

      Hi! Thank you so much, that’s what I’m trying to do, and it’s bringing me back every once in a while to try and post something.

      There’s still time! I feel like 10 is a do-able amount, and when you cross that and read more, there’s such a feeling of personal satisfaction! Good luck with your challenge!

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