There’s a country song that has been going over and over in my head this month, called Sounds Like Life to Me by Darryl Worley. Essentially the song talks about how crazy life is and how no matter how much we want life to be predictable and/or fairytale-ish, it’s actually unpredictable with lots of ups and downs and constant things to do. Whether you like country music or not, I love the reminder that song gives me as sometimes life activities feel like they want to overwhelm me and I just have to take a step back and remember this is life, not activities leading up to life.
So, with that in mind, I’m sure you lovely readers have noticed a theme the past few weeks. Yup. History! This is my most recent attempt to take things I love and translate them to online material that other people can also relate to or enjoy. And guess what? I’ve been having so much fun with it! Yes, the baking, the historical fashion, and revisiting the trail – and I hope to keep those themes going for at least awhile. But, you are probably wondering what is going on me with me during all this (aww, you care about me so much – I know, I’ve been on your mind nonstop!).
Well, as I mentioned at the beginning of this month…I have begun co-hosting a podcast! Yup, allow me to introduce myself. Jacinta Meredith, historical fiction lover, fashion and trail aficionado, and…wait for it…antique book promoter! The podcast is called The Gibson Girl Review (Right?? You all know me and Gibson Girls! How perfect is that?) So, technically, I am only a part-time host (because how would I ever fit anything else in my life if I took it up full-time!) – the main host is Amy Drown, and her other co-host, who does most of the episodes with her, is Katja Labonté. And basically, we read books from the Victorian/Edwardian era and tell you why you should read them too! Seriously, it’s a lot of fun – I mean, I had no idea that even back in the early 1900s, people were already using the phrase “What’s up?”! So far, one of the episodes I’ve recorded has been put up – and it’s on The Wheat Princess, in case you are curious.
Yes, yes – this is a huge leap for me. If you’d asked me a year ago, I would have said I would die before doing something like a podcast, but God’s been doing a lot of work on me, which has resulted in things like agreeing to co-host the podcast, doing those baking and fitness reels on Instagram, and finally sharing my love of historical fashion and the trail (okay, that’s nothing new!) with everyone. Now, if I can just figure out how to show off all my paper dolls on Instagram.
Beyond that, I’ve been editing, cleaning, gardening, writing, prepping for the conference next week as well as three weeks of travel, and in general treading water – as is the case with most everyone in the world, I feel.
Speaking of the conference…I’ve made a monumental decision…I don’t think I’m going to pitch my book. I know. **hides face** I said it. But the truth is, I haven’t had a chance to work on, let alone practice my pitch all month, so I’d be going into it blind, and the thought of how relaxing and fun a week at a conference could be without that stress is very alluring! So, feel free to try to talk me out of that decision if you like (Chadwick (the critic in my brain) is certainly trying his darndest). But for now…I might just go to learn and have fun.
Which also means there’s a very good chance you won’t hear from me next week. So, until the first week of June (unless I get uber excited about the conference and have to share something), Au revoir!
Forest Idylls 