Happiness Sprinkles + Book Club ZOOM Link
+ Practical Magic discussion questions
Hello, Protagonists! In this post, you’ll find:
🥳 Happiness Sprinkles (my favorites/things worth smiling about this month)
🔦 Protagonist Spotlight - celebrating what you’ve been reading and writing
📚 Reminder! Book Club meeting this Sunday, October 27th at 8pm ET / 5pm PT
» Book Club ZOOM Link at the bottom of this post
🥳 Happiness Sprinkles: Things Worth Smiling About in October
Here are a few delights that I enjoyed in the past month. I hope they bring a smile to you, too!
Even the Famous are Flops First - Before film director Jon M. Chu because known for “Crazy Rich Asians” and the upcoming “Wicked,” he was just like the rest of us—struggling in a creative industry and wondering if he’d missed his shot at making it big. I loved this podcast interview about dealing with failure and disappointment, not being afraid of getting pigeonholed, and being brave in telling new stories.
Good Old-Fashioned Fun - Tom and I couldn’t decide what to watch one night, and then we stumbled across an old favorite, “That Thing You Do.” Neither of us had watched it in a long time, but oh WOW. It’s just as good as I remembered. By the end of the movie, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much.
Peaceful Digital Art - I love art made by hand, but I also appreciate the craft that goes into art in the digital realm. This short piece is simple in its beauty and yet mesmerizingly peaceful.
Wholesome Dad & Kids - As a mom, I love stories about parents bonding with their kids, and this one was an unexpected gem: over the course of a few years, a dad and his kids bonded by road-tripping to all 350+ locations of In-N-Out in the United States and discovering the secret delights of the hamburger chain’s hidden menu.
Chat for More Small Happinesses
I hang out with our community in our Chat Space all month, so pop in and say hi!
We talk about book recs, questions for upcoming podcast guests, and random, smile-inducing things.
🔦 Protagonist Spotlight—You’re the Hero of the Story!
Every month, I feature a few of our community members to celebrate books, essays, or other projects that you have loved or written:
👏🏼 Aimee Lucido published Lucky Penny, a comedic tale for young readers about luck, superstition, and how our perception influences our experiences and the world around us. Congratulations, Aimee!
👏🏼 Seina Wedlick published her latest picture book, The Night Market, an exploration of the mesmerizing wonders of a Nigerian night market, where each stall is an adventure waiting to be discovered. Congrats, Seina!
Katrina Donham wrote “At the MoMA,” a personal essay about visiting a place from a past life after becoming a mother and also how the past affects our present and can be a tool, a gift, a lesson. She’d love to hear your thoughts on it, so stop by and give it a read!
Steph Rae Moran recommends A Girl Called Samson, a historical novel about a woman who disguises herself as a soldier during the American Revolutionary War. Steph also published her monthly folklore-inspired newsletter—last month’s issue explored the magical birds of Rhiannon.
Want to share something that you’ve recently read or written?
Just reply to this email or drop a comment below with a 1-2 sentence description. I can’t wait to hear from you!
CREATIVE.INSPIRED.HAPPY is a friendly, vibrant community of thousands who believe that EVERYONE can spark creativity and build an inspired, happier life.
📚 Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers
ZOOM Link - THIS SUNDAY!
Feel free to come even if you haven’t read the book. (Just be prepared for spoilers.)
Book:
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
Time:
Sunday, October 27th at 8pm ET / 5pm PT.
Book Discussion (30 minutes)
World-building: How does the author weave in magic in a world that otherwise looks just like ours?
Character work: How does Hoffman’s use of different character types affect the story?
Genre question: What is the difference between a book like Practical Magic and fantasy novels?
Why does one kind of book get shelved under general “Fiction” while others are categorized as “Fantasy”?
Timelessness: This book was published in 1995. (The movie came out in 1998). Why do you think Practical Magic has become a modern classic, revisited year after year?
» Bonus assignment: Practical Magic movie
Writers’ Chat (30 minutes)
After the book discussion, we’ll have an optional hangout to share what we’re working on, ask each other for advice on writer’s block, finding a literary agent, doing book publicity, etc.
To prevent Zoom-bombing from not-nice people, the Zoom link is below the paywall.
100% of paid subscriptions go toward funding our Scholarships for Aspiring Writers
Our “Donate-what-you-can” Scholarship Drive is still happening!
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ZOOM LINK BELOW:
💛