Coffee Blog

Coffee and creative challenges

Writing Sparkle

Welcome to book review five of fifty-three. As you are aware, I provide freelance book reviews to several review companies. It has been a great experience that has introduced me to new authors and their wonderful books. Each week this year, I’m opening my Weekend Coffee shares with a link to a review I’ve provided. Reviews are three stars or higher. The genres range from picture books to fiction and nonfiction titles.

Beyond the Land of Dreams
Author Susan Bruck
Published in December 2022
The publisher is Soul Blossom Living
Available in eBook, Audiobook, and Paperback (356 pages)
Fantasy | Coming of Age | Fairy Tale

If we were having coffee, I would share that I have started a challenge within a challenge. So, I started a photo-a-day in December. This week, I started a 30-day creativity challenge, which I plan to share as my daily picture until the 30 days are complete.

If we were having coffee, I would share that I tried to complete the board on my 3000-piece puzzle. I typically start with the edging, but there are too many false fits. It was a nightmare. So, when I get time to work on it again, I’m going to need to try a different section.

If we were having coffee, I would share that I realized I have too many projects going on. I need to prioritize them instead of working on all of them in little chunks. So, classes are top of the list because of the financial investment in them. My manuscript bumps to the top three when it returns from my editor. Then I’m creating a Tarot and an Oracle deck. I plan to focus on the Oracle and return to the Tarot after, except for Illustration class where I’m creating three Tarot cards for my project. Reading and puzzling are for downtime. My research for my next book can wait until next month. All other projects can wait until I’ve whittled the other ones down.

By Shari Marshall (2026)

7 thoughts on “Coffee and creative challenges”

  1. You are very creative with all your projects! While enjoying our breakfast this morning my daughter and I had a conversation about the importance of creative projects, and that people who have them generally are happier than the rest. I think that there’s some truth to that. Enjoy the rest of of your weekend.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Think you and your daughter are correct, Maria. I know that when I’m working on a creative project I feel happier then times when I’m not working on anything. There is probably left brain versus right brain stuff in play, as well as a bunch of other things.

      Thanks for stopping in. Happy Saturday.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Excellent job prioritizing your creative endeavors! I have been thinking a lot about WIPs over the last few weeks and I think I’m beginning to understand how some people have so many projects going at once, but I’m not sure I can be that person 😉 I hoping to find a middle ground.

    I’ve enjoyed your photos on Insta so I’m excited to see this new aspect woven in!

    Happy February, Shari!

    Liked by 1 person

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