A Better Update

[aeslis]

My last update was broad and vague because like, it feels weird to come back to a space after so long and get very specific, I guess. Like you're talking to people you haven't talked to in a long time and you don't want to start with the fight you got into with your sister yesterday.

I didn't fight with my sister yesterday, but you know, as an example.

But since I'm friending people now (hello, people!) I should probably introduce myself a little bit, which also functions as an update for those of you who've been around and known me a while!

⭐️ I used to work as a bookseller in a children's bookstore. As of August this year, I AM FREE. I have a lot of grievances with the way it was run, but I loved most of our customers and I love, love, love children's literature. Some picture books are serious art, man. Look up Du Iz Tak for one of my favorites.

⭐️ What I currently do, and what I've been doing simultaneously alongside my bookstore work for the last 6 years, is work at a children's literary agency. I'm an assistant to a senior agent (my first boss from 6 years ago) the executive agent (as of 2 years ago) and the president of the company (as of this year), and I do a lot of random granola. I read contracts, I do TONS of data entry, and I help boss 1 with editorial stuff for client manuscripts. As of this year, I'm also the point person/on the ground organizer of their yearly writing retreat, which just happened last weekend. Like, ended yesterday. It was a phenomenal experience despite the fact that I'm still exhausted.

⭐️ Needless to say, I read a lot of kids' books. Although I've kind of been depressed for the last year or so and I've read...a lot less. I think how much I'm reading might just tie into my mental state, because three months after quitting my bookstore job I'm suddenly All About The Books again. Hmmm. Anyway, point being, I love literature. It's hard to describe my tastes because they're all over the map, but if it's got characters I can enjoy, I'm probably there for it.

⭐️ I used to live in Japan. I was there for five years, and moved back seven years ago, and I miss it a lot (but would never want to work there again. Probably.) I speak Japanese but I still like to watch things with subtitles anyway, because it helps me learn. But I watch a lot of variety shows and quiz shows without subs too.

I'll try to go into more depth about some things sometime soon. I'm fading, ugh! I barely did anything today but eat chocolate chip cookies, I shouldn't be this tired. And yet!

Anyway, hello and welcome and hi again to those of you that are still around!

Comments

[lovepeaceohana]

Hello! I'm here from snickfic's friending meme, and holy wow am I excited to meet someone who's knowledgable about kids' books - I've got a 10yo who's asking for The Walking Dead for the holidays, and because I am a giant horror baby AND this kid will still wake me up in the middle of the night when he's too scared to use the toilet alone, I definitely don't want him to have his eyeballs on TWD. Do you happen to have any recommendations for stuff that's adjacent to TWD without being super gory and gross? Like, he can handle Plants vs Zombies just fine, but maybe something between that and TWD.

it feels weird to come back to a space after so long and get very specific, I guess. Like you're talking to people you haven't talked to in a long time and you don't want to start with the fight you got into with your sister yesterday.

Also, yes, absolutely this feeling. I used to abhor small talk but the older I get, the more I learn that it's ... actually quite useful? for giving folks the space to decide how deep they're comfortable going in a conversation.

/says the person who barged in immediately with a request for recommendations lolz

[midori]

HI YOU! So glad to hear you're doing well. And hopefully will continue to get better. :D I absolutely understand the weirdness of returning back to blogging. It's like once a year now that I'll pop up and decide to write about something inane, lol.

CAN YOU BELIEVE that I re-downloaded Photoshop and am now baby-stepping my way through it again? I had to read my one tutorial again and then came across our icon battles from pretty much 10 years ago (rounded up). <3

[rinalin]

<3 <3 <3

You so smart, doing an intro post. May try it.

[umadoshi]

It's good to see you!

[mintceres]

welcome back!

I am also kinda back to DW and still trying to find my way around (looking at privacy setting etc, and OMG did i really post that stuff nearly 7 years ago?).
I think i will post a short update as well soon. :)

[paynesgrey]

Hello, new friend!
It was great to learn a bit more about you. I think it's cool you lived in Japan!

[arbitraryallegory]

Hello! Your job sounds fascinating, and you can tell from the way you talk about it that you love it! That is such a refreshing thing to see. I love books as well, though I admit my children's literature experience is restricted to the books my daughter likes, which are pretty much Curious George, Berenstein Bears, Dr Seuss, and the Eloise series (I'm hoping to get her into more word heavy stuff soon. I would desperately love to read Matilda or James and the Giant Peach to her!) Anyway, it's very nice to meet you!

[lassarina]

What a cool and interesting career you have!