Breinthewild

(A snapshot of my life at the moment, as illustrated by mugs. I have many. A collection, selection, problem—whatever you want to call it.)

Mug lore: This mug is one of the newest in my collection and has quickly become one of my favorites. It was a gift from my parents, who discovered it at a small business along the Oregon coast called Salty Raven. Owner and artist Seasons Kaz Sparks sells items featuring her own artwork. This particular piece is called Tide Pool Treasures and features a host of Pacific Northwest ocean dwellers, including a biologically-accurate sea star! The shop(s) (there are several stores) also offer glasses, hoodies, key chains, pins and more, all with unique designs. The mug itself is high-quality and has withstood several dishwasher rounds without fading or peeling. Salty Raven is definitely on my list to check out in person the next time I’m on the coast.

What I’m drinking: Stash Double Bergamot Earl Grey. My go-to for basic, black tea on mornings where I’m having a hard time waking up and want something hardier than green or white tea.

What I just finished reading: Network Effect by Martha Wells. It’s the fifth book in the Murderbot Diaries series and the first full-length novel (which came as a surprise to me when I picked it up from the library). It’s my favorite so far, which is a high bar, given that I have enjoyed every book in the series immensely. Because this story is a novel (roughly 117k words long) and not a novella (40k words) like the rest of the series, it does something none of the other installments can: it breathes. Breaks are taken from the action, important conversations between characters occur and are given room to expand, and moments of emotional resonance are allowed to linger and not get stuffed down. All of this leads to a stronger and more engaging narrative, taking many of the characters we’ve known and loved so far and allowing them the time and space to truly shine. This story about robots has a lot to say about being human. I can’t recommend it enough.

What I’m reading now: But enough about that sappy humanity stuff. Sometimes you just want to read about a pantsless man (as required for in-universe reasons) blow stuff up. For that, I’m reading The Eye of the Bedlam Bride, book six in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman. There’s a lot of series work happening in my first month of 2026 so far but I’m not hating it. (At least not when it’s as fun as this). Dungeon Crawler Carl was a sleeper hit for me last year. I had no idea what I was getting into when I picked up the first book. (If I had, I would have picked it up a lot sooner). The story line is insane, the characters unhinged, and every scene is a unique experience akin to peering inside a mad scientist’s mind. Translation: I love it. This series’ target audience was apparently me and I didn’t even know it. I have book seven lying in wait after this one but then I’ll have to wait for book eight to be released. I know it’s going to be torture.

What I’m writing now: Book two in what I’m choosing to call my “superheroes, but janky” series (unpublished, but existing pleasantly on my shelves). Take Princess Leia from the rebellion and force her to work for Palpatine to keep her planet from getting blown up and you get my main character. Also everyone has superpowers, the government sucks, and it’s set in the future USA. I think it’s a ridiculous, hilarious time, but then again I’m biased. Book one is a murder mystery (who choked out Grand Moff Tarkin, hmm?). Book two is a prison escape (but the real prison is the friends we made along the way). I don’t have the faintest idea what to DO with these stories, mind you. But they exist and spark much joy and if nothing else, I have a good time writing them. In fact, I’m going to work on them right now.

Ciao.