Books read in 2026

30  The Talisman Ring, Georgette Heyer, narrated by Joe Jameson
29  A Gentleman Far from Home (Lord Julian 11) Grace Burrowes (e)
28  Black Sheep, Georgette Heyer, narrated by Natalie Simpson
27  Cotillion, Georgette Heyer, narrated by Raj Ghatak
26  Platform Decay, (Murderbot) Martha Wells (e)
25  A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles (e) (bookclub)
24  Fair Trade (Jethri Gobelyn #3), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, narrated by Eileen Stevens
23  Ribbon Dance (Liaden Universe #26), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, narrated by Alex Picard
22  Trade Secret (Liaden Universe #17), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (e)
21  Sea Wrack and Changewind, Sharon Lee, narrated by Alex Picard
20  When the Wolves are Silent (Sebastian St. Cyr #21), C.S. Harris (e)
19  An Heir of Distinction (Bad Heir Days #5), Grace Burrowes (e)
18   Longeye (Fey Duology #2), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller***
17   Duainfey (Fey Duology #1), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller***
16  *Crystal Dragon (Liaden Universe® #10), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
15  *Crystal Soldier (Liaden Universe® #9), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
14  Seeking Persephone (Lancaster Family #1), Sarah M. Eden (e)
13   Theo of Golden, Allen Levi (e) book club
12  *Balance of Trade (Liaden Universe® #8), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
11  *Scout's Progress (Liaden Universe® #6), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller**
10  *Local Custom, (Liaden Universe® #5), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller**
9   *I Dare (Liaden Universe® #7), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller**
8   Cuckoo's Egg, C J Cherryh, (audio first time)
7   *Plan B, (Liaden Universe® #4), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
6   Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (audio first time)
5   *Carpe Diem (Liaden Universe® #3), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
4   *Conflict of Honors (Liaden Universe® #2), Sharon Lee & Steve    Miller
3   *Agent of Change (Liaden Universe® #1), Sharon Lee & Steve                 Miller
2   A Gentleman in Possession of Secrets (Lord Julian #10), Grace             Burrowes (e)
1   Spilling the Tea in Gretna Green, Linzi Day (e)

________
*I'm doing a straight-through series read in publication order

**I screwed up and moved right on to I Dare from Plan B, therefore deviating from publication order.  I will now amend myself and go back to pick up Local Custom.

***I'll be re-issuing Duainfey and Longeye as an e-omnibus later this year, and so I need to read them!

Catching up, slowing down

It's been a rocky couple of days and I haven't been keeping up -- with anything, really.  I haven't been sleeping well, and feeling physically hammered, and worried, not just because of The Usual (and how much I Truly Hate what The Usual has become), but because I had developed a fear that the house was going to be falling down around my ears.

This morning, a knowledgeable friend came by and was not only able to assure me that the house was not in imminent danger of falling down, but gave me a New Equation to apply to decision-making, which has made me feel somewhat less frantic, though I'll need to sit with it and think about how best to apply it, going forward.

I have, as possibly reported previously, begun to write Trade Lanes, and am able to report that there are 1,050 brand new words in the novel file.  The plan is open the manuscript after lunch, and at least sit with it, perhaps adding another couple hundred words.

I did sleep a little better last night and am hoping to duplicate that feat tonight, whereupon I should be in better shape all around, just in time for the 7:30 am dentist appointment on Monday (no drilling, but my front top teeth need to be re-enameled, because they've gotten so thin there's a danger of breakage), and to get back into a steadier schedule.

Your patience while these adjustments go forth is appreciated.

I offer the following snippet as a peace offering:

Trade ran as much on networks as on ship routes; the meat and wine of networking being correspondence.

 

So had Norn ven'Deelin's master taught her when she had been an apprentice in trade, and so she had taught her own apprentices.