winding down

It's the tail end of December now, and I've barely said a word here all month. To be fair, the lead-up to the holidays was CRAZY, all freelance and long hours at work and holiday gift shopping and apartment stuff. So, to clarify a couple things from previous posts:
We did not go home for the holidays. I am currently on staycation. I was bummed at first, but now am really enjoying reading and writing a lot. I survived all the freelancing, so everything I'm doing this week is really just for me, which is nice.
We got an apartment. It's in Williamsburg, and we're moving January 15th. I'm really excited about it. My partner-in-crime is on the fence, so to speak. I'm going to have an apartment with lots of windows, and more than one room! It has a backyard! And laundry in the basement!
I'm over seventy-two thousand words in my novel. Still hoping to finish this draft by the end of the year. Well, by the end of staycation, which is approximately the same. Still feeling pretty good about where this one is going.
I've managed to read a few books in the last week or two:
51) Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey. This is one of the first sci fi/fantasy books my dad suggested to me when I started really getting into genre fiction, and I chose to reread it recently in homage, I suppose, since Anne McCaffrey passed away a few weeks ago. I always enjoy her books, and the trilogy this book belongs to is no exception. The world if Pern is such a vivid, well-fleshed-out creation, and the characters are interesting. And, of course, the dragons . . . I love her work.
52) Graveminder by Melissa Marr. I've read her YA stuff; this one is her first adult book. I got a copy at BEA and have been wanting to get around to it ever since. It was seriously worth the wait; this book is REALLY good. The world-building is fresh and interesting. The characters are complex and empathetic. The slow reveal of what it means to be the Graveminder, and what's going on in the town, was great. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good read.
53) Bone Gods by Caitlin Kittredge. This is the third book in the Black London series, and it's another solid entry. I've enjoyed watching Kittredge grow as an author over the last few years. I can't wait to read the last two in this series, and see what she comes up with next.
54) A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin. Third book in the Song of Ice and Fire series. I enjoyed this one . . . but I don't know that I'll continue with the series. Several big characters died in this one. Kingships keep changing hands, everybody's angry all the time, the Stark family is really getting the crap beaten out of them by life. I just don't know that I want to read several thousand more pages full of bloodshed and abuse. I don't mean anything negative about the book in saying that. I just don't know that it's really my thing. Epic fantasy is a hard sell for me these days, and while the basic plot is interesting (and convoluted), there's an awful lot of secondary plot to wade through. We'll see.
That's it for the books, and the life update, really. Things are quiet this week. Lazy brunches and late dinners, reading and writing time and a bit of hanging out with friends. It's nice.
Happy holidays, everyone!