So I want to write a book, and I'm working on it right now. I want to know what ya'll think about the first chapter (it's not done, that's why it might seem short). It might be cringe, but if anything needs to be tweaked, please let me know! Here: One Griffith “Mama! Papa! Please don’t leave me!” I burst into tears. I shake my head, not believing anything. My parents lie on the ground, blood splattered all over their clothing with a piercing hole through where their hearts were. I grasp their hands while my tears drop onto them. Their eyes are cold and white, their heads lolled to the side. “Please…” I collapsed onto them, still crying. I suddenly jolted out of my sleep, sweat drenching my plain, dirt smeared shirt and my rough, cardboard bed. Great. My thin blanket is now soaked and stinky—not like it was ever clean. My eyelids droop, but I force them open. A headache crashes into my temples like a thunderstorm as I crawl out of bed. Sweat runs down my bare back as I strip my wet shirt off. I use a ragged towel to wipe the warm droplets off my skin. I then grab my only other pair of wrinkly clothes that are bunched up in a trash bag, and change into them. I grab a cracked mirror I found in the dump and check myself. My deep, aqua blue eyes pierce into the mirror as my curly, walnut brown hair falls down onto my forehead, just above my eyebrows. I left my wet clothes hanging, so they could dry. I then put on my muddy, worn out shoes and get out of my crappy tent. I take my usual seat outside my tent and put a red plastic cup in front of me, along with a sign that says, “Please donate. I lost my parents and I need money to support myself. Thank you!” I don’t really know why there’s a ‘thank you’ part because I can’t say thank you to crap. The only donation I’ve got this week was a rusty copper ruhe. How am I supposed to live off a copper ruhe? I lost my parents when I was only six years old. I’m now seventeen, surviving by myself on the streets. I don’t clearly remember what happened, except for when vivid dreams reveal more and more. All I know is that their hearts were pierced and I cried so much that I collapsed on top of them. Whoever murdered my parents must die for making me suffer. Losing parents is one of the worst things that could happen to you when you’re a child.

Hey everyone! I’d love to get your thoughts on something exciting—our Monthly Reads! I’m thinking of kicking things off as soon as May, but I want to make sure we set it up in a way that works best for everyone. My goal is to have Monthly Reads for all genres as mentioned before, however since we’re still a small but growing community, starting with too many books across different genres might make discussions feel a little scattered or quiet. So, to start things off, which ONE genre would you prefer to read for May’s Monthly Read? This way, conversations will be lively and interactive while we build momentum. If you're up for starting next month, vote on the genre you'd like to read in May! Once we decide, we’ll move on to choosing the Book of the Month! 📚✨️