The Lily Cafe Weekly Highlights — September 18, 2026

Kat shares brief impressions of current and recent reads:

• Duhaime: a slow read that frustrated Kat because of the protagonists' prolonged conflict and frequent title references that interrupted narrative momentum.
• A Serving of Hope by Hisashi Kashiwai: part of the Kamagowa Food Detectives series and described as a comforting, bittersweet collection where food and stories deliver hope.
• In progress: Reckoning by Bradley James, the fourth and final book in the Aftermath series. Kat is emotionally invested in the characters and anxious about the ending.

Kat reports different reading habits for each child:

• 7th grader: reluctant to read independently but still performs well academically (solid A in English, borderline A in History). He allows family reading at night.
• 4th grader: an avid Dork Diaries fan who resists stopping at night, and has begun writing her own diary-style book with a strong personal voice.

Kat is already planning for her December cookie-making tradition. She's focused on minimizing leftover ingredients and reducing waste by carefully planning quantities now, months ahead. She treats the process as both practical inventory management and a seasonal pleasure she's looking forward to.

To make progress on rewrites, Kat blocks out two days each week for focused rewriting work. This is presented as a compromise approach that gives protected time within a busy life rather than an ideal schedule, allowing other responsibilities to continue.

Kat is temporarily retiring a couple of regular blog features: the weekly blog stats section and the Featured Blog Post selection. The stats section is paused because it's time-consuming and she's currently unconcerned with metrics. The featured post selection is on hold because manuscript work and backyard concerns have crowded her mental space.

Kat asks readers to check out an artist friend's online store, Sunlight & Sky, which sells LGBTQ art.

She signs off with a casual thanks and an invitation to share the post. The tone is conversational and practical, aimed at readers who follow her routines, reading life, and seasonal traditions.