Fifteen days into 2016, I thought I would check in about how I am doing with my resolutions. Because, let’s face it: usually, by this point I’ve dropped the ball and reverted back to all of my old habits. But so far, that has not been the case.
For one thing, I’ve actually figured out a way to accomplish two biggies on my 2016 To Do List: READ MORE AND EXERCISE.
The answer: audio books.
I’ll be honest, I have always preferred to read a book rather than listen to it. I used to occasionally pop in an audio book during my commute, but these days, I no longer have a commute. Whenever I’m in the car, I’m generally forced to listen to something that my toddler will enjoy. However, recently I won an Audible audio book of DEATH AND WHITE DIAMONDS by Jeff Markowitz. I had heard Markowitz read from this book some time ago at a Mystery Writers of America, New York Chapter event at KGB Bar in NYC, and I was really, really interested in taking a listen. And that’s when I realized that audio books just might be the answer to one of my dilemmas: How can I possible read more in 2016 AND spend more time at the gym?
I took DEATH AND WHITE DIAMONDS (well, actually, just my i-phone with the Audible App) along with me to the gym. And boy oh boy did I have an interesting workout. I don’t want to spoil anything, but this book is darkly delicious, and terribly funny. I managed thirty minutes on the bike, and put another thirty in on the elliptical. If you saw my play GYMNOS: A GEEK’S TRAGEDY a few years ago, you might have suspected that I am not unlike the hero in the play who is mildly terrified of the gym, so this was quite a feat!
I know it might look like actor Brett Thomas Miro, but that geeky, out of shape playwright being accosted by beautiful, well toned bodies is actually me.
OK, so no, audio books haven’t actually saved my life. But maybe, just maybe, this discovery is helping me prevent the onset of heart disease. And it’s certainly going to help me get rid of that baby weight that lingers nineteen months into new motherhood.
DEATH AND WHITE DIAMONDS is also helping me accomplish some other tasks that in the past have been less than entertaining. I seriously just scrubbed down my bathroom and enjoyed every minute of it!
I have to say, I am super excited about this discovery (or rediscovery). The thing is, there are so many books I want to read, and only so many hours in the day. I have about four “free” hours each day, and I’m not even joking. During those four hours, I have to clean, exercise, read, shower, and, oh yeah, actually work on my writing. Multi-tasking is a must.
Audio books make this possible.
Now as for my other resolutions…More on those in a future blog post 😉
In the mean time, if you have a favorite audio book, please post it in the comments. I’ll be looking for something new to listen to very soon!
Nina, I have all three of my Nora Tierney English Mysteries on Audible and I had great fun finding a narrator and learning the process from my end. I also have FREE codes for The Scarlet Wench, and if you’d like one, I’m happy to send it along.
These are contemporary but classic mysteries in a series with an American writer, Nora, who lives in England. In this one, a theatre group arrives to stage Noel Coward’s farce, “Blithe Spirit” and all the chapter epigrams are lines from the play. Its plot figures in the mysteries plot. Coward’s estate asked for a copy of the book for their archives, which pleased me. I’m happy to send it to you. The narrator is a British actress with a lovely voice.
That sounds right up my alley– my background is theater! Thank you. I will drop you an email about the code.