Caught Between Places
One of the panels I went to at the Southern Festival of Books was titled Our Feet May Leave, But Not Our Hearts – Stories of Home and Place (I know, kinda cheesy title, but it was YA novelists so I was hooked), and the panelists were Silas House and Meg Medina. I’d heard of Silas [...]
I’m the Preacher’s Kid
My soul is so full. I am coming down from the high after hanging out at the Southern Festival of Books for three days. No, not a vacation, not a retreat, but three days that were for me. Poet me, writer me, reader me. There is so much to reflect on, so I’ll have to [...]
Afraid of Nothing, As Though I Had Wings
Today in Nashville the Southern Festival of Books began! I hadn’t been in a few years, and I was pumped to be on Fall Break and have the chance to get down there this afternoon. I got to hear poet Mark Jarman read and speak and I bought his newest collection, Bone Fires. Now that’s [...]
My Kids, Readers
This is not a how-to post. I can’t be that mom. I can’t take credit because most of the time I’m far less intentional than I intend to be. (Yes, pun intended.) But there’s this amazing thing that’s happened in my family: My kids love books. And I love them for that. (And for many, [...]
Book Month Challenge Day 31: Book You’re Currently Reading
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi I’m reading this on recommendation from my friend Marissa at Rae Gun. (She writes some great book posts, but also is a crafter and seamstress extraordinaire! Check out her blog.) This is another dystopian novel. I’m on a roll with this type of book this summer. Or maybe it’s just [...]
Book Month Challenge Day 30: Last Book You Read
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs This is a strange, but good, book. The main character, Jacob, is trying to find out a secret about his grandfather. His grandpa recently died, but he left Jacob with some confusing clues. A letter. A bunch of old photos of very peculiar children – a [...]
Book Month Challenge Day 29: Favorite Sci-Fi Book
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. Karla actually picked this book for one of her posts already. Great minds think alike! This book is set in the near future, and an astronomer has picked up music from Rahkat, a planet near Alpha Centauri. A group of researchers, including a Jesuit priest named Emilio Sandoz, takes [...]
Book Month Challenge Day 28: Favorite Craft/Writing Book
Writing the Australian Crawl: Views on the Writer’s Vocation by William Stafford. I had to read this when I was getting my MFA. It’s an old book, but it’s really good, and I’ve gone back to it several times as I struggle through writing. I’ll share several of the things I’ve underlined and you’ll see [...]
Book Month Challenge Day 27: Favorite collection of stories
The Secrets of a Fire King by Kim Edwards. Have you heard of the book The Memory Keeper’s Daughter? That was by Kim Edwards. But this book is better than that one. These stories span continents and cultures and a variety of relationships. Here are synopses of my 3 favorite stories from the book: Spring, [...]
Book Month Challenge Day 26: Favorite Non-Fiction Book
To be honest I don’t read a lot of nonfiction because I can’t get into it like I can get into a story. It takes me weeks, sometimes months, to finish a nonfiction book, while I can read a really good novel in a couple of days. A novel takes me out of my world [...]
