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 [...]
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 [...]
Writing Creative Non-Fiction = Insanity
So you probably read this post about how I’m writing more creative non-fiction than poetry now. I’m finding that working with a CNF manuscript is like – well shoot it’s 8 PM and I can’t think of a metaphor. Anyway, it’s harder and more confusing than I expected. I have this amalgam of essays that [...]
It Was Life . . . .
I’ve hit a little rut in my spiritual memoir manuscript. I’ve got a lot of stuff about Orthodoxy, but not enough about Thailand, so I decided to drag out all my old journals tonight. The first one I opened began in May of 1996, which was right before I graduated from high school and left [...]
Anchors in the Storm
Life is crazy right now. Since the school year started, I have had only one full day to actually sit at my desk and work. The rest of the time I am visiting teachers, meeting with principals, planning PDs (Professional Development) with teammates, presenting PDs to teachers, and somehow trying to fit in all my [...]
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 24: Book That Contains Your Favorite Scene
Today’s was really hard for be because 1) I have a lot of favorite scenes and 2) I don’t actually own a lot of the books that my favorite scenes are from, so I can’t rewrite the scenes here for you. Sigh. So I’m going to share one of my many beloved scenes (from a [...]
Book Month Challenge Day 23: Book You Tell People You’ve Read, But Really Haven’t Finished
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I have to admit I struggle a little through Jane Austen books. I’m not sure if it’s the long sentences or nineteenth century English or something else. I haven’t picked up Pride and Prejudice in a while, though. Maybe now that I’m older I would enjoy it. I don’t [...]
Book Month Challenge Day 20: Book You’ve Read The Most Number of Times
I’m going to go with a book of poetry today! Rose by Li-Young Lee. This book is a thing of beauty. The poems are graceful, deep, moving. They are honest and humble, yet hold secrets. I come back to them over and over again. Here are excerpts from my favorite poems in the book (click [...]
