The first chapter of Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is titled, “Day 1,299 of My Captivity.” It is referenced by a sentient octopus, Marcellus. This timeline motif, which continues through Van Pelt’s REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES, feels
Category: Reading Fiction
Reading adult and teen fiction, children’s books, and books about the craft of writing. Also features reading list ideas, questions and commentary. Some essays include ways to build your book lists for writing and teaching.
I was drinking my morning coffee and reading my book when… Midway through chapter 24, I felt it: the hand of plot. That sense that the author is driving to a point – squeezing in some
How Much Reading & Writing Have You Managed? 2022 has begun with… a bang and a whimper and a moan and a sigh. At least, that’s how it feels to me. The shift from pandemic to
Back to My Mountain and a Writing Resolution Like many others, I feel grateful to have made it to New Year’s Eve 2021 without (entirely) losing my mind. And I’ve decided to do something I usually
April is Autism Acceptance Month and National Poetry Month We’re coming to the end of a busy 30 days! Before April ends, let’s talk about that complex developmental condition know as Autism Spectrum Disorder. The World
Verse Novels by Jacqueline Woodson, Margarita Engle, and Sarah Crossan I read verse novels by these authors not because of their gender, race, religion, or politics. I read their work because their poetry does what true,
I’m proud to say that my list of March 2021 reads is long. Or am I? Sometimes I find myself reading for days at a time, searching for answers to some thorny writing question like… How
I’m delighted to share some recent Audible favorites. My audiobook obsession dates to 2017 when a new job introduced an epic commute to my life. Anthony Hurwitz, Kendare Blake, Kristen Simmons, and Alan Bradley novels carried
Who doesn’t love wordy celebration? We began January with inspiration from author Barbara Dee. Now, as we hit the midpoint of the month, I’m celebrating the joy of ANTICIPATION. Here’s a list of soon-to-be-released titles (and
Okay, team, truth is I have an EPIC commute. Between my Seattle office, my son’s middle school and my off-a-windy-road home, I spend a minimum of three hours in my car every day. What’s a girl