Book Review: William Warwick Series, 1 & 2

Jeffrey Archer is a masterful storyteller. I love his short stories, with his trademark "twist in the tale." After thoroughly enjoying the Clifton Chronicles series, I waited a while to pick up this William Warwick series. For one thing, I preferred listening to the other series and was hoping to do the same with this one. Alas, my library had book 2, but not book 1. Thus, I finally gave in and read the first book, Nothing Ventured, in large print hardback. The pages flew by. My copy had a different cover, but I love this image of Big Ben and Westminster Bridge.

William Warwick's father assumes he will join him in pursuing law. Instead, William's heart is set on police work, especially solving crimes. When he secures a spot on Scotland Yard's arts and antiquities squad, he is thrust into several cases. As he investigates a stolen Rembrandt, he meets and falls in love with a gallery research assistant. It seems like tricky ground to discuss the painting's return with a woman who has a vested interest. I was sucked into the story and enjoyed meeting the characters. Due to sexual indiscretions, it wasn't a clean read. 

While not as enjoyable as the Clifton Chronicles, I anticipated listening to the second book, Hidden in Plain Sight. This was a bit grittier and harder to read because it dealt with drug cases. A bit too close to home for me, I guess. I wanted to abandon it, but kept listening even when distasteful. It seems there are 8 books in the series. Somehow, I doubt I'll be down for the whole thing. They are all available, but only in audio through Overdrive (I'm much more familiar with using Hoopla). I'm not sure I'll stick with this series.

Book Review: Just Out There Somewhere

I have to hand it to my husband. Given our current efforts to downsize by 70-80 percent, I doubted he'd fulfill the books on my Mother's Day/Birthday Wish List. If he hadn't, I would have bought them myself, ha! I received the Sing hymn book (this looks fabulous) and Just Out There Somewhere. I'm a huge fan of Kyle L. White's writing. In April, I spotlighted his work on my blog. While I don't have every book he's written, I cherish the ones I have purchased or received as gifts.

Just Out There Somewhere is his new collection of essays, poems, and thoughts about moving on. How appropriate, since we are contemplating a move from the home we have lived in and loved for almost two decades! If you don't plan to move on, you'll still find White's essays relatable. He writes about the movement of all manner of wildlife: rabbits, owls, box turtles, geese, porcupine, and hummingbirds. These essays are bite-sized gems full of reflections on natural elements or linguistics that lead to spiritual insights.

The book begins with the entertaining essay on borrowed books that you can listen to via a link in the author spotlight. In one essay, I loved that a woman proclaimed Kyle a "pastor of art." If you knew him, you'd know this is an apt description. A few of my favorites pieces include two ones discussing the phrases, "Holy moly," and "Good Gravy." I also enjoyed the letter to a porcupine. Lovely essays! 

Book Review: The English Masterpiece

This was February's read for the Christian Fiction Reading Challenge I joined. At one time, I picked up Katherine Reay's Dear Mr. Knightley. It wasn't the right timing for me, and I set it aside. This time, however, I was enthralled by Reay's well-woven story of an alleged forgery. I listened to The English Masterpiece on Hoopla and loved the distinct, alternating narration of the two main characters, Lily and Diana. It made my morning exercise and chores slip by unnoticed.

When I lived in London, I visited the Tate Gallery (purchased a lovely card game of painting sets). How fun to return to that setting, albeit in an earlier timeframe! Lily eagerly anticipates the 1973 opening of a Picasso exhibit she helped prepare. Her boss, the art curator, Diana Gilden, hopes to advance in her job as a result of their work. Instead, with one uncontrolled whisper of "forgery," Lily has put everything in jeopardy. Lily's own asperations of showing a painting in an upcoming Emerging Artists Exhibition may be foiled, as well. But, as we all sadly learn, once words slip out, you cannot undo them.

What follows is a carefully plotted chase to determine the truth behind the painting and its provenance. The insurance company calls up an American detective, Conor Walsh. When he finds a student studio full of Lily's copies of the masters, suspicion shifts to Lily. Walsh and Lily feel pulled toward each other, but the mystery remains the focus. She is closed off to others, but will she open up to Conor?

I loved the pacing, and the characters were well-drawn. Lily's back-story was interesting. I was thrilled to explore the world of early-70s London. The writing was such that I forgot there was a puppet-master pulling the strings. My mind was gripped with the unfolding mystery. I'm so glad I read this book, and I cannot wait to seek another Katherine Reay novel.

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My favorite passage of all came toward the end of the book, when Lily is ruminating on the assessment of talent. Her words, about painting, could equally apply to writing. "Next week, I'll find out how far I'm willing to stretch, how vulnerable I can make myself, and how much of myself I'm willing to splay onto a canvas. Whether the art world chooses to laud my efforts or eviscerate them is beyond my control... As Picasso taught me, the act of painting is the vivisection of one's soul, splayed out before the world in a two dimensional format. And in art, as in life, success lies in holding nothing back. The world can hate it, but I can still have a marvelous time." 

Delightful Reading Comics

Please forgive this filler post of delightful reading comics. My own reading has somewhat stalled out. Indeed, most days I'd even rather work on my purging tasks than pick up a book. Sob! Thankfully, that will be remedied soon. For my youngest son's spring break, he begged to visit Florida with his friends (who go every year - we can't afford that). He and I head down soon for a few days (not the whole week, like others), and I'm certain he will spend all his time with his friends leaving me alone in our Vrbo accommodation. I can't really hang out on the beach because my fair skin would burn quickly. Still, I will have ample time and plenty of Kindle books on my phone.

Stay tuned for my quarterly reading compilation post. It will have an abundance of suggestions (including 3 I highly recommend), in case you, too, are leaving on a spring break trip.

Finally, an image of a coffee table I'd love to own and put in my book room. If you ever see one up for sale, let me know. This one was supposedly made and posted on Facebook by Nerd Forge, although I couldn't find an active website for them (probably some AI-inspired spoof to make one think this kind of thing is possible and whet all our book-loving appetites):

Mid-month Mention: A Passel of Poetry Posts

During National Poetry Month, I wanted to focus on a few former posts on various poets. I would be remiss to neglect mentioning my own poetry out the gate. Travelling all the way back to 2009, I shared a poem I had written for an exercise on another poet's site. It is called "At the Corner of Now and Then," and provides images of the merging of lives when we moved into my husband's grandmother's house (in 2006). The poet who inspired that experiment was L. L. Barkat, author of Stone Crossings: Finding Grace in Hard and Hidden Places (reviewed here). I loved finding the old post reviewing her book because it contained a little illustration I had forgotten about. The illustration reminds me to tend the talents I've been given.

In 2022, I tended those talents and self-published a book of poems for parents of prodigals. Titled Watching the Wayward, it puts expression to the many emotions experienced when you discover your teen/adult child has departed from your desired path for them. You can find links in the sidebar or on my author website. If you love podcasts, check out this podcast interview for my testimony and the story behind my book.

Here are 3 books that have inspired my creative life: 

1. Andrew Peterson's Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making, 
2. Annie Dillard's The Writing Life,  
3. Nicole Gulotta's Wild Words: Rituals, Routines, and Rhythms for Braving the Writer's Path (I think I'm in the "liminal" space right now).

In preparation for working on my poetry, I consumed several books by (or about) favorite poets. Here are a few of those: 

• Emily Dickinson's biography, These Fevered Days
• Ruth Bell Graham's Footprints of a Pilgrim and Prodigals and Those Who Love Them
• Beth Moore's Things Pondered and Further Still

And, I wanted to mention my favorite personally known poet:

• Kyle L. White - especially his book Freezing and Thawing: New and Revised Stories from the Midwest - Kyle is also an illustrator and creates prints available on his prints website. Right now he's promoting a set of 6 prints based on the rhythm of the church calendar. Here's the blurb in his advertisement: "Bring a peaceful rhythm to your household's year with this unique series of reflective art prints. The six artworks come with an easel, a background story, and an explanation for each season of the liturgical calendar. All illustrations will be hand printed on the vintage presses of Mordecai book building in Middleton, Wisconsin. And when you preorder the bundle by May 15th, you'll receive a 7th art print. It makes for a good reflective gift for people all around you too."

I recently saw a post on FB about an influential high school teacher who listened to a girl spill her problems and at the end of the year left an inspiring phrase in her yearbook. The post was written by Elaine Jarvis. Her daughter made a bookmark with the teacher's oft-remembered phrase (teacher: Everett Thomas):

(photo credit: Elaine Jarvis)

Mid-month Mention: Holiday Hilarity and Hits

 

As the holiday season crawls into full gear, I offer this compilation of past posts that make me smile:

That time I unwittingly went out blinking (ha!) - a post from my early days of anonymous blogging

The curious Christmas gift Trevor received and consumed one year

Amazing snow art

A Christmas with many big hit gifts

My favorite Christmas decorations

Fun and funny Christmas ideas

Book Review: The Greater Journey

Perhaps you've noticed: I'm in a reading rut again. I've been only managing audio books for some time now. Plus, the current fixation is on armchair travel. If you can't move about the world, bring the world home in a book! This book, The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris, offered an enjoyable jaunt back in time to the years between 1830 and 1900, and across the ocean to the magical city of Paris. Highlighting writers, artists, and architects, it revealed the many American creatives who ventured to Paris to fortify and bolster their artistic endeavors. It was clear, while listening, that I was missing out on illustrations, so I secured the library's copy of the hardbound book, as well.

At first, I kept thinking, "I've heard this narrator before." In looking Edward Herrmann up, I realized it wasn't another audio book I remembered his voice from, but his role as the father figure on my beloved Gilmore Girls series (yes, I'm back indulging again now that my library boasts the whole seven season series). What a rich tenor for this exposition. Herrmann pronounces the French terms and places like a pro and draws you in with his sonorous voice.

I believe this book, despite its already imposing length (14 CDs), deserves a sequel. It could cover the creative individuals who moved to Paris between 1900 and 2000. More material is available, and creative individuals enjoy learning more about what stimulated and developed others in their talents. I'm no painter, yet I thrilled at the descriptions of artists copying the greats hanging in the Louvre. Moreover, it was fascinating to read about how they created the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. I would happily indulge in another book along these lines, especially if narrated by Edward Herrmann.

Adam Gopnik's lengthier (650 page) book, Americans in Paris: A Literary Anthology, only focuses on writers. Yet, I may seek it to further my investigation into creatives influenced by Paris. (Plus, there are a slew of novels available, as well.) It brings back a happy memory of my walking tour in Paris. Even the rain couldn't dampen my spirits as I lapped up the guide's description of literary Paris.

Book Review: There and Back

I once dreamed of parasailing off a mountain. Ha! Stark evidence enough that my inner life has shifted over the years! Gone are the days of such outlandish quests. Today, I dream of driving on unfamiliar streets without going into panic mode. But books take you places from the comfort of your armchair. And, when experienced vicariously, you know for sure you will make it "there and back," the goal of every intrepid mountain climber. As Brie Larson observes on the back cover, "Many of us will never risk our lives to see what Jimmy Chin sees, but in these pages, his photography will transport you to the razor's edge, challenging your perceptions of what humans can achieve." So grateful Jimmy Chin accomplished what I would deem impossible.

This coffee table photography book is marvelous! My favorite photos in the book all reflected specific times of day in dual-page spreads. On pages 78-79, I loved the photo of the mountain top set against a deep blue sky background and half-moon shimmering in the distance. On pages 226-227, the starry night above mountain peaks contrasts the bright colors of the tents. A similar nighttime scene captured on 250-251 shows another starry night set against the brilliance of an erupting volcano. Amazing! One photo from the tip of the One World Trade Center is mind-boggling. This book opens eyes to sights you will never see on your own two feet, but can take in, with wonder, from the comfort of your home. I think I'll continue this armchair travel theme!

2021 Holiday Greetings

Holiday greetings to my faithful readers! May you be blessed by a word I write! May you grow in number! May God minister to your souls through the words he weaves from my pen (or keyboard 😉). No matter what transpires in the coming year, may He draw you ever closer to Himself!

We are grateful for a holiday visit from our eldest son, Bryce. He flew in from Dallas, TX, on Tuesday and is able to stay for a full week. Such a blessing to see him and spend time with him.

Especially grateful for our comfortable back porch where we open stockings and gifts. A plethora of blessings:

I have enjoyed this holiday season - especially taking it easy for the most part.

Favorite gift finds: I found two adorable and funny gifts for John. He loves squirrels (despite feelings of ire when they eat all the food he scatters for the birds, or bring down his window feeder by squeezing in with their girth). I snagged a big squirrel head feeder from Kohls at great discount:

Then, I found an adorable matching sock set to give him from the dog - ha!

Best deal: Sean wanted cologne. Thank you, CVS for your deals: I snagged a $40 bottle of Drakkar for 40% off and then received $10 in ECBs for purchasing a cologne over $19.99. Score!

Favorite funny gift: A Facebook friend posted photos of these gifts she gave her co-workers:

Mine didn't turn out quite as polished as hers, but the boys loved them anyway.

I have highly creative Facebook friends. Another friend, Laura (my CBLI friend-selfie buddy), added a unique twist to her holiday cards this year. She posted this in November (plenty of advance notice):

For the Holidays I would like Holiday cards. I want a tiny (index card size) artwork inside the card. Even if we hardly talk. Message me for my address if you don't have it. I would gladly send you one also if you would like! How nice it would be to have my mailbox flooded with Holiday cards. I'd love to keep your unique artwork forever. It doesn’t matter how fancy, simple, childlike it is, as long as it is creative and you. Oh and make sure you sign it please.

Love this idea! Stolen from a friend except they were asking for recipes.

I loved the idea, despite not being as artistic or crafty as others. I'd love the recipe version, as well, but as I only receive a dozen cards, it didn't seem worth it to ask for anything more, ha! Here's a photo of the artwork I sent to Laura on a plastic magnetic frame:

Here's the art she sent within her Christmas card to me:

And here's a photo of the tiny artwork my niece, Billie Jean, sent us:

Visits, gifts, and cards all make Christmas special. Celebrating the birth of the Savior makes it extra special, indeed! May you and yours enjoy this Christmas day, as well!

As a parting gift, enjoy this euphonium selection of "Carol of the Bells." Melodic and amazing.

Book Review: Ex Libris

This book is gorgeous! I may have been the first to obtain our library's copy. It would look lovely on a coffee table - if I had a coffee table, ha! Here is the back-cover description:

"In Ex Libris, the Pulitzer Prize-winning literary critic Michiko Kakutani shares her enthusiasm for more than 100 books: novels and memoirs by some of today's most gifted writers, favorite classics worth reading or rereading, and nonfiction works that illuminate our social and political landscape and such pressing issues as climate change, medicine, and the consequences of digital innovation. With Dana Tanamachi's richly detailed illustrations that evoke vintage bookplates, Ex Libris is a timely reminder of why reading matters more than ever."

I have only read a fourth of the titles on Kakutani's list. Moreover, I do not share her political perspectives. Still, this book provided a thrilling peek into many noteworthy titles and increased my ever-growing list of books-to-read. It enticed me to add titles like Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio, Roz Chast's Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?, Dave Eggers' A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Laura Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit, Mary Karr's The Liar's Club, Lorrie Moore's A Gate at the Stairs, and Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch. Her descriptions are delightful and her bookish-enthusiasm breathtaking.

Book Blurb: Winter is Scissors

Reading my friend Kyle's newest book in January prompted a search for my review of his 2018 book. Alas, I failed to write a review when I read it after purchasing the Kindle version back in 2018. I re-read the book this past January. Winter is Scissors: A Winter Companion provides "thirty-one small, daily readings... extending the metaphor that winter cuts." With 31 entries, it is a perfect fit for January reading, but you could just as well tackle it in March.

I had several favorite entries: On day 6 - Epiphany - White asserts that, like the wise men, he has received the message to cut an alternative path for home. On day 8, he humorously personifies weather and our relationship to it in "The Scandalous Truth About You and Cold Weather." Of course, I appreciated day 19, "Winter is for Writing." On day 20, he compares shoveling and shaving. While I'm not a big fan of winter (my sister and her husband, who live in Texas, pine for winter and snow as much as Kyle does), these poetic readings warmed my heart and gave meaning to the chill outside.

Book Blurb: How to Write One Song

I wrote a song once, when I was a teen, before the mystery and intimidation had any chance to hold me back. Despite no aspirations for further songwriting, I was pretty sure How to Write One Song would have something to offer concerning the writing process. Some valuable take-aways: if you call yourself a writer, you are a writer - believing is half the journey; like all writing, you can't expect to sit down and create magnificence right out the gate - it takes routine and practice and a certain amount of faith in the process (think "if you build it; they will come" - although that wasn't in this book); a lot of preliminary writing involves playing with words and ideas; the best writers listen/read; while you can "write what you know," you can also write from outside yourself - take yourself somewhere new; timers and deadlines can be your friends; gag your inner critic and be willing to write crap because you might find a gem amid the manure; and finally, does it really count if you haven't shared it with someone else ("if a tree falls, etc.")? Hmm - good question.

Book Blurb: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

So much for my resolution to read less random books. This was a random selection (mildly interested) from the library's recent acquisition list. The graphic possibilities lured. I will say this author bares his soul for all to see and is authentic and real about the struggle for recognition as a creator. I read it in no time, while waiting for Trevor at his ranch job. It was a great selection for that because it held my attention without taxing my brain. The author's near-death experience prompted reflection on his drive to produce and kindled my own reflections on my passions and pursuits.

Book Blurb: Floriography

Reminder to self - less random books. My library sends out listings of all the new holdings. I am often enticed by these prospects. Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers, by Jessica Roux, drew my attention for several reasons. I love the Victorian era - the time in which floriography (communication through use of flowers), well, flourished. I love the symbolism of using flowers to communicate sentiments. Moreover, I named a few characters in my novels after particular flowers. Sadly, I did not find their flowers referenced in this book. It is easy to digest. Each page presents a flower, and the associated meanings. The illustrations are gorgeous. Still, I finished wishing the author had presented a bit more information (perhaps even examples of floriography for particular flowers as seen in Victorian literature). Beautiful companion for your coffee table.

Book Review: Freezing and Thawing

Last year, one of my favorite Christmas gifts from my husband was my blogging friend Maria Novajosky's new book, An Ocean, an Airplane, and Two Countries Full of Kisses. This year, my husband snagged the newest book from my writer friend Kyle L. White (from my old writer's group in Illinois), Freezing and Thawing: New and Revised Stories from the Midwest. Not only that, he bought my favorite print from his on-line store. I propped it up in my bookish desk alongside another gem he found - a small motivational decoration that reads "Write Your Own Story."

Freezing and Thawing - What an adventure! Old familiar paths (circus museum, my favorite) branch off into invigorating new terrain (an essay comparing writing to hunting). As always, before you realize it, casual observation slips into deeper territory. From the comedy of an in-house haircut (thank you, pandemic) illustrating our need to care for one another, to removal of a fish hook prompting reflections on God's touch in our wounds. White's words trigger contemplation and conviction. They induce self-assessment. They remind of God's grace. What rises to the surface is the most important question of all: Am I living and loving as I should?

Book Review: The Practice

My good friend, Mary Pudaite Keating, spoke highly of Seth Godin. Of course, The Practice: Shipping Creative Work promised yet another book to encourage my deflating writing spirits. I am much better at the practice of writing than that of shipping writing into the world. Still, this book offered encouragement and thought-provoking content. 

The book has an unusual structure. Instead of chapters, it contains over 200 small sets of sentences, paragraphs, and blurbs of ideas. For example, he explains about Askida Ekmek, a practice in Turkey where a bakery patron can pay for an extra loaf to hang on a hook on the wall for a needy person who might enter the shop. I loved this interesting concept to present the idea that creativity nurtures self and should also nurture others. 

Godin asks the provocative question: “If we failed, would it be worth the journey?” I guess I need to commit to the practice more fully and stop looking for the results, the reassurance that it is to some purpose. Focus on the journey. That is an arduous task. I probably fit more in his category: “Some people… need a recipe and want reassurance that the work they do will pay off. The practice requires you to seek out this experience of uncertainty.” Later, he says, “It’s selfish to hold back when there’s a chance you have something to offer.” I needed his gentle reminder, “Your work is never going to be good enough (for everyone). But it’s already good enough (for someone).” Godin ships his own creative work right into the minds and hearts of struggling artists filled with self-doubt. He has something to offer. We have something to offer.

Book Review: Daily Rituals

After Adorning the Dark reminded me that everyone is creative, I investigated how some of the most famous creative individuals get their work done. Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey grew out of a blog. Currey, fascinated by people’s rituals, started a blog about them. One day an agent emailed suggesting he could make a book from the blog and, viola, now we can hold his findings in our hands. 

This book was fascinating. Of course, it didn't surprise me that some creatives turn to smoking, drinking, and drugs to prompt their creative juices (everything from cigars and coffee to alcohol and amphetamines). But some statistics were staggering. The book said Balzac sometimes consumed 50 cups of coffee a day. How is that even possible? And Sarte, well, let’s just say that man had a major problem with drugs and alcohol. 

I knew Dickens often turned to walking for his inspiration. He wasn’t alone in this reliance on long walks to clear the head and set ideas aglow. Tchaikovsky took a two-hour walk every day. Darwin, Kierkegaard, Freud, and Hobbes were also walkers. When I used to work on fiction, I needed a half-hour preliminary walk to process the characters and plot.

However, it thoroughly surprised me how many artists claimed to be procrastinators. Or that some discarded what they considered wasted effort. The output of many of these individuals stunned me, as well. H. L. Mencken worked 12 to 14 hours daily and replied to every letter he received within the same day. Not only that, he claimed his only regret was that he “didn’t work even harder.” Sheesh! Both George Sand and Saul Bellow wrote 20 or more pages a day. Faulkner claimed to have written ten thousand words in one day. (As a former Nanowrimo participant, 10 thousand sounds like a staggering number – I think my highest in one day was something between 5 and 6 thousand.) An emphasis on writing every day seemed to spring from page after page. Discipline makes many an artist. 

I laughed as Richard Strauss compared his writing to milking a cow. Then, in the small biographical sketch for Milton, the image appeared again. This time it seemed especially compelling. Because of Milton’s blindness, he would work for a few hours memorizing lines in his head and then when his secretary returned he would say it was time for him to be milked. For a time after Trevor’s birth, I had to use a machine to express the liquid gold of breast milk. I imagine famous writers produce liquid gold just as valuable. 

My daily writing ritual never nets gold, yet I cling to the practice. Every morning, as soon as I have completed my devotions, BSF lesson, and prayers, I pull out the lined paper and write between 1 and 2 pages a day. I sit at a desk (never lying down as some of these writers work). When working on fiction, I follow the advice Hemingway offered of breaking off in mid-thought with a rough idea of where I’m headed, to pick it up again the next day. However, I haven’t plowed effort into fiction for quite a while. Maybe I have given it up entirely. I may not produce at the rate or quality of the individuals highlighted in Currey’s book, but my ritual helps to clear my mind and process everything raging inside. So, for me, I suppose it is gold.

Book Review: Adorning the Dark

I’m becoming a big fan of Andrew Peterson. It started with my introduction to that stirring song I wrote about back in March. I cannot guess how many times I’ve viewed the You Tube video of his performance at the Sing conference. Enough so I no longer weep every time I hear the song (my initial response). 

In June, while writing my book review for Leif Enger’s Virgil Wander, I chanced upon the Rabbit Room blog (a marvelous discovery and a community I would love to join at some point). I had no idea it was another creative venture that sprang from the heart and soul of Andrew Peterson. While working on a fresh writing project, I encountered a blurb from Adorning the Dark. A nearby mega-church (with an outstanding Christian library) requested information about new resources patrons might like to access. I gave some ideas and threw in the title of this book. They blessed my socks off! One day, I received a call saying my requested book was in and ready for curbside pickup. Not only did they order the book for my benefit, but they delivered it in a gorgeous bag proclaiming “I—heart—books!” 

Of course, now I’ve discovered I want to purchase the book for my own library. It was that good! Andrew Peterson provides a quasi-memoir, quasi-creativity spark plug. His first premise: creativity is part of our God-given, image-bearing identity. We are all creative. His second premise: our creativity flourishes when plugged into community. His third premise: as Christians, God calls us to “adorn the dark with the light of Christ.” What a high calling! What an encouraging book! 

In the introduction, Peterson claims, “What’s shaped me and my work more than any particular talent on my part has been living out a calling in the midst of a Christ-centered community.” The book made me hunger for a Christian writing community as I used to have when we lived in DeKalb, Illinois. Although I tried a local library writer’s group, I worry my focus is too religious for their liking. Enter the current dilemma: How does one find such a community and align with it amid a pandemic? I don’t have what it takes to continue plugging away without affirmation that I’m on the right road or without cheerleaders alongside to rally my spirits when the opponent feels fierce. ("The ability to overcome resistance, self-sabotage, and self-doubt is way more important than talent." - Steven Pressfield) 

Still, with such community absent, this book is an outstanding encouragement. I cling to two statements toward the beginning: “You have to believe that you’re precious to the King of Creation, and not just a waste of space…. We holy fools all bear God’s image.” And “All you really have is your willingness to fail, coupled with the mountain of evidence that the Maker has never left nor forsaken you.” He also articulated well my biggest beef with much Christian fiction, when agenda overshadows story. Peterson writes, “Agenda isn’t necessarily bad…. [It] is bad when it usurps the beauty…. Truth without beauty can be a weapon; beauty without truth can be spineless.” 

Again and again, I wanted to recommend Peterson’s book to my friend, Kyle White (from my DeKalb writer’s group), knowing he would appreciate the content and its poetic conveyance. It was clinched when I read the chapter on “Serving the Audience.” As the author compared a song to a spell, able to “inject beauty into some unsuspecting passerby and lead them to the truth,” I thought of Kyle’s profound poetry. Peterson talked of a songwriter friend, Andy Gullahorn, who can slip past the “watchful dragons” (a C. S. Lewis reference). That is exactly what Kyle has done in his poem about the circus museum. You begin with the panoramic delight and, before you know it, Kyle zooms in on the truth of how a circus museum is kind of like the church today, and why we’re wrong to make it a museum. 

Next, Peterson wrote: “The song is a tightrope, and the listener is inching along, enraptured by the hope and light raveling in the middle distance…. When that happens, the world falls away and you’re both a channel for and a recipient of grace.” What a magical description of Christian writing. If only I could be a channel for and recipient of grace in my writing. 

After closing the book, I struggled with two conflicting emotions. His reminder that God gifts each of us and intends us to cultivate and grow our gifts for use in His magnificent kingdom encouraged me. But self-doubt (the very thing Peterson warns the reader to bite back) reared his ugly head all the more. I slunk into depression because my words are merely adequate and amateur. Plus, there is a  monumental chasm between completing a project and finding a publisher. I do not have the large platform publishers require, proof the work is profitable. I’m sure my words are not as well-articulated as they could be. However, I'm convinced God gave me those words to soothe another soul. Thus, I’m right back to where I always seem to find myself. I must lay the work at His feet and pray He will use it as He wills. If He intends to reach others through my meager talents, it will be His act of turning on the spout and allowing the water to gush into the hands that need it most.

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If you're interested in exploring my friend Kyle's work, visit his art/book website. In addition to purchasing his newest book of poetry and essays, Freezing, Thawing: New & Revised Stories from the Midwest, you might want to purchase an art print (my favorite is one with a quote from Henry Van Dyke: "Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent... if no birds sang there except those that sang best.") He is currently offering a sale of 15% off any art print, through December 6th, if you use the code 15off. His previous books are also available on Amazon. Great Christmas gift ideas!

Get a Smile, Give a Smile

Living in the country, we've had our share of mailbox woes. Kids sometimes play mailbox baseball. Most of the time, however, we lose our mailbox to the snow plows. When we first moved here John posed the problem to a handyman who used to tackle odd jobs for us. I don't believe he ran his idea by us first. He simply erected a large pole around the mailbox. It was an embarrassing eye-sore that we removed.

If only we'd hired someone creative. I passed this mailbox man the other day and it brought a huge smile to my face:

What a way to solve the problem! I did some research. Turns out this little invention is the brain child of Floridian Scott Gerber (see this article on a welding magazine site). He calls his tubular creations "tube dudes" and they not only hold mailboxes but also serve other functions (besides simply spreading cheer). If you are interested, you can place an order at tube-dude.com. Products range from my favorite, the mini sitting and reading (for $350), to an elaborate snailfish mailbox ($2,500). If money dropped from the sky, I'd happily spend a thousand dollars or so to bring smiles to my neighbors' faces.

I do have an effortless way you can give a smile today. My son's internship employer, Morning Dove Therapeutic Riding Center, has been selected for the 2020 Breeders Crown Charity Challenge. You can go to the Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing and Casino page to cast a vote for Julia (her selected charity is Morning Dove). The facility is a peaceful oasis (I get computer work done outdoors next to the horse pastures while Trevor cleans stalls). They provide great therapy riding for individuals with disabilities. If you watch the WTHR 13 morning news someday this week, you might even see Trevor working in the background. They came to the ranch to shoot video footage this past week. Please give a smile by casting your vote today!

Carmel Excursion With My Cousin

When my cousin Karin wrote to say she would be coming to Indiana in July, I began to eagerly anticipate her arrival. Karin is not just a cousin, she's a marvelous friend. She's the type of individual I feel instantly at ease with. Moreover, she has the most encouraging and positive spirit of anyone I've ever met. What a privilege to spend a few days visiting together!

As soon as she arrived on Friday afternoon, we relished our chance to reconnect (the last time we got together was almost nine years ago). We took her out to our favorite Mexican restaurant and then talked more, well into the night. On Saturday, she and I ventured out for a shopping excursion in Carmel, Indiana's Arts and Design District. We had a splendid time together!

We stopped in the tiny art galleries and shops along the main road and found a wide assortment of interesting pieces. I had never been before, but now I will make a point of it when Christmas draws near, as we found so many unique gift items. Karin ended up buying a small ring and a beautiful painting of a bee. In the antique mall on Main Street, I purchased an adorable vintage Samsonite overnight case in a beautiful marbled blue:

We loved viewing the art on display in the various galleries. When we arrived at the Hoosier Salon Gallery, I noticed a sculpture made of ash wood. It immediately brought to mind a Welsh folk tune called "The Ash Grove" and the lyrics The Salvation Army often uses with that little tune - "He Giveth More Grace as Our Burdens Grow Greater." I am obviously thoroughly at ease with my cousin because I burst into song right there in that little gallery and the acoustics of the room were astounding.

We were thrilled with the Norman Rockwell-esque sculptures found along the streets:

My favorite part of the day was our lunch at Woody's Library Restaurant (Karin's treat). The small brick building with an impressive front stairway was built in 1913 with monies from a grant from the Carnegie Corporation as Carmel's Public Library.

The restaurant, with a pub and outdoor patio, boasted charming library decor and gave me the thrill of eating (and talking openly) in a library. Our server graciously snapped a photo for us to commemorate the event:

Whenever I eat out, I tend to scan the menu in search of food made with spinach. I was thrilled to find and order the grilled cheese florentine with a side of buttered broccoli and a small serving of potato chips. The sandwich was delicious (think a BLT altered to a BST). To round out our dining experience, Karin ordered two of the dessert duo samplers and thus we were able to try four different desserts from the menu (we tried the Baked Peach Crumble, Chocolate Mousse, a Mississippi Mud Brownie, and - my favorite - a Vanilla Crumb Blondie).

It was a fabulous day for walking and window-shopping. The food was delicious and the company delightful. I can't wait to visit Carmel's Arts and Design District again. If you live anywhere near Indianapolis, I highly recommend this unique experience. Take your favorite cousin. You will have a marvelous time!