A Subtle But Important Distinction
A man I respect immensely — kind, caring, smart, funny and filled with the sort of humility that’s truly inspiring — told me a story yesterday that I want to share with you. It’s not really his story any more than it’s mine, but it is the sort of story that holds such wonderful wisdom…
Read MoreMy Bookish Ways
What fun it was being interviewed for the wonderful book site: My Bookish Ways! Here’s the first question: Congrats on the new book! Will you tell us a bit about Against a Darkening Sky and what inspired you to write it? Thanks so much. Against a Darkening Sky is set in the 7th century –…
Read MoreServing the World
“We cannot, of course, save the world, because we do not have authority over its parts. We can serve the world though. This is everyone’s calling; to lead a life that helps.” – Barry Lopez I came across this quote from writer Barry Lopez yesterday and it feels especially appropriate given how sharp and jagged…
Read MoreLetting My Feet Follow My Pen
As though the murder of nine people in the Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church June 17, 2015 in Charleston wasn’t horrifying enough, since then a number of black churches in the south have burned down. While it’s possible not all of them were the result of domestic, racist-based terrorism, if even one was, that’s one…
Read MoreA Fool for Blessing
“God has two dwellings… one in Heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart!” — IZAAK WALTON . I found myself dragging my butt around the house the other day, going from desk to kitchen to couch to bed to desk to kitchen to… you get the idea. Tea cup in hand. Still…
Read MoreThe Artist And The Tree
Sometimes other writers talk to me about the futility of the artist’s life, particularly at a time when the digital world seems to be steamrollering over publishing, when it’s harder and harder to make even the most meager living, when it’s so difficult to attract the attention of readers, who have the attention span of…
Read MoreThe Anglo-Saxon Forced March Northwards
With the publication of AGAINST A DARKENING SKY, people have been asking me to pull together the blogs I wrote on my research trip to England, back in 2008. And so, here you go… an account of what My Best Beloved calls, “The Anglo-Saxon Forced March Northwards”. I must say, reading these again has brought…
Read More"Just Mercy" (or perhaps,"Stonecatcher")
Every once in a while I read a book I consider so important, I have to write about it — and this is one of those books. As some of you know, I’ve spent some time teaching in prison, so I hope you’ll beleive me when I say the importance of this book can’t be…
Read MoreRepairing Cracks in the Ramparts
Recently I’ve been feeling discomfort — a combination of pre-publishing jitters and critical voices that have wormed their way into my head and affected my work. Every time I start something new I hear some voice explaining, in the most condescending, superior tones, why I’m wrong, why what I think is good literature is in…
Read MoreA Year In Books — the final bit
Life got hectic. It does that, doesn’t it? And so this post, which I meant to make weeks ago, has finally lumbered into the light. I’ve already posted the first 50 books I read last year, which you can read about here and here. Below is the final 21… 51. HOUSEKEEPING by Marilynne Robinson. This…
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