You knew a teenager like Charlie Crabtree. A dark imagination, a sinister smile--always on the outside of the group. Some part of you suspected he might be capable of doing something awful. Thank you to Macmillan for providing me with an Advanced Reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The above… Continue reading Book Review: The Shadows by Alex North
Tag: literature
Book Review: “Dear Child” by Romy Hausmann
Thank you to Macmillan Publishing who provided me with an Advanced Reader's copy of this book. Originally published in Germany last year, the American edition can be expected October 2020. Lena Beck goes missing fourteen years before the book starts. Her heartbroken parents still hope that she will be found and give them closure on… Continue reading Book Review: “Dear Child” by Romy Hausmann
Visual Writing
A few years ago, I started doing "visual exercises" where I took an image and created a scene with it. I want to get back into doing that for two reasons: The last time I did these, one post inspired me to write my first fantasy novel, which I'm trying to finish this year. Maybe… Continue reading Visual Writing
Book Review: Still Alice by Lisa Genova
I want to open this review by saying that I read this for my book club because our March theme will be "Page to Screen." My challenge to participants was to read a book that has been made into a movie, then watch the movie. Compare, contrast, and just make general observations. I wanted to… Continue reading Book Review: Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Writing as a Community
In honor of NaNoWriMo last November, the Iredell County Public Library that I work for in North Carolina partnered with Mitchell Community College to create the first ever community novel. We created a group of writers who were patrons and staff of the library, and students and staff from the college. We organized our thoughts,… Continue reading Writing as a Community
Tolkien Week: A Personal Journey
Today marks a very important date for Tolkien fans. On September 24, 2014, Tolkien wrote his first poem which would launch his Middle-earth saga. He wrote it in the trenches of World War I and because of that it had an immense personal attachment for him. As I mentioned in an earlier post from this… Continue reading Tolkien Week: A Personal Journey
Tolkien Week: “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit”
It has been a while since my last blog post but let's face it, for Tolkien Week and Hobbit Day (arguably both today and tomorrow) one takes time out of their busy schedule to recognize the very thing that inspired the writing and reading in which I participate. For those unfamiliar with Hobbit Day or… Continue reading Tolkien Week: “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit”
Mothers in Literature
Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures out there today. I have had my share of women in my life who have served as additional mothers as I hope most of you do as well. Literature and film are riddled with moms, most of whom inspire us to be better people. … Continue reading Mothers in Literature