Come Along With Me

Here are some great books I read last month: Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri (MG)1: "A patchwork story is the shame of the refugee," Nayeri writes in this lyrical, autobiographical tale of Iranian heritage, Persian folklore, and ancient tales. The NYTimes calls it a “modern day masterpiece.” The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes (YA): coming-of-age (bildungsroman) queer catholic romance. Ariel Crashes a Train by Olivia A.

Acadia National Park. National Parks are national treasures! After experiencing Yellowstone last year and Acadia1 last week, I feel even more passionately that we must protect this land, support and fund our beautiful parks. For our anniversary this year, we headed north to bike the old carriage trails in Acadia, which has a rich and fascinating history. In the early 1900’s, billionaire John D.

If your goal is to publish, you’re going to need readers and feedback. In the publishing world, these readers are called “beta readers.” My beta readers are brilliant, carefully chosen, and always make my manuscripts better. They see things we just don’t see. characters who need development, and missing plot threads. My readers include my sister (always) and a few writing friends. When in Minnesota for my MFA residency, I participated in a workshop every morning.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness: There’s a monster in Conor’s backyard. It wants something. Scary, wild, and super short, this was a great and wondrous read! In addition, I’m researching talking tree books… The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout: Artie Dam is a beloved teacher living in a small, coastal town. But not all is what it seems.

Hello my friends, I’m back in New Hampshire after an extremely excellent 10-day MFAC residency at Hamline University.1I’m just bursting with excitement and ideas, trying not to let them slip away. The semester has begun once again, and the workload is intense, but it’s work I really love to do: read and write, write, write. One of my favorite lectures was “Kill the Cat - Let Kids Be Sad,” by faculty member Nicole Melleby.

here we go, dorms and craft workshops (yes, that's Peter Rabbit and Elizabeth Wein presenting) So many things went wrong the first day (cancelled flight, lost key, lost I.D., terrible heat wave, mini-fridge died, door handle fell off), but never mind. I finally made it to Minneapolis, took my first uber (eek! I can do hard things and also it was super easy), and wheeled my new little rolling suitcase right into my first class. Late. But I was there.

Hello brainiacs, Happy July! How’s your brain? After some recent tests, my brother-in-law has begun what he jokingly/not jokingly calls Operation Don’t Die. It’s funny and also real. It’s the stuff we’re all dealing with - shed unhealthy weight, lower the blood pressure and heart rate, be able to carry in the groceries, run without pain.

Hello my friends <3 Happy end-of-June! Tomorrow is July, summer is in full swing, and we on the east coast are bracing for a heat wave. I had good intentions to write more this month, but my brain went into overwhelm mode and perhaps I didn’t plan well and I suppose I also chose other things. They were good things. Like a wedding. Our son, the one and only Nellie Mak, married his dream girl, Hannah. It was a perfect day.

painting is a good “distraction” Have you ever struggled with a difficult decision and decided to “sleep on it,” and in the morning, the answer is there?! Have you ever had “writer’s block,” and the next plot point shows up while you’re pulling weeds in the garden? Have you ever been stumped by a vexing question or a “what happens next?” and inspiration strikes at 3 a.m., waking you from sleep? This phenomenon is common - Was the answer inside of us the entire time?

Last week, I was delighted by my writing friend Caroline’s reflection of her month of May (I became invested in her fierce battle with a rabbit!) It was a good reminder to look back occasionally, and reflect on it all. Here is a May recap. In May… …the lavender lilacs and bright orange poppy blossoms burst open. The blossoms last only a week, if we’re lucky, and we won’t see them again for another year. But they do come back, because they are perennial plants.