Sharing a Little Love for Lit Mags

Posted on June 26, 2019 ·

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

Not long ago, I pulled up my ever-changing Word document titled “potential markets to submit work.” Scanning the list, I was surprised and saddened at how many literary magazines were no longer options.

The recent shuttering of some, like Glimmer Train and Tin House, came as a shock. Others, like YA Review Net, seemed to slowly fade until finally, quietly, saying goodbye. Yet another, Full Grown People, has been on hiatus since last June, and my fingers are still crossed that their absence remains temporary.

I had the honor of being published in both Full Grown People and YARN, and I long dreamed of seeing my name in print in Glimmer Train and Tin House. Yet beyond submitting to these publications, I faithfully read them throughout the years, and their loss affects me more as a reader than as a writer. This is important—far too many writers read only for market research.

We need to do more to support our literary magazines. While it’s true that not all of them close due to lack of finances or readership, the majority probably do. I contribute to the tip jar of my favorite lit mags when I can, commit to paid subscriptions for others, and occasionally pay entry fees for contests, but for those who can’t afford to offer monetary support, simply reading and sharing does wonders.

On that note, here are a few favorites I’d like to share with you.

Brevity
The gold standard for flash creative essays, Brevity has been publishing bite-sized literary perfection for over twenty years. Start with this gorgeous lyric essay called Variations on a Home Depot Paint Sample, and then keep going.

Hunger Mountain
This student-run journal from Vermont College of Fine Arts consistently publishes stellar work. They also enthusiastically cheer on past writers through social media, making those of us lucky to have published in Hunger Mountain feel part of a true writing community. For a sampling of their nonfiction, try this short essay by River Holmes-Miller: What Is There, What Is Missing.

Literary Mama
Known for their beautifully written essays and stories on motherhood, Literary Mama navigates the joys and sorrows of parenting with thoughtfulness and grace. Here’s a stunner called The Four Seasons of Longing, easily one of my favorite essays on motherhood, ever.

Mothers Always Write
The poetry and essays at this lovely online magazine reflect, with quiet dignity, the challenges and celebrations of raising children. Free from political controversies and pointless vulgarity, each issue of Mothers Always Write is pure treasure. The following essay brought me to tears with its surprise ending: Wow.

Superstition Review
Arizona State University’s online literary magazine is another solid publication that works hard to support its past contributors and foster an online community. The quality of their fiction, essays, and artwork means its always a treat when a new issue is released. I particularly loved this short fiction from last fall: This Family.

Motherwell
It’s hard to believe that three years have passed since Randi Olin and Lauren Apfel, both formerly of Brain, Child, launched their online parenting publication. Motherwell’s objective is to tell “all sides of the parenting story”; here is a beauty told from the point of view of an adult daughter: Helping my mother clean out her closet, the year before she died.

Women on Writing
I owe so much to the supportive and generous group of women who run this site. Their daily blog posts always strive for positivity and encouragement, and their quarterly flash fiction contests keep me inspired to submit shorter work. Here is an example of one of their featured articles on revising and resubmitting.

Poets & Writers
A yearly subscription to Poets & Writers costs less than $2 per month, and there’s nothing quite like getting the latest issue delivered to your actual mailbox (not the digital one). When it arrives, you can kick off your shoes, settle in with a cup of tea or a glass of wine, and read amazing articles like this one: Some Room to Breathe: In Praise of Quiet Books.

Losing Tin House should be a wake-up call for many. There are probably very few people who truly don’t have the time to read an occasional short story or essay. If you’re a lover of literature, pick a publication that means something to you and do what you can to support it, while you can. You can even start now by sharing it here with me. Every reader counts.

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2018 End of Year Book Survey

Posted on January 15, 2019 ·

Photo by César Viteri on Unsplash

Once again, thanks to Jamie over at the Perpetual Page Turner for hosting another end-of-year book survey! Go check out her terrific blog—it’s where I get many of my book recommendations throughout the year.

In 2018 I read more books than I ever have and discovered many new authors along the way. I also re-read over a dozen favorites, but figured I’d stick with only new reads for filling in my answers below.

2018 Reading Stats

Number Of Books You Read: 72
Number of Re-Reads: 14
Genre You Read The Most From: Thrillers/Mysteries

Best in Books

1. Best Book You Read In 2018?

Adult: The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

I found The Broken Girls on one of those fall lists of ‘Gothic books to get you in the spirit of Halloween’ or something like that. It’s fantastic—skillfully written and super creepy. Picture an old abandoned boarding school in rural Vermont, toss in an unsolved murder from half a century ago, and follow along as a whip-smart journalist slowly uncovers the secrets of Idlewild Hall. This chilling, atmospheric thriller had me on the edge of my seat, and so scared that at times I was literally jumping at shadows.

YA: Sadie by Courtney Summers

What a perfectly executed, brutal, beautiful book—I cannot recommend it enough. The plot involves an 18-year-old girl (Sadie) searching for her little sister’s killer. We get Sadie’s story in past tense (from the year before) alternating with a present tense podcast of the radio personality who’s investigating her disappearance. So Sadie’s story unfolds in two ways, and it’s just so brilliantly done. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this one.

MG: The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani

A powerful book told in diary entries from 12-year-old Nisha to the mother she never knew. Nisha lives in India in 1947, but when India gains independence and is separated into two countries, her family finds themselves in the wrong one. Nisha’s father is Hindu, which means they can no longer live in what has overnight become Pakistan. Her family is forced to flee and embark on a harrowing journey to new India before they are slaughtered for simply being the wrong religion. A middle grade novel that can tackle genocide is pretty impressive.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Lethal White by Robert Galbraith

I’m sure it’s not an easy job being J.K. Rowling’s editor, but I wish someone would rein her in a bit. This fourth book in the Cormoran Strike series was seriously bloated. The plot was so convoluted and unnecessarily confusing I honestly can’t remember much about it. Also, the series is leaning more toward romance at this point, which is disappointing.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read? 

The Witch Elm by Tana French

In a good way. I thought I knew who did it, and then I didn’t, and then I did, and then … let’s just say The Witch Elm keeps you guessing. This book is a slow burn and spends a significant amount of time on character development. I personally loved that aspect, but just know that the discovery that spurs the criminal investigation/police procedural portion of the book doesn’t even occur until a third of the way in.

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

Sadie

I’ve been telling everyone about Sadie, not only because it’s incredible but because I appreciate the fact that the author worked hard to make it perfect. There is no sentence wasted, no awkward phrase to be found, no tangled subplots, no cardboard characters, no filler. That takes a lot of effort, and I’m thrilled for Courtney Summers because her dedication paid off. Sadie is her sixth novel and the first to hit the New York Times Best Seller list. Not to mention it made pretty much every other best of list for 2018. You should definitely read it.

5. Best series you started in 2018? Best Sequel of 2018? Best Series Ender of 2018?

The Shades of Magic series for all three.

I’ve heard so many great things about V.E. Schwab but until 2018 I’d never read one of her books. It takes a certain kind of mood for me to pick up a high fantasy, and the mood doesn’t strike often. One day when I was browsing through titles on Overdrive I came across an audiobook version of A Darker Shade of Magic, and the timing felt right. Within a month I’d listened to the entire series, and while the second and third volumes are not as strong as the first, I can now see what all the hype is about when it comes to this wonderfully imaginative and prolific author.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2018?

Simone St. James

I loved The Broken Girls so much I promptly read another of Simone St. James’ novels, Lost Among the Living. Loved that one too, so I read another, The Haunting of Maddy Clare. This year, I plan to keep tearing through her backlist because not one of her books has let me down. Hands down my favorite author of 2018.

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

What Alice Forgot

Pure chick-lit, and I loved it.

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

Sadie

Completely unputdownable.

9. Book You Read In 2018 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Sadie

I read Sadie on an ereader but have heard that the audiobook is a whole other experience.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2018?

Snow & Rose

You probably know by now how much I adore middle grade covers.

11. Most memorable character of 2018?

Living: Alucard Emery

The charismatic and mysterious pirate captain of the Night Spire was my favorite character in V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic series.

Dead: Mary Hand

It was hard to choose between the terrifying ghosts that Simone St. James so deftly creates in her Gothic thrillers, but Mary Hand wins top honors (I hope Maddy Clare doesn’t come after me now).

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2018?

Adult: The Weight of Him

An incredibly sad but unmistakably beautiful portrait of grief and healing. Told from the point of view of a father who lost his teenage son to suicide.

YA: The Astonishing Color of After

Really it’s a tie between this gorgeous debut from Emily X.R. Pan and Joanna Ruth Meyer’s Echo North, but I chose the latter for other categories, so fair’s fair. The Astonishing Color of After is lyrical and lovely and will make you want to visit Taiwan.

MG: Snow & Rose

A gentle and dreamy fairy-tale retelling of Snow White and Rose-Red, exquisitely illustrated.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2018?

Becoming by Michelle Obama

What I loved best about the former First Lady’s memoir was learning about her childhood growing up on the South Side of Chicago with her memorable and close-knit family. Mrs. Obama narrates the audio version and it was a joy to listen to her tell her story with elegance, compassion, humor, and warmth.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2018 to finally read?

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.”

Why did I wait so long to dive into Daphne du Maurier’s haunting masterpiece? No idea, but it’s fitting that I read it in 2018, which seemed to be my year for Gothic ghost stories.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2018?

When you’ve lived in a cage, you can’t bear not to run, even if what you’re running toward is an illusion. —Nicodemus from Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2018?

Shortest: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

I just had to revisit one of Ms. Blume’s delightful middle grade books, and this did not disappoint. What a treasure she is. Somehow I’d completely forgotten about the turtle!

Longest: The Stand by Stephen King

I love this book so much I bet I’ve read it a dozen times. That’s 13,000 pages, which leads me to wonder how many hours of my life I’ve spent with Stu and Frannie and Larry and Harold and …  ah well. Worth it every time.

17. Book That Shocked You The Most

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

If you, like me, somehow missed reading this beloved classic as a child, be warned: there is a gruesome and horrifying scene involving a double-bladed hatchet that will haunt you forever. Oh, and I should also warn you about the graphic disembowelment. Different scene.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

Michelle and Barack, of course!

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Jonathan Franzen and Uncle Walt

Unpopular opinion: I adore Jonathan Franzen. Why he remains such a pilloried figure on social media is baffling to me, but whatever. In Franzen’s essay “The End of the End of the Earth” (in his collection by the same name) he writes with characteristic intelligence and wit about a trip to Antarctica, which includes a lot of breathtaking scenery and one very charming Emperor Penguin. Franzen also writes here about the loss of his father, his mother, and his subsequent relationship with Uncle Walt. I was so touched by their father-son bond that it brought me to tears. How can you not love this guy?

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2018 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Waltzing the Cat by Pam Houston

Pam Houston’s short stories, which are pretty much essays in disguise, are always action-packed adventures with plenty of adrenaline, witty dialogue, and hilariously awful men.

21. Best Book You Read In 2018 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.:

Where the Red Fern Grows

Recommended to me by my son Gabriel. His teacher read the book aloud to her fifth-grade class and, according to Gabe, there was not a dry eye in the classroom when the last chapters were read. The book had a profound affect on him, which made me love it even before he persuaded me to get a copy and read it too. I’m actually glad I didn’t read this one until now; I’ve shared so many of my own childhood favorites with my kids, and this time I got to be on the receiving end.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2018?

Jamie, the rough-around-the-edges love interest and cop from The Broken Girls. I don’t usually go for blondes, but the guy’s got something.

23. Best 2018 debut you read?

History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund

The subplot involving the teacher, the current-day story that’s weaved in, and the title itself are all perplexing choices, but the main story and the prose are so accomplished it’s easy to overlook the book’s flaws. I can’t wait to read this author’s next novel.

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer

Which coincidentally published TODAY! I had the privilege of reading an ARC of this absolutely gorgeous fairy tale in October. If you’re looking for something woodsy and wintry, with a house made of magic and living libraries, do check this one out.

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2018?

The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter by Hazel Gaynor

There is a scene early on in this sweeping historical novel that is so devastating, I nearly stopped reading. It’s not because it wasn’t fair, it was just wholly unexpected and took my breath away. I recovered obviously, and finished the story, but it came closest to making me weep out of any other book in 2018.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson

You’ll have the “mystery” solved about 15% in, but that won’t take away from the sheer pleasure of reading The Bookshop of Yesterdays. Why, you ask? Well, it has a bookshop for one thing. Also a literary scavenger hunt, the why of the mystery if not the who, and a great big ol’ heart. Oh, and this cover:

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

History of Wolves

It’s not a spoiler to tell you that the kid dies. The narrator reveals this literally on page four. But the relationship between the narrator and the child, and the reason for his death, are definitely soul-crushing.

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2018?

Sadie

Courtney Summers brilliantly incorporated a podcast for her critically acclaimed sixth novel, and *SPOILER ALERT* it works.

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

The Friend by Sigrid Nunez

You may have heard of this book recently—it won the National Book Award for fiction in November. You may have heard it’s a book about a writer living in New York whose friend commits suicide and leaves her his dog—a massive Great Dane who is as depressed as the narrator over the friend’s death. What you probably didn’t hear is that there’s a twist at the end which casts doubt over everything that came before. At first I interpreted this one way and didn’t at all mind, but after reading other reviews it seems I may have interpreted wrong. And if that’s the case, yes, the twist makes me Most Mad.

Blogging/Bookish Life

I’m only posting a few of these here, since I’m not much of a book blogger. The following questions did apply though, so …

Best bookish event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events,  etc.)?

Fellow Phoenician Joanna Ruth Meyer, who I connected with several years ago on Twitter, launched her debut novel at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe in January 2018. I was so happy to see her celebrate her first book’s publication, especially since I knew her before she’d even landed an agent and know what a long road it’s been.

Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

Yes! I completed my reading goal of 52 books and surpassed it by 20 (15 of them audiobooks). I also completed my goal to re-read the Harry Potter series, something I’ve wanted to do for years. I have a whole other blog post to write about that experience.

Looking Ahead

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2018 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2019?

There are five—the Song of Ice and Fire series, which I’ve been meaning to get to for several years. No, I have not seen Game of Thrones. For Christmas I asked for and received a beautiful leather-bound set, and I’ve been eyeing it wearily atop my bookshelf in the weeks since. It’s intimidating, but I am resolved.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2019 (non-debut)?

Mouthful of Birds by Samanta Schweblin

Perhaps you missed me singing the praises of Schweblin’s astonishing novel Fever Dream last year? It was hands down my favorite book of 2017, and I was thrilled to see a book of short stories forthcoming from the Argentine author this month. By the time this blog post is published I will probably already have swallowed it whole.

3. 2019 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

The Winter Sister by Megan Collins

I’m really, really, REALLY into mysteries lately, and mysteries with DARK FAMILY SECRETS are even better. This one sounds promising.

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2019?

Not that I can think of.

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2019?

Read 52 books. Same goal every year.

6. A 2019 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone (if applicable):

Echo North

Did I mention this is OUT TODAY?! Go grab a copy, and if you’re in my area, I’ll see you on Thursday at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe. Joanna isn’t just a lovely writer, she is a lovely person too, and I’m so excited to cheer her on as she celebrates the launch of this utterly enchanting fairy tale.

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When Bookstores Break Your Heart

Posted on February 27, 2018 ·

I know I’m supposed to prefer independent bookstores over big box behemoths, but I’m going to come clean and admit that I love Barnes & Noble.

I loved Borders, too.

There’s just something about chain bookstores that suits me. You can wander in them for hours, virtually undisturbed, never feeling as if you’re taking too long because these places were built for leisurely browsing and hanging out in the cafe. It’s kind of like being at the library, only instead of the musty old book smell (also lovely), Barnes & Noble smells like freshly printed books and coffee.

I love indie bookstores too. How could I not? I live fewer than two miles away from one of the very best–Changing Hands in Tempe–and I visit often, shelling out at least as much as I spend at B&N, probably more. Already this year I’ve attended two delightful book launches at Changing Hands, and it’s where I chose to have my own launch years ago. Indie bookshops are charming, cozy, often quirky, each with its own personality and distinct character.

But the familiarity of Barnes & Noble is a comfort to me. I have fond memories of spending whole afternoons reading at their cafes or entire evenings holiday shopping, and these memories span several years and a scattering of cities in different states. No matter where I moved or visited, there was a B&N (or Borders) to quietly welcome me, and the qualities of those chain bookstores that many people scorn are ones I appreciate—the supersized spaces, the predictable look and feel of each store (which ensures me there will be an obligatory café in the corner). Or maybe it’s just the sheer volume of books.

I don’t want to see Barnes & Noble go under. Hopefully that’s not what’s happening, but you’ve probably heard by now that this month they laid off nearly 2,000 employees nationwide. Most, if not all of them, were full-time employees—some with ten or twenty years of service. Reading their personal stories is heartbreaking.

It seems crazy to feel bad for a huge corporation that killed off so many beloved family-owned bookshops, but I do. Over the holidays I supported Barnes & Noble as much as possible. Instead of buying online at Amazon, I purchased my son’s toys (including a pricey Lego set) in-store at B&N, along with every book on my daughter’s wish list (there were many). I picked gifts for myself that could be bought there too, including a few hardcover titles and an irresistible box of peppermint truffles.

I don’t feel this sense of loyalty for corporate stores in general; I make efforts to support independent businesses. Last week when my printer ran out of ink, I searched for a locally owned shop that sells office supplies instead of making a run to Staples. With the exception of the gifts I bought at B&N, I tried buying all of my Christmas presents from independent stores, either local or online (like this adorable bookish tea shop on Etsy from a young entrepreneur in Germany).

I usually don’t feel this sense of loss for corporate stores either, even those that were a part of my childhood. I don’t miss shopping at Sears, I don’t miss Circuit City, I don’t miss malls. But I would miss Barnes & Noble dearly.

What can I say? They did something right. I know because I was never lured to big-box bookstores by the promise of cheap books or simple convenience—it was the atmosphere. The warmth, the comfort, the coffee, the feeling that there was no rush, I could spend all day if I wanted, the sense that I could almost get lost among the shelves. Their sheer size never made the stores feel impersonal and cold. Not to me.

Anyway, I hope Barnes & Noble make it, but it’s not looking good. I still have an unused gift card for Borders that is now merely a keepsake. I have no idea how much it was once worth. But I know exactly how much my Barnes & Noble gift cards are worth, the ones I’ve collected over the last few holiday seasons that I often forget to use. There’s always the next visit, right? Fingers crossed.

Need more to read?

This essay, published in the New York Times by my friend Amy Silverman (who is an incredible journalist and published author) has a few of my favorite things: Silverman’s adorable daughter Sophie, fabulous writing about motherhood, and Disneyland.

This blog post by my friend Heidi (who my son was lucky enough to have for a fourth grade teacher) is a beautiful tribute to her grandmother so rich with detail I feel like I now know Oma Hilde myself.

Finally, this astonishing story by photojournalist Ted Jackson about a famous New Orleans football player who ended up homeless is gripping, heartbreaking, and an absolute must-read. It will take some time, but it’s worth it.

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2017 End of Year Book Survey

Posted on January 15, 2018 ·

Thanks to Jamie over at The Perpetual Page Turner for hosting another end of year book survey! Here’s a recap of the best books I read in 2017:

Number Of Books You Read: 52
Number of Re-Reads: 7
Genre You Read The Most From: I read a little of everything this year, but more memoir than usual.

 

best-YA-books-2014

1. Best Book You Read In 2017?

Adult: Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin

I have never read anything like Fever Dream. It’s hypnotic and haunting, disorienting and thrilling and absolutely brilliant. Samanta Schweblin’s debut novel, which was shortlisted for the Man Booker International prize, is told in dialogue and has no chapter breaks. You’ll probably end up reading it in one sitting, because it’s nearly impossible to put down. The less you know going in, the better, but the plot revolves around a woman dying in a hospital who cannot see and is trying to piece together how she got there by recreating the recent past, which she does by following prompts from David, the boy who’s in the room with her. Schweblin creates a visceral sense of dread from page one and somehow sustains it throughout the entire book (which is 194 pages). It’s incredible.

YA: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Angie Thomas’s debut novel about police brutality, systemic racism, social justice, and the strength of family completely lived up to the hype; I still cannot believe this is her first book. The story follows sixteen-year-old Starr Carter who watches as her unarmed friend is gunned down by the police and then struggles between coming forth as a witness and protecting her family. Not a word is wasted, the pacing is flawless, and the characters are complex and compelling. Longlisted for the National Book Award for young people’s literature.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott

Definitely a page-turner, but I disliked every single character (with the exception of the little brother).

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

Endurance by Scott Kelly

In a GOOD way. This was a highly anticipated read for me; I’d followed Scott Kelly on Twitter for the latter half of his year-long mission in space and was awed by his stunning photos and charmed by his humor and humility. So I expected to enjoy his memoir, which chronicles his year in space as well as his journey to becoming an astronaut, but I wasn’t expecting it to be one of my favorite books of the year.

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

Fever Dream

5. Best series you started in 2017? Best Sequel of 2017? Best Series Ender of 2017?

I didn’t start any new series, but I did reread The Fellowship of the Ring, so that’s my pick for series starter. Best sequel was Scott Keen’s Rise of the Branded. I don’t think I read a series ender in 2017.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2017?

I’ll go with Sara Zarr, who writes compulsively readable young adult fiction. I discovered many amazing authors this year, but mostly debut authors; one of the best things about discovering Sara Zarr is that she has a backlist I can dive into. That’s how reading Gem & Dixie led to reading Story of a Girl (which was made into a movie in 2017, directed by Kyra Sedgwick), which will lead to many more, I’m sure.

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

Chocolate Kisses by River Ford

Romance books aren’t typically my first choice, but fellow WiDo author Charity Bradford published this one under the pen name River Ford, and I thought I’d give it a shot. I’m glad I did–Chocolate Kisses was short, sweet, and an absolute pleasure to read.

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

Do Not Become Alarmed by Maile Meloy

I first read Maile (pronounced Miley) Meloy’s work in The New Yorker, where her short story “The Proxy Marriage” appeared in 2012. I loved the story so much I promptly bought her short story collection Both Ways is the Only Way I Want It, and then I bought another collection called Half in Love. As you can tell, I really love her work! She went on to write children’s literature (The Apothecary Series), and now this gripping suspense about three families on a Central America cruise whose children disappear on an excursion. Really, is there anything she can’t write?

 9. Book You Read In 2017 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Summerlong by Peter S. Beagle

If you know me at all, you know that Peter S. Beagle’s The Last Unicorn is one of my favorite books of all time. Beagle’s writing is always beautiful and enchanting, and his new novel Summerlong is no exception. Plot-wise though, this one fizzled out for me about halfway through. Maybe my expectations were too high, maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood for this particular novel at that particular time. Whatever the case, I feel like this was one of those “It’s not you, it’s me” situations. I’ll be giving Summerlong another try in 2018.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2017?

Sure, I could pick Summerlong (see above). I mean, look at that cover! Honestly there was an abundance of gorgeous covers in 2017, but I’m going with Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore because it’s just so cool. The moment I saw it I knew I wanted to read this book. Oh by the way, the book? It’s fantastic–yet another debut I read this year that totally blew me away.

11. Most memorable character of 2017?

Although I met plenty of fascinating fictional characters in 2017, the most memorable personalities on the pages I read were real–notably Maya Angelou, Bruce Dickinson, and Scott Kelly.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2017?

There were just so many. Sara Pennypacker’s Pax, Lauren Wolk’s Wolf Hollow, Heather Young’s The Lost Girls, Emily Ruskovich’s Idaho, and Kent Haruf’s Our Souls at Night are all standouts. If I had to choose ONE to recommend, though, it would be Haruf’s. His was the only ending that worked for me.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2017?

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

I tried something new in 2017; I listened to a few audiobooks. I don’t think I’ll make a habit of it–it just takes too long, but WOW was it incredible to hear Maya Angelou narrating her own story in that wonderfully deep, rich, commanding, emotionally resonant voice of hers. At times I laughed until I cried, and other times I just cried. Truly unforgettable.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2017 to finally read? 

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2017?

I highlighted countless passages from dozens and dozens of books on my Kindle … and then returned those books to their virtual library. Seriously, I need a better system for this.

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2017?

Shortest: Let Me Fly Free by Mary Fan

Longest: 11/22/63 by Stephen King

17. Book That Shocked You The Most

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

Wolf Hollow is considered middle grade (ages 8-12), but the “bullying” that goes on in these pages is beyond disturbing. It’s the work of a sadist, not a bully. The book is gorgeous–a very impressive debut–but I can’t imagine my 10-year-old reading it. There are images from Wolf Hollow that will haunt me forever.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

Jake Epping and Sadie Dunhill from 11/22/63

And for the record, I’ll go down dancing.

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Starr and Seven from The Hate U Give. I could have paired Starr with any member of her amazing family, but I’m a sucker for close sister/brother relationships.

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2017 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

11/22/63

No one writes characters like Stephen King, and I never, ever get tired of reading his work. This was one of those books that took me awhile to get to, but it was so worth the wait. I still need to tackle Under the Dome (maybe this year?).

21. Best Book You Read In 2017 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

A lovely coming-of-age story told in a series of vignettes, recommended by my friend Heidi.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2017?

Sorry, can’t get past my nonfictional crush.

23. Best 2017 debut you read?

Both of my picks for Best Book of the Year were debuts, so this category has the same winners: Fever Dream and The Hate U Give.

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Rise of the Branded by Scott Keen

My fellow WiDo author Scott Keen never fails to impress with his worldbuilding. Here’s one of his blog posts discussing some of the rules involved.

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

What Does This Button Do? by Bruce Dickinson

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2017?

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Gem & Dixie by Sara Zarr

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2017?

Fever Dream

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Idaho by Emily Ruskovich

There were several books this year that left me feeling cheated at the end, but this was by far the biggest letdown.

 

looking-ahead-books-2015

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2017 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2018?

The Weight of Him by Ethel Rohan

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2018 (non-debut)?

A Room Away from the Wolves by Nova Ren Suma

I adore Nova Ren Suma’s work. I reread my favorite book of hers last year, 17 & Gone, and I’ll probably read it again this year. But I’ll also be reading A Room Away from the Wolves as soon as it’s released in September, and I seriously cannot wait.

3. 2018 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2018?

Lethal White by Robert Galbraith

Is this coming out in 2018? I don’t know. I need it yesterday though.

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2018?

I’d like to reread the Harry Potter series this year. Pure fun.

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My Most Important Resolution

Posted on January 1, 2015 ·
Read more. Write more. And one more thing...

Read more. Write more. And one more thing…

Last New Year’s Day, determined not to set myself up for failure, I chose only one resolution. It worked; I’m happy to say I kept my promise to read 52 books in 2014. I started the year with Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane and ended with Jacqueline Woodson’s Brown Girl Dreaming. And what a way to end the year. Woodson’s memoir, written in verse, was hugely inspiring, and so beautifully written I didn’t want it to end.

In between I read fantasy, horror, young adult, science fiction, literary short story collections, historical fiction, and much more. It was refreshing to set a reading goal instead of a writing goal. I’m an ambivalent writer—sometimes writing makes me feel wonderful and other times it makes me feel terrible. But reading always feels good. There’s no guilt involved, no self-doubt, no fear of failure.

Maybe that sounds like a cheat, like setting a reading goal wasn’t a real challenge. But it was—finding time for anything can be difficult—and what helped was tracking and publicly posting my progress with the Goodreads Reading Challenge.

Completed

I’m joining again this year, with the same goal of 52 books, only I’ve resolved that half of those books will be nonfiction. This was partly inspired by Woodson’s memoir.

I considered choosing a writing resolution for 2015. In July I turn 40, so there’s already something momentous about the year ahead. In a good way—no birthday so far has ever felt sad to me. When I turned 30 I had this amazing little girl by my side. At 35 I had a wonderful husband and a beautiful son. At 39 I had a book contract and later that year, my first published novel. So when it comes to turning 40, I just feel lucky that my greatest dreams have already been realized.

Still, there are many things I want to accomplish this year. I want to finish my second novel. I want to submit my essays and short stories more frequently. I want to take more chances. I want to stop being afraid of what people think. I want to celebrate my writing successes instead of apologizing for them (thank you, Angela Jackson-Brown). I want to trust those successes instead of doubting their validity. I want to eradicate the aforementioned guilt and self-doubt and replace them with confidence and pride.

Above all, I want to be kinder to myself. I think I can accomplish everything I want to this year, including all of my writing goals, if I just do that one small thing.

New Year’s resolutions 2015:

1. Read an average of one book per week.
2. Read one nonfiction book for every fiction book.
3. Be kinder to myself (and the rest will follow).

And you?

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One Simple Resolution

Posted on January 3, 2014 ·
Image from Flickr by shutterhacks

Image from Flickr by shutterhacks

My New Year’s resolution has nothing to do with writing. Well—not directly, anyway. It has to do with reading.

About 2 ½ years ago, my cell phone died. I visited the Verizon store, tugging on phones attached to cables, tapping screens, pushing buttons, looking for the perfect match. When I found it, I waved the customer service rep over and told him I’d like “this one, without the data plan.”

“Um—this one doesn’t come without a data plan.”

“Well, which one can I get that doesn’t have a data plan?”

“You mean—you just want a talk/text phone?” He seemed dubious. This was apparently not a common request.

“Yes, just a regular phone. Without the Internet.”

He steered me to a lonely corner, where a sad little flip phone awaited, like the orphan who knows he will never be chosen.

I ended up with an iPhone. A $30 data plan. The world at my fingertips. And, just as I’d feared, an irresistible, time-sucking device. Coveted moments at night–when my son has drifted off to sleep and I lie burrowed in quiet comfort–used to be reserved for reading novels; now it was time spent scrolling through writerly blogs, parenting ezines, online literary magazines, Twitter feeds, Facebook, and Yahoo! News.

It’s still reading, I told myself. Essays, short fiction, very important news, advice, interviews, information.

But it’s not the same. There’s no substitute for reading books, and I’m not reading enough of them. It’s not my iPhone’s fault, or technology’s, or Twitter’s—it’s my fault. I’m horribly undisciplined when it comes to time management. My contract is up, and soon I may just go shopping for a feature phone. I hear they’re in demand lately.

As for my New Year’s resolution, I’ve committed to reading one book per week, starting with Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane. It’s January 1, two in the afternoon, and already I’m on chapter four. This should be an easy resolution to keep.

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Just Enjoy It

Posted on October 4, 2013 ·
Image from Flickr by jronaldlee

Image from Flickr by jronaldlee

Last week I finished reading a book that left my head spinning. From the first line to the last, I was held captive by the author’s voice. Every sentence felt right. The story was unique, and the characters stayed true. You could tell this writer worked hard, probably for years, to perfect her debut novel.

The book is Zazen by Vanessa Veselka. About a year ago I read her short story “Just before Elena” in Tin House and loved it. Later, I recognized her name in an issue of Poets & Writers, and I made a note to check out her novel. I am so glad that I did. I have several titles waiting on my TBR list, but I’ll probably read Zazen again first.

It’s important to have books like this—the ones we completely fall in love with. They’re the kind we’re told to read, as in “Read the books you want to write.” They’re the kind that made us want to become writers.

But when one is this good, it can be pretty humbling. At some point, all writers must accept the fact that there will always be someone better.

If the payoff is getting to enjoy a book like Zazen, that’s fine. It’s refreshing to read as a reader and not as a writer. I don’t want to dissect the prose and figure out why it works and try to analyze the way Veselka’s character stays sympathetic while she’s terrorizing her city with bomb threats—never mind. It works, that’s all. Let it stay magic.

What I did take away from Veselka’s writing is that I can never let myself become lazy. You can’t imitate talent, but you can embody other qualities of great artists—hard work and high standards—and come up with something fine. After finishing Zazen, I wanted to comb through my own novel and make absolutely sure that each sentence, if it had to stand on its own, was one I could be proud of. When you have the cushion of tens of thousands of words, it’s easy to let a lazy phrase slip through. Well, Veselka didn’t. And I know, as a reader, I appreciate that.

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