What a privilege it is to open up to inspiration, discard the cloak of fear, put your face toward the sun, and bloom. Elaine Fraser It’s spring here in the USA and that means daffodils, tulips and the first gold-green leaves on deciduous trees. In New York, warmth had already come and the flowers were opening […]
Nerd one whose unbridled passion for something, or things, defines who they are as a person, without fear of other people’s judgement. Zachary Levi When I travel alone, I tend to find quite nerdy things to do that perhaps others may not find interesting or exciting. Bookstores, book cafes, libraries, universities, galleries, and museums are […]
I’m in Onset, an historic Victorian waterfront community which has preserved most of the original storefronts and cottages. The Victorian charm of the era is evident in the many period homes here, including the one I am staying in. It’s also only two miles from the Cape Cod Canal. It’s a summer town, so it’s […]
Travel Log Write Around the World 2017 January Sydney NSW Australia February Margaret River Western Australia March Dunsborough Western Australia March Sydney NSW Australia April New York […]
Present Over Perfect Blog book club: Tunnels I sat on the couch next to my husband and every word he spoke grated against my soul. It was like fingernails scratching down an old-school blackboard. Everything in me felt scraped and raw and I wanted to scream, ‘Shut up!’ I didn’t scream at him, even though […]
In the tradition of Waleed Aly from The Project, there’s Something We Need to Talk About. At the launch of my novel Amazing Grace, I decided to give a speech, an editorial if you will, about faith and sexuality. The link to the live recording is here, but some of you have asked to read […]
Why are books like Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton so popular? It’s a memoir, but it’s more a confession, an exercise in truth-telling. Glennon tells her story warts and all. We often associate confession with judgement, shame, and fear, but if we look at the Prodigal Son, his confession is a truth-telling exercise. He […]
‘Would you like a digestif? Limoncello? It’s on the house.’ The waiter, dressed impossibly tight, black jeans, white-tight t-shirt, thick leather belt, ankles bare above leather loafers, hipster beard, sculpted hair—you get the picture—tilts his head and we shrug a why not? ‘ Si. Grazie. We would love limoncello.’ I sighed. How perfect. The sky […]
The Music of Life: Writing in Italy The pop of a cork from a Prosecco bottle. Soft, murmuring Italian voices. Cucina. Mangiare. Si Grazie. Bene. Words, food, sharing, friendship in a bookshop café in Florence. My friend and I sit and write. An iced café, served in an Italian wine glass, invites us to sip […]
