Tag: authors

There are no accidents

I was walking through Borders on my way upstairs when I saw it on the shelf. I’d never heard of it, but the title caught my eye and I made a mental note to look at it on my way out of the store later.

You can see why the title and cover would appeal to me. I pulled it from the shelf. As I am wont to do, I ignored any blurbs and went right inside the front cover to read what the book was about. I bought it on the basis of that description. It was only after I got it home that I noticed it had been lauded by Stephen King and The Oprah Magazine.

I’m probably the fastest reader I know, but because I’m so overwhelmed lately, I could read it only in moments stolen from life here and there. I’m glad I read it that way. It gave me a chance to savor this small, unassuming memoir which, in its quiet way, provided me with profound truths about love, guilt, loss–and about the power we have to heal ourselves with such blessings as the companionship of dogs; our ability to see beyond suffering to ordinary happinesses; and the importance of art in helping us find perspective–and new perspectives.

I’m so glad I read A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas. It never stops amazing me that good writing can change something inside us for the better, sometimes when we aren’t looking for it and most need it.

Because every time I do one post…

…I immediately need to do another. It’s LiveJournal crack.

Earlier, I heard dogs howling in various pitches and thought, Oh, no, you’re not luring me out by barking at the mail carrier when we all know I’m getting nothing, NOTHING, but political flyers and solicitations for one organization or another.

I was wrong. Fedex dropped by.

Though I’m usually going on and on about only one of them here, my life is blessed with two Timothys. Way back when, Timmy provided his LJ friends a look at some of his art, and I see that I commented that I particularly liked “Lightning.”

Even though my camera is screwed up (no doubt it overheard tales of my lust for a digital SLR and is punishing me), I was able to capture evidence that “Lightning” has been renamed “Roots” and is a new addition to The Compound art gallery.

Timmy, I love you. Of course, you understand why my rush of gratitude was accompanied by hysterical laughter. You are utterly adorable and funny and wonderful. I know exactly where I’ll be hanging the painting so that I can enjoy it every day and think of your generosity (and the conversations that have made me laugh so hard). Thank you so much.

The post with all the links

Yeah, I know, posts with a bunch of links suck. But these are worth it, I promise.

First, some excellent news from Timothy is right here. I have been trying to remember the many messages of love and good wishes and get well entreaties, but once he gets home, he can check out all the posts and e-mails for himself. I know it will speed his recovery to realize how many people care about him. Plus he’ll get dog love EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY.

Jeffrey Ricker plays well with others, and the proof can be found on this post.

And Mark G. Harris is almost at the wire with his Twelve Questions for Writers. The answers to Question No. 10 are here, and the answers to No. 11 (with a picture!) can be found here.

Lots going on at The Compound today, but the air seems lighter and the sun more comforting because soon everyone will be back home where they belong. (And yes, Lindsey, that IS your Adidas jacket Tim’s sporting in last night’s photos, but even without it, he’d be wrapped up in plenty of Lindsey and Rhonda love.)

Revisiting a prior post

Back in my post Out of Time, which talked about Pat Conroy and Makenzie Hatfield and the potential censorship of novels in West Virginia, I received a comment today, and I pass it along to my readers.

Hello,


This is Makenzie Hatfield (and yes, it really is)
We just want to thank you for telling people about our cause.
If you would like more information, please write to me at haydenrocks14@yahoo.com
Thank you again,
Makenzie Hatfield

One reason I enjoyed teaching high school students, and the reason I appreciate teenagers in general, is because they really don’t have the apathy of which they’re so often accused. They can have great passion for principles they believe in and the energy to stand up for those principles, and I commend Makenzie and all students who love to read, learn from, and defend books. This is another way we authors depend on readers.

I’m putting a list of challenged and banned books behind a cut. Some of my favorite novels are on there, including for example, Ordinary People by Judith Guest. After all, we sure wouldn’t want any teenagers to read the story of an adolescent boy who overcomes tragedy and a dysfunctional family to choose to live and thrive.

See any of your favorite books on here?

Out of Time

I really, really want to talk about what’s going on in West Virginia regarding author Pat Conroy, but I also want to go to the hospital (no, Tim’s not getting out today–more later). So I’ll just violate copyright law (don’t tell) and let you read and judge and think about it and comment if you want to without input from me. I’m sure Greg’s already aware of it.

stop using books as a weapon