Book Launch, Book Tour, Book Bans
For about the last decade, I’ve required students in nonfiction classes to keep a blog as a way to cultivate writing discipline and to experience building a platform, mirroring the work many of my author friends were doing to connect with readers, myself included. Eighteen months ago, a student told me she thought blogs were for middle-aged mothers, and apparently marketing gurus agreed, because most of my writing friends started producing Substacks, with their newsletters landing directly in my email.
My students are now producing newsletters instead of blogs, and I guess it’s time for me to join the fray, even though I’m the middle-aged mom for whom blogs are apparently still intended.
This is the first of what a hope will be a monthly (or twice monthly) newsletter, providing updates on my writing life and other prescient information related to my release of Finding Our Way Forward. Consider this a replacement for all the years I failed to send out Christmas letters, if you want.
Book Launch
The book launch was a huge success—I suppose asking people to come paid off! Thank you to everyone who showed up, bought a book, took some stickers, and ate cake. There were so many people I wanted to talk to more than a hug and a quick hello. I am so grateful for each one of you, and the effort you made to make me feel encouraged.
Book Tour
Last week, I finished a whirlwind tour of Goshen, Indiana, with four stops. At Berkey Avenue Mennonite Church, I preached on the Parable of the Wedding Banquet, and how love can conquer fear. Two days later, at the Greencroft Retirement Community, I talked about what older folks can do to connect with their Gen Z grandchildren; and then that evening, I did a reading at Fables Books. On Wednesday, I spoke at Goshen College’s chapel, sharing with young people how an incomplete understanding of vocation unnecessarily complicates our path to adulthood.
Oh, and I also got to eat the best pretzels in the US, as well as spending time with family, including Hadley Susannah, the star of my book’s epilogue.
What I’m Writing and Reading
Christians for Social Action published my essay on how the film Women Talking speaks perfectly to our cultural moment, and to the book bans that have become endemic in communities. The movie suggests what can happen when people are kept submissive and cloistered, literally banned from reading books; and the power that can come from finding community and agency.
Speaking of banned books, I’ve committed this year to reading a number of currently banned books. First up was Front Desk, by Kelly Yang, banned because it presumably taught children CRT and antipathy toward police officers. This middle grade book was a delight to read; I loved the 10-year-old protagonist, an immigrant from China who, along with her parents, managed a hotel. The book is an affirmation of finding strength in adversity, and the power of creating a diverse community. I didn’t find any Critical Race Theory or anti-cop rhetoric here.
I would love to create a banned books club to read and discuss books that have been banned in the United States, knowing that it’s easier to engage with and defend books once we know specifically what’s inside. If you’d be interested in joining me, let me know!
If you’ve read Finding our Way Forward, leaving a review at Amazon and Goodreads can help boost the algorithm to help other readers find my work. If you’re interested in having my preach in your church, visit your book group or class, or talk in a chapel or retirement community, please reach out. I love doing that work, and would love to see you!