It’s Friday, friends, and you know what that means… let’s take a break from the news cycle and talk about what we’re reading!
But first, a big warm welcome to all the new readers who found your way here over the past couple of weeks. I appreciate you, and will endeavor to keep things heartfelt but pithy. I have to admit, seeing this space growing makes my heart happy.
Today and tomorrow are big days—we’re taping the bulks of A WORD ON WORDS season 9 because so many incredible authors are in town for the Southern Festival of Books. Nine interviews are slated, which means we are all hopping. I love these crazed days of back-to-back conversations with remarkable authors about their equally remarkable books. They span the gamut this year from high literary to spy thriller, which also makes me jump for joy. Diversity in genre and author is very important to the reading life and to the creative spirit. If I only read thrillers, or fantasy, or literary, etc., I wouldn’t be able to grow as a writer, nor as a person of the world.
So my featured read this week is Stephen Buoro’s The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa, which I’m actually listening to, and I’m telling you, this is an utterly gripping coming-of-age story. It is beautifully written, funny, tragic, poignant, and so so smart. Add in Jude Owusu narrating and I have logged miles every day so I can continue listening. This is a remarkable book.
just did a mega deal for a new book and has joined the crowd here. I’ve been very impressed with her work, so watching her dreams come true is a lot of fun.
Thank you! Thank you! In Palm Springs for the night. Drove around 800 miles in two days. I took a slight detour today and went off the main road and drove through the Mojave desert. It was unreal, mesmerizing and scary. 😧 In 50 miles, I saw about four cars.
Late to the discussion but this week I read IN THE PINES by Kendra Elliot. I needed a comfort read and I love Mercy Kilpatrick's world. This week has felt extra heavy as my dad was diagnosed with cancer. (Good prognosis, so I'm holding to that.) So, I had to put the other book I was reading, KNOW MY NAME by Chanel Miller on hold. She was the victim of an assault by a Stanford student. Also, I wanted to share the pics from the balloon festival, but I don't know how to upload on this forum. J.T, you asked if you could ride in one of the balloons and the answer is yes, but you have to book way, way, in advance. Normal price is about $300 a person so I don't know how much the festival would be, but I took pictures of the balloons that had paid riders for you.
ah thank you so much for the shout out!
Welcome to Substack - and congrats on all your lovely news!
Driving this weekend from Santa Fe to Los Angeles. 🤗🚗 And catching up on audio books.
I know that drive well! 🤗 I'll be doing it again in two weeks.
Hope you had a safe trip!
Thank you! Thank you! In Palm Springs for the night. Drove around 800 miles in two days. I took a slight detour today and went off the main road and drove through the Mojave desert. It was unreal, mesmerizing and scary. 😧 In 50 miles, I saw about four cars.
Wish our weekend wasn’t so jam-packed so I could make it to SoFest! Hope it’s a great time!
We were actually in studio so I didn’t get to the festival proper. I heats it was lovely.
A Light Most Hateful by Hailey Piper
Where the Dead Wait by Ally Wilkes
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen
Masters of Death by Olivie Blake
Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth
Haunted: The Harrowing, The Unseen, and Book of Shadows by Alexandra Sokoloff
I have bright young women. How is it?
Late to the discussion but this week I read IN THE PINES by Kendra Elliot. I needed a comfort read and I love Mercy Kilpatrick's world. This week has felt extra heavy as my dad was diagnosed with cancer. (Good prognosis, so I'm holding to that.) So, I had to put the other book I was reading, KNOW MY NAME by Chanel Miller on hold. She was the victim of an assault by a Stanford student. Also, I wanted to share the pics from the balloon festival, but I don't know how to upload on this forum. J.T, you asked if you could ride in one of the balloons and the answer is yes, but you have to book way, way, in advance. Normal price is about $300 a person so I don't know how much the festival would be, but I took pictures of the balloons that had paid riders for you.