On Books & Writing

A collection of 95 posts

On Books & Writing

What to Read on February 1st.

February 1 is the birthday of Anne M. Doe Overstreet. If you'd like to do something to celebrate, pick up a copy of her book Delicate Machinery Suspended and give it to yourself or someone who loves to read slowly. It comes highly recommended... Singer, songwriter, and producer

On Books & Writing

Happy 50th Anniversary, A Wrinkle in Time!

I just discovered that this month marks the important anniversary of one of my favorite books. And so, I recommend that everybody read this testimony about the book. ... Then, pre-order a copy of the 50th anniversary edition for a young reader that you know. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Want to respond? Visit Jeffrey on

On Books & Writing

A new blog, a new job, and a whole lot of learning. Welcome to Brainstorm.

What's new in 2012? Here's something... I'm editing BRAINSTORM: Mysteries of Human Behavior with John Medina - a new blog by New York Times-bestselling author of Brain Rules and Brain Rules for Baby. Be sure to read the first three posts. They are mind-boggling.

Interviews

Linford Detweiler of Over the Rhine interviews Joe Henry in Image

The new issue of Image is out! Order yours today. In the meantime, you can get a preview online... Read Gregory Wolfe's new piece, "Breath," and an excerpt of Linford Detweiler's in-depth interview with Joe Henry here.

On Books & Writing

Christmas in Seattle, through the eyes of a poet

Anne writes poetry. But lately, she's been asked to write a few essays. Some of them appear between the poetry collections in her new book Delicate Machinery Suspended. And one of them is published today at Christianity Today: An eyewitness testimony about what it's like to

On Books & Writing

A new Christmas-gift offer for the poets and poetry lovers in your life

Here's a message from Anne: "There's still time to order your very own copy of my new collection of poems, Delicate Machinery Suspended, before 2011 ends! For those who do, I'm offering a signed bookplate to be sent to the recipient of your

On Books & Writing

Beloved Fantasy Author Anne McCaffrey has Died.

The beloved and influential fantasy author Anne McCaffrey died yesterday after suffering a stroke. She was 85. My wife Anne began reading her novels in childhood and we have some on our shelves now. I read a couple when I was a teenager. McCaffrey created strong female characters in a

On Books & Writing

The Work of a Landscaper

Anne has written a short piece for The High Calling about her landscaping. Here's a piece of it... ...it’s easy to romanticize. But it is hard physical work with its accompanying calluses and cramped muscles. It is also the choir of humming as the mason bees choose

The Auralia Thread

Into the wilderness

I recently received an email from a young woman saying that she wanted to read my novels, but that first she needed to know if we believed the same things. I'm still reeling from that question. And yet, if I'm honest... ...I remember that way of

On Books & Writing

It's good to see that Tolkien is still hard at work.

What's that? Tolkien has come up with some new illustrations for The Hobbit?Well, not exactly. The Guardian reports: The published version of The Hobbit includes around 20 illustrations by its author, as well as the well-known dust jacket painting of the mountains which Bilbo Baggins passes through

On Books & Writing

How to please the young readers in your life: How to Save a Life

How to Save a Life, the new novel by my favorite YA novelist, Sara Zarr, is now in stores. I highly recommend it as a gift for any young adult you know who is willing to sit down, open a book, and pay attention. (I understand that we're

On Books & Writing

David Dark "Provokes" at Laity Lodge

This weekend, I had the privilege of teaching a fiction workshop at Laity Lodge. I had a fantastic time, inspired by ten aspiring writers who turned in excellent samples for consideration and critique. I wish I could have kept on working with them for a whole week. But my time

On Books & Writing

Please won't you be my neighbor?

Just try and read this essay about Mr. Rogers without crying. Just you try it. And if you are moved by this, then I highly recommend this book by Amy Killingsworth, a book I waved in the air with enthusiasm during my lecture on the redeeming power of play at

On Books & Writing

Attention, writers! Here's an invitation for you.

This just in from Laity Lodge... Dear friends,The 2nd Annual Writers’ Retreat at Laity Lodge is fast approaching (September 29 - October 2). The end of September is a perfect time to be at the Lodge with fellow writers and an incredible cast of experienced teachers. For those of

On Books & Writing

August 23... new Jane Hirshfield poetry!

On August 23, I know what I'll be reading. Any time a new book has this name on the cover, you can bet I'll be reading it the day it comes out.... Order here.

On Books & Writing

"Surviving the Open Heart" and interviews with Anne

You never know what you'll find in the process of open heart surgery. My wife Anne found one of her best pieces of writing... It went like this. Several years ago, my wife Anne and I traveled to be with her family as her father underwent open heart

On Books & Writing

Come write with me.

Gregory Wolfe. David Dark. Julia Kasdorf. Jill Phillips. Andy Gullahorn. And me. At one of the most beautiful spots on earth. Ready to talk with you about your writing — fiction, nonfiction, poetry, songwriting — on a weekend retreat. Will you join us September 29? Read on for details about my workshop.

On Books & Writing

Freedom on the Fourth of July

Happy Fourth of July! Let's begin with a few words from Wendell Berry... In our limitless selfishness, we have tried to define “freedom” for example, as an escape from all restraint. But, as my friend Bert Hornback has explained in his book “The Wisdom of Words”, “free” is

On Books & Writing

Delicate Machinery Suspended: Anne M. Doe Overstreet's First Book is Here!

Ladies and gentlemen... you may now order Anne M. Doe Overstreet's first book of poetry: Delicate Machinery Suspended Enjoy! And don't forget to stock up on copies for birthday and Christmas gifts! Also: Choose LIKE on the Amazon page! Follow Anne on Facebook.

On Books & Writing

Is Today's Young Adult Literature "Too Dark"?

If you were to ask me that question, I would refer you to my favorite Young Adult novelist: Sara Zarr. And she would say something like this... ...her contribution today to the Good Letters blog.

On Books & Writing

Job-hunting? Want to work for IMAGE?

IMAGE is ready to hire a full-time Director of Development. Could this be you? Apply now to work with a talented, fun-loving team in the office of my favorite literary journal. Download the job description here.

On Books & Writing

Dark on Bell

Why do we need the word "hell"? We need a loaded, volatile, adequately violent, dramatic, serious word to describe the very real consequences we experience when we reject the good and true and beautiful life that God has for us. We need a word that refers to the

On Books & Writing

Death is Dead

Why this Friday is good: It was not death that pleased God the Father, but rather the will of him who freely died, who through that death abolished death, made salvation possible, and restored innocence, who triumphed over principalities and powers, robbed death and enriched heaven, who restored peace to

On Books & Writing

How Great is Ayn Rand? David Bentley Hart... Shrugs.

In the current issue of First Things, David Bentley Hart delivers a memorable rant on Rand. What does this have to do with Terrence Malick? Read on! Hart writes: Atlas ShruggedThe Tree of Life Do not go to see Atlas Shrugged. Do not encourage those people. Go instead to The

On Books & Writing

Raise a Glass to Today's Birthday Girl!

Our response to life is different if we have been taught only a definition of faith than if we have trembled with Abraham as he held a knife over Isaac. Who said that? Flannery O’Connor, whose 86th birthday would have been today. Happy birthday, Saint Flannery!