When a reader picks her next book, she unwittingly creates a bond with the author. And when a writer decides to create a book, he unwittingly forms a bond with the reader. This reader-writer bond is powerful–and meaningful to both …
Reading
Resurgence in Book Clubs
Is a book club (or more than one) a part of your life? If not, you’re missing out on being part of the resurgence in book clubs. As writers, we embrace the idea of others coming together to discuss books …
Bookstore Good News
Last week Parable Group, which is a consortium of independently-owned Christian bookstores throughout the United States, released their report, “2024 State of Christian Retail.” As I studied the results of their survey of booksellers, I saw lots of bookstore …
My 2023 Favorite Read
As has been my tradition for several years, I enjoy starting out the new year with reflections on my favorite read in the year before. The books (or book, as is the case this year) don’t have to be releases …
Let’s Talk about Our Favorite Read–2022
Here go, skipping off into a brand new year. But before we travel too far into 2023, I’m continuing my tradition of my first blog post each year being a retrospective of the books I dwelled within the year before.…
An Ode to Poetry
As an English lit major, poems are familiar friends to me. But some people find them strange and off-putting. Today I want to encourage you, regardless where you fall on the spectrum of appreciating poetry, to sit with a poem …
Your Annual Must-Read
During our weekly Books & Such staff meeting last Friday, I mentioned that there are two books that should be considered a must-read for all of our clients. I confessed that for thirteen or fourteen years I reread these books …
A Social Media Platform that REALLY Sells Books: TikTok
I need to start out by apologizing. I know writers are weary of being told to build their platforms, to promote their books on social media, to, well, work magic at something most don’t particularly enjoy. I’m one of those …
A Social Media Platform that REALLY Sells Books: TikTokRead More
Favorite 2020 Reads
Each January each year, I ponder which books I read the year before that were the most rewarding, stayed with me the longest (not in a bad way, like indigestion), and were the most exquisitely written. Below are my favorite …
What Could Make Any Christmas the Best Ever?
This year I find myself realizing that not having a large family Christmas gathering leaves plenty of space to think about what we’re really celebrating at Christmas. To slow my heart to a more tempered pace this 2020 Christmas, I’m …