3 Whistling Kettle Teas Paired with 3 Types of Summer Reading
The weather has no bearing on my consumption of hot tea. In fact, it’s the perfect weapon against the air conditioning that blasts in every public building during the summer
Pixel and Chip: The Family Circuit by Olivia Johann Book Review and Author Interview
When I was very young, I watched an episode of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood where Mr. Rogers visited a facility that made robots and demonstrated how they could be used for
An Interview with Memoirist Elizabeth Reed Aden
Elizabeth Reed Aden is a biomedical anthropologist turned biotech strategist with a career spanning epidemiology, virology, and global pharma leadership. After earning her PhD studying hepatitis B in Vanuatu, she
The Reliable Narrator by Grace Sammon Book Review and Author Interview + Giveaway
Friendship stories typically deal with younger women, either kids or young women. Friendships among older women are rarely chronicled, and when they are, they’re usually a footnote in a larger
An Interview with Fantasy Author Debbie Bishop
Award-winning author Debbie Bishop is a multi-genre storyteller, creative director, entertainment executive, and CEO of Angelgate Entertainment. Her newest book, PILLYWIGGIN Awakening: The Complete Story Arc (Books 1–2), is an
My History as a Book Reviewer
It’s a common complaint among readers that they hate when a good book ends because there’s no more escaping into that world. I think there’s a lot of truth to
Taken to the Grave by Robert Hoffman Book Review and Author Interview
“There is no such thing as closure in the world, just more answers that lead to more questions.” This is a hard but very accurate truth about the human experience,
An Interview with YA Author Morgan Rylie
Morgan Rylie is a YA author who writes emotionally driven stories about identity, love, and the messy process of growing up when nothing feels simple. Her books often explore characters
50 Summer Writing Prompts
For me, the hardest part of writing fiction is getting that initial idea. What helps is getting a scenario, a message, or a setting that branches out into a fully
The Story Behind the Story by Elene Catrakilis
My debut novel, Under an African Sky, is a story close to my heart because it’s set in South Africa, the country of my birth. In 1989, the country stood
10 Middle Grade Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Indie Book Recommendations
Escapism is a big reason why people read. Kids especially look to escapism to foster their imaginations or even to pull them away from harsh realities. But mostly, they’re just
An Interview with Women’s Fiction Author Mel West
Mel West is an American author whose work and wide network of friends and family mean she, invariably, lives in between—between cities, between versions of herself, and between the lives
Ada Holloway’s Had Enough by Randi Smith Book Review and Author Interview
When you grow up reading books, it’s hard to imagine that anyone would tell you what you can and cannot read. I always felt fortunate to be trusted to read
11 Coming of Age Middle Grade Indie Book Recommendations
I got into reading as a kid because books provided answers to a lot of questions, particularly questions about childhood. Who better to teach you life lessons than someone your
Why Fantasy and Science Fiction by J.D. Grant
Imagination begets inspiration I think all children love fantasy and magic when they are young. Stories about dragons, wizards, witches, adventurous quests, strange creatures, magical kingdoms, and more captivated each