I'd like to make an official announcement: my book When Fragments Make a Whole: A Personal Journey Through Healing Stories in the Bible will be published by Floris Books in February, 2024! Click on the title to learn more. From the publisher's description: In this candid and courageous book, Lory Widmer Hess describes her experience … Continue reading My Book: When Fragments Make a Whole
My poem "Announcement" has been published at Reformed Journal, and I thought a link would be an appropriate way to celebrate this festive season. This poem was inspired by a painting of the Annunciation that I saw at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston some years ago. I got to talk about a bit … Continue reading A poem and a painting for Advent: Announcement
I'm so happy to be hosting an Ozathon - that is, a book-per-month readalong of the 14 Oz books by L. Frank Baum. Even if you don't manage to read all the books, you're welcome to join any time and sample some of the series. I'm looking forward to this journey with you. See the … Continue reading #Ozathon24 begins: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
I've got back-to-back reviews up at Shiny New Books, with my review of the new Folio Society edition of Charmed Life posted this week. Neil Gaiman and I have at least one thing in common: we both started reading Diana Wynne Jones when we picked up one of her books at age 16 in the … Continue reading Over at Shiny New Books: Charmed Life
Following my read of Faitheist, I was interested to read a memoir by a person of faith who was also a scientist. I came across I've Seen the End of You by Lee Warren, a neurosurgeon who struggles with the purpose of prayer when he is confronted by many patients with incurable brain tumors. How … Continue reading Of science and spirit: I’ve Seen the End of You
This week's Nonfiction November topic is hosted by Rebekah of She Seeks Nonfiction. One of the greatest things about reading nonfiction is learning all kinds of things about our world which you never would have known without it. There’s the intriguing, the beautiful, the appalling, and the profound. What nonfiction book or books have impacted … Continue reading Worldview Shapers: The Sixth Extinction
I've just reviewed the third volume of Elodie Harper's Wolf Den trilogy, The Temple of Fortuna, for Shiny New Books. My short review is: "Read these books, they're excellent." (With caveats to those who may be triggered by descriptions of sexual abuse - the central character is forced into prostitution in ancient Pompeii - or … Continue reading Over at Shiny New Books: The Temple of Fortuna
This week's topic is hosted by Liz of Adventures in Running, Reading, and Working from Home. And it's my favorite! Week 3 (11/13-11/17) Book Pairings: This week, pair up a nonfiction book with a fiction title. Maybe it’s a historical novel and the real history in a nonfiction version, or a memoir and a novel, … Continue reading Nonfiction November: Book Pairings
This week's topic is hosted by Frances of Volatile Rune. Week 2 (11/6-11/10) Choosing Nonfiction: What are you looking for when you pick up a nonfiction book? Do you have a particular topic you’re attracted to? Do you have a particular writing style that works best? When you look at a nonfiction book, does the … Continue reading Nonfiction November: Choosing nonfiction
Earlier this year, when I read the book Once There Was by Kiyash Moncef, I was impressed by how a first-time author managed such to create such a satisfying mix: excitement, humor, friendship and a hint of romance, beauty and danger, and a moving, emotional finale. When Kiyash Moncef graciously agreed to an interview, I … Continue reading Over at Calmgrove: My Witch Week interview with author Kiyash Moncef
