The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls

It's an absolute miracle Walls lived to tell her family's story. Growing up with parents who did more things wrong than they did right, Walls found every day to be an adventure, and their unconventional view of life made this story a real page-turner.

And although I felt sickened a time or two, through each of my gasps and chuckles, I couldn't help but fall in love with her father for his unrelenting optimism and passion for life, and with her mother for the determination she had to preserve the artist within. The non-domesticated and carefree ways in which her parents navigated through life molded Walls into the writer she would someday become.

I came away from the story with a new appreciation for the simple conveniences and pleasures in life, like running water and going to bed having satisfied my hunger. Each scene was told with immaculate sensory, allowing me to feel the cold on my skin and the hunger in my own gut. This story provided me with a fresh look at life. I admire Walls and each of her siblings, not only for surviving, but for seeing the beauty in what her parents truly tried to impart. I found charm in her alcoholic father, as well as in her mother who was bent on making sure her needs were met first. There was something refreshingly human about both of them.

I highly recommend this memoir for anybody looking for an entertaining read. But be warned, while you will laugh out loud a time or two, the honesty will change you forever.

An Invisible Thread, by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski

I am so happy to announce that my website will be up and running in the next couple of weeks! As a result, I've decided to have my blog posts consist solely of book reviews. I hope my reading has spurred your own desire to nestle in with a good book. There are so many of them out there. Here is my latest review:

It was a single question that changed two lives forever. 

A successful businesswoman named Laura Schroff strolled the streets of New York City, lost in her own thoughts, doing her best to block out all of the noise. That is, until the plea of a young boy named Maurice stopped her in her tracks. Laura's response to his hunger was remarkable. And with the planting of a new and an unbreakable bond, the friendship ended up feeding many of her own deep and desperate needs.

I found the parallel of their lives to be extraordinary, even though they'd both come from such a different socioeconomic backgrounds. Laura's own childhood struggles created an empathy that prepped her heart for the kind of pain Maurice dealt with every day. She reached out with Monday afternoon lunches, baking dates and shopping sprees. Laura would purchase necessities and a few fun items too. The story was heartfelt and compelling and it stirred my own empathy for people God may end up putting in my own path. I will certainly have my eyes open in a new way.

I would highly recommend An Invisible Thread to anybody interested in getting lost in a good memoir. I was pleased to see how much the author is doing to ensure her message gets replicated. There are so many others out there with compelling stories just like hers and Maurice's. Her next project includes a compilation of other people's invisible threads.

You can visit her website at www.aninvisiblethread.com. 

A Collaborative Effort

One of the amazing things that came out of my time at PENCON, was the inspiration for my next project. There I sat, across the table from a seasoned editor, with pen and paper in hand ready to soak in every last detail, when it hit me. Ghostwriting. It was a familiar term, but not one I had ventured very far into. But as I listened to my new colleague and friend share about a woman who was looking for somebody to help write her book, I knew I was supposed to offer my services.

After getting home, I rushed over to the library to read everything I could find about ghostwriting. Writers Digest also had a great article on the topic. Then I took the leap and introduced myself to this budding author. She sounded very interested in moving forward, and I hit my knees for God's guidance. It's taken us some weeks to iron out the details, but this summer I will begin piecing this woman's book together so she can share it with the world.

I can't think of anything more exciting than to help somebody else tell their story. We've agreed to make this a collaborative deal, which was a new concept for me. It means that my name will still be on the book cover and title page as one who came alongside the author. But as far as the story goes, it will be all hers. Every word placed on the page will be a reflection of the way God showed up in her life. And I get to be a part of the process.

I will be attending a memoir-writing conference in the fall, as I think this format will suit her story best. My hope is to help guide my new client to a place of great success, and at the same time I will be building my own collaborative platform. One simple conversation in the scope of fifteen minutes brought about this amazing opportunity. I can't say enough about networking, and I will be posting about the benefits of it sometime soon.

Do you have a story inside of you that you'd like to share with the world? Perhaps you would benefit from the help of somebody like me who would love to help you tell it.

If so, let's talk.