Open Mic for Banned Books

I’ll be reading “Worm Loves Worm” at Big Hill Books on Saturday, October 7, 2023

Writing Habits and Hacks Class Sunday, Oct. 20th

I’ll be presenting my talk (for free!) to help prepare for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) at St. Paul’s Church on Lake of the Isles, 1917 Logan Ave S, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403

CLASS DESCRIPTION:

Do you want to write more — more often, more freely, more effectively — but fear you don’t have the discipline or time? Forget will power! What you really need are consistent writing habits and a handful of “writer brain hacks” adapted to fit your writing life and style. Learn the importance of short, regular, repeated writing sessions and establish a writing routine that will stick with you through National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in November and beyond.

Minnesota State Fair

If you plan on going to the Minnesota State Fair this Thursday: After you’ve eaten something fried and on a stick, be sure to stop by the Alphabet Forest.

I’ll be helping out there from noon to 3 p.m., and, yes, I’ll be wearing fun pants.

June Pants and Laura Ruby’s fantastic new book YORK

These pants are from Bonobos and they also happen to be one of Laura Ruby’s favorite pairs.

Laura Ruby is an incredible author, with such great books like BONE GAP and THE WALL AND THE WING.

I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of her latest book, YORK: THE SHADOW CYPHER ( we share the same publisher!) and I devoured it… That is when I could get it away from my kids. YORK has everything I love in a story: The characters are fun and well drawn, the plot is filled with twists and turns, and it all takes place in an amazing alternative New York. Like I said on my Amazon review, “Yes, it is that good!”

But just after the book came out Laura posted an article at Nerdy Books Club saying, “A few weeks before the publication of my latest book and just in time for my birthday, I got a bouquet of my favorite lilies, a spa gift certificate, various cat- and fox-themed T-shirts, an industrial-sized bag of Pirate’s Booty, and breast cancer.”

It’s a heartfelt and moving article. No surprise since she wrote it.

Do yourself a favor and read the article. And then do yourself an even bigger favor for yourself and go to your local bookstore or to Amazon or even both and buy a copy of YORK and then post a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, and the side of your local library in spray paint. You’ll be doing yourself a favor by buying a great book and also helping out a wonderful author who deserves to be read.