My Father's Village by Claire A. Nivola (Frances Foster Books, 2011) tells the story of the author's visits to the Sardinian village where her father was born. We readers go with her as she and her family "traveled far across the ocean to Italy..." to the "overnight boat [that] took us from the mainland to the island's … [Read more...] about My Father’s Village by Claire Nivola: a Wonderful Story, a Wonderful Model.
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Martin Luther King’s Birthday
Today, for another few hours is Martin Luther King's birthday. I've been busy at the Hamline University Low Residency MFA program's winter residency. Today's the last day, so suitcase packing might be a good idea, but I could not let this date pass without some acknowledgment of the birthday of a great American. And … [Read more...] about Martin Luther King’s Birthday
Beginning With a Picture
On this next to the last day of 2011, almost the end of the year, I want to add one more voice in the series on beginnings. We've listened to people who begin with research, who begin with doodling around, who begin in their heads and don't write until they know a good portion of the story. Today's guest -- Anne … [Read more...] about Beginning With a Picture
Holidy Greeting from the Kids of Mount Vernon
I'm interrupting this blog's usual focus on writing and stories and chiru to send you this holiday card--actually made by the kids at the Mount Vernon Elementary School with their art teacher, Sarah Fitzgerald (front, in the photo). Each art class watched the video of Snowflake Bentley. Then each student cut out a … [Read more...] about Holidy Greeting from the Kids of Mount Vernon
Beginning After Thanksgiving
Opening up the writing notebook on the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend seems almost like a beginning to me, or at least a very powerful "resuming." So I want, this week, to share the last two visitors to share thoughts on new projects. Today's guest is Jennifer Jacobsen, author of the very popular Andy Shane series … [Read more...] about Beginning After Thanksgiving
The Occasional Lift
Last week at this time I was visiting a school in Cedar Rapids to talk with students about bullying. The Cedar Rapids Opera Company will celebrate its 15th anniversary next year and they have asked Rob Nassif, a composer who divides his time between Cedar Rapids and New York City, to compose an opera for kids about … [Read more...] about The Occasional Lift
