Joy Castro possesses a beautiful consciousness--a brave awareness of her life that is at once inspiring and humbling. These essays teem with strength, elegance, and a thoughtfulness of one who has taken a hard look at her world and come away with a desire to design her life on her own terms. By the end I was near tears as she described the sisterhood she cultivates in middle age as an empty nester exploring a new sense of self. A remarkable book.

Attended a lovely event last night with Paula McClain at the Random House headquarters. Paula‘s new novel, about Ernest Hemingway and Martha Gellhorn and their time in Cuba, is out today.

I met the author Edwidge Danticat last month and was thrilled to see her again this week at the 2018 Festival of Faith & Writing. Her brave and beautiful work has inspired me for many years. Reading her latest, The Art of Death, now.

This book came out this week and my copy just arrived. Looking forward to digging in. I‘ve read about gratitude before but I‘m curious to see what the author has to say about it.

This book is everything an autobiography should be. It's a record of a life but Springsteen manages to walk this amazing line where he's being totally open without being too revealing, informative without betraying confidences. He's vulnerable, insightful, and reflective where his story most needs it. The writing is stunning both at the sentence level and in terms of its epic scope. I love this book.

Treating myself by finally starting this today. Need some Bruce in my life right now. 🎸

Last March when we celebrated audiobooks here I posted about my talented and beloved friend Katherine Kjellgren, narrator of over 200 books. Last month Katy died after a long battle with a rare form of cancer. I couldn‘t bring myself to post this news here sooner because I‘m heartbroken and because I know so many of you know and loved her voice. She‘s nominated for a 2018 Audie Award for this book. Audible posted this tribute.

I think the cover of my new memoir/essay collection looks like a Valentine so I‘ll just leave this here. 😊❤️ #ValentinesDay

Okay, now I‘m totally floored! Look at this amazing “face” book photo of my novel posted by Amesbury Public Library! @WilliamMorrow #bookfacefriday

Today is publication day for Tayari Jones‘s new novel. It was also announced as Oprah‘s next book club pick. Is this the first time she chose a book on its publication day?

I‘ve had this poem in my head ever since my father died 27 years ago this month but I couldn‘t remember who wrote it or where I‘d read it. Thanks Donald Quist for bringing this Alice Walker gem back to me. ❤️

My current read. It‘s okay. Reading it for a radio show. Will let you know more when I finish.

Tain and I did our first book signing event this week. Thanks to all who stopped by. And thanks to Paraclete Press for supporting us and making this great poster! So much fun! ❤️📚🖊

So glad it's #Friyayintro! @jess.how

1.) Drivers going straight despite having the turn signal on.
2.) Oxford, England
3.) Max Perkins: Editor of Genius. It was fascinating!
4.) A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
5.) What book do you want to read or finish before year's end?

I've been working my way through the third volume of Thomas Merton's journals for way too long. Time to finish it.

This was okay but I felt the author had a hard time "sharing" his running with his reader. When times were no longer important to him it was especially difficult to understand why he still ran despite the runners blues he describes. The same goes for his discussion of the writing craft. He has done it for so long on his own it's probably difficult for him to explain how he does it.

Well, that was fast! The book my son Tain and I wrote doesn't come out for another month but it is currently #1 New Release in Children & Teens Christian Education on Amazon: goo.gl/HCpboU How cool is that? 😊

A brief but deep book. I especially appreciated Palmer's description of five shadows that leaders need to be wary of. And this: "We learn that we need not carry the whole load but can share it with others, liberating us and empowering them. We learn that sometimes we are free to lay the load down altogether. The great community asks us to do only what we are able and trust the rest to other hands."

And here are the remaining two (top and bottom on the right) of the previously mentioned six events.

With six events coming up, (five of them in the next ten days!) I just might be in your neighborhood soon. Here's the schedule. Details on my website at https://sophfronia.com/upcoming-events/ Here are 4 of the 6.

On my way to Fall 2017 Meacham Writers' Workshop in Chattanooga, TN. Taking Parker J. Palmer with me. 😉

I've never been to Italy but so happy my novel has made it there! A friend sent this pic from Matera. 😊❤️📚#UncannyOctober #booksinthewild @RealLifeReading

I listened to this on a long solitary drive back from a speaking gig in upstate New York. Gilbert's concept of neglected ideas leaving one writer in search of another is kind of freaky but the book is full of encouragement and insight. A good gift for the hesitant artist in your life.

Haven't had a lot of reading time lately but I was determined to finish this excellent biography. Berg captures the humanity of the legendary editor Perkins as well as the legends he discovered: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Thomas Wolfe. The book is also provides an inside look at the publishing industry at the time. Some things have changed but much is interestingly the same.

I recently saw the film Genius and when I read in the credits it was based on this biography I had to get it. Now I can't stop reading it. Fascinating to read about how writers like Fitzgerald and Hemingway went about their work, and the lengths Perkins had to go to to convince his conservative publishing house to open up to their fresh new voices.

UNFORGIVABLE LOVE is in People magazine! It's the new issue with Prince William on the cover. Thrilled! @WilliamMorrow @brettne @TheBookGroup

@elisehooper and I share a fabulous editor (Lucia Macro) and publisher, @WilliamMorrow , and this year have walked the journey toward our books together. But she lives all the way in Seattle so when she came to Connecticut I jumped at the chance to meet her in person on her tour for THE OTHER ALCOTT.

Within a block of where I'm sitting there are two bookstores and this gorgeous library. Lawrence, Kansas you have me at hello! ❤️📚 I'm here for a symposium at the University of Kansas celebrating the 80th anniversary of the publication of Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God.

One of my favorite books from childhood--this lovely story of twins who win scholarships to a prestigious London ballet school. #LetsDance #SeptemBowie @Marchpane @Cinfhen

This seemed like a good #ManicMonday selection! #AwesomeAutumnBooks @Jess7

In going for #OccupationintheTitle I realized I wanted to include my own occupation: writer! I also highly recommend D'Aoust's essay collection reflecting on her time as a Martha Graham dancer. #Fallintobooks @RealLifeReading

This is the copy of Jane Eyre I read at age 13. She taught me how to think through problems and how a woman who, to the world, has nothing can take charge of her life. She gave me hope. #FemaleHeroes #AutumnReads #RebelRebel #SeptemBowie @Marchpane @Cinfhen

I find the landscape images on the covers of Robert Vivian's Tall Grass Trilogy novels to be absolutely haunting and beautiful. #coverlovers #awesomeautumnbooks @Jess7

Since today is #cursive I'm highlighting Alexandra Stoddard's book subtitled "500 Ways to Add Elegance, Order, Beauty and Joy to Every Day of Your Life." Writing cursive I think adds all this and I hope we don't lose it in our texting world. #fallintobooks @RealLifeReading

Stephen King taught me writing is indeed a craft and I must work on it and continually add to my writer's toolbox. For that he's one of my #heroes. This is one of the best books ever on writing. #SeptemBowie @Marchpane @Cinfhen

Elise Hooper and I share a publisher and an editor and our books are both September babies. She's due on the 5th, I'm the 26th but we're celebrating together. It's going to be a fun autumn! 🍂 #SeptemberMostAnticipated #fallintobooks @RealLifeReading @WilliamMorrow UPDATE: Since The Other Alcott is about #siblings it counts for #awesomeautumnbooks! #mostanticipated #autumnreads @Jess7

Starting this tonight. The cover is one of my favorites so far this year. Glad to get an ARC. The finished book comes out 9/5.

Authors and Booksellers reception at the offices of @HarperCollins this week! Had the pleasure of meeting Jillian Medoff. Her forthcoming novel, THIS COULD HURT, drops in January.

Today's library book haul. Mind you I went in to pick up only one book. Sigh. #BookHaul

I'm totally blown away by this #bookbento image @WilliamMorrow created for my novel! The book reimagines Les Liaisons Dangereuses—today is the last day to enter the Goodreads giveaway for a chance to win a free copy. http://bit.ly/2v2WmsH

A good afternoon for tea at Starbucks and a little Thomas Merton.

One of my favorite books, the letters of two friends, both writers, who deeply admire and support each other. "We must catch the train, Robert, we must move, otherwise life takes you, makes you soggy. We're wearing cheap shoes, we must stay ahead of it." #BestBuds #JubilantJuly @RealLifeReading

Silence and Beauty: Hidden Faith Born of Suffering is Fujimura's response to the novel Silence by Shūsaku Endō. Fujimura offers "Silence and Endo's many books as a path toward deeper knowledge of our Savior" and this book is his narrative of walking this path himself and how the faith journey has found expression in his art. His insights on culture and cultivating it as a source of hope and support are much needed thoughts today.

As the seventh month dies it's only natural the #saga on my mind is J.K. Rowling's magical masterpiece. #JubilantJuly @RealLifeReading

Update: @WilliamMorrow is having a giveaway of ARCS of my novel! Here's the link: http://a.pgtb.me/D6Rwx0 Let me know if you win and I'll send a signed bookplate for you. ❤️😊

Well today's #journey hashtag is proving appropriate. I've been trying to get to Nashville since yesterday. Yesterday's flight was cancelled and now my 11:59am flight is delayed. It's 2:30 and still haven't boarded. So I'm spending my birthday at the airport. Glad I have a book but here's the thing: no Cinnabon at this airport! 😋☹️😉#jubilantjuly @RealLifeReading

Right now I'm all about the #sideprofile of this gorgeous woman on the cover of my forthcoming novel! Designers at @WilliamMorrow totally rocked on it. Pub date is September 26. #sideprofiles #jubilantjuly @RealLifeReading

A little revolution now and then... Bastille Day reading for #JubilantJuly. #setinFrance @RealLifeReading

The novel is so-so but I've always loved the #Style of this cover of Wendy Wasserstein's novel. #JubilantJuly @RealLifeReading

Book haul from our library's annual mega-sale: a little fiction, a little inspiration and wisdom, a little research for the next novel I'm writing, and some Japanese manga for my son. 😊📚📚

Started this today. Looking forward to hearing the author speak on Saturday about one of his art installations currently on display in New York City.