This beautiful mug was a gift from a dear friend. 😊🎁

I‘m coaching a 5th Grade Battle of the Books team, and this was one of the books on our list. The storytelling is superb, and I have such affection for Ada, Jamie, and the friends they make along the way.

So much for my solemn vow not to read any more library books until I‘ve cleared my tbr shelf at home...

Finished my first book of 2018! I enjoyed this story about family, redemption, and the healing power of music.The audio version includes original songs composed for the book. 🎵

As far as the asterisk goes, I've been there, done that. I'm about 1/3 of the way through this book, and I think applying her approach will make a big difference in my storytelling. #amwriting #writersoflitsy

Just finished this and I so look forward to discussing it Saturday for #mgbuddyread. How does the discussion work--do we chime in at a particular time or any time on Saturday?

This was my book club's pick, and I was pleased that they chose something with magical elements. It felt a bit slow for me at times, especially in the first half, but my interest in the intertwining past and present stories, and the mystery of how they fit together, tugged me along. Those of you who have read the book will understand how eerily fitting the deluge of rain was as I finished reading this morning.

I ❤️these #5movies.

This future Litten snagged my #mgbuddyread book off the shelf and dove right in.

1. Keep a talisman collection on my desk
2. Love animals, esp. dogs, cats, bunnies
3. Married for 15 years
4. Met husband at 230 Post St., San Francisco
5. Worked as a lifeguard in high school
6. Read The Grapes of Wrath in my lifeguards' book club
7. Clumsy and scatterbrained
8. Stopped reading fantasy in my teens
9. Read Neil Gaiman when I was 37 and it woke something long dormant in me
10. I write MG and YA fiction
#20factsaboutme ⬇️

"Every dead person is a dead language, and every memory a translation."

Starting this while waiting for my daughter at the orthodontist. Looks like it hasn't been a big favorite with those of you who've read it, but I'll give it a try.

1️⃣Ellicott City, Maryland--with a cat curled on my lap
2️⃣The Hate U Give
3️⃣Days of Blood and Starlight
4️⃣Anne of Green Gables
5️⃣Sense and Sensibility
6️⃣Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere sequel, The Seven Sisters

#LETSTALKABOUTBOOKSBABY

Hermione Granger and Professors Lockhart, Trelawney, and McGonagall along with our muggle friend at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in concert.

I find myself yearning to find a nearby Latin class to audit. #blameitonlitsy @Biljana

Loved this sweet, often hilarious book.

"For me fantasy isn't about escaping from reality, it's about re-encountering the challenges of the real world, but externalized and transformed." -Lev Grossman

It was fun revisiting this childhood favorite and sharing it with my own young dancer. Does anyone else remember the "Very Young" series?

One of my critique partners keeps telling me I have to read this, so here I go. After I finish this and the other library books I currently have out, I solemnly swear to read nothing but books I own for a month.

This is how I found Bootsie and Lady when I woke up this morning. #littenkitten #catsoflitsy

Exquisite. Laini Taylor's unbounded imagination, deft storytelling, and lyrical prose captivated me. My top ten list already has more than ten books, but I'm going to have to add this one.

1. In bed, preferably with lots of pillows.
2. Greek, so I could meet Athena. And also because I studied Ancient Greek back in the day.
3. This is the hardest question for me. I think I have to go with one really good book. Though I'd be miserable without anything to read the rest of the month.
4. Netflix because there's a higher likelihood I'd watch it.
5. YA
#bookishwouldyourather @Kalalalatja

Those who've read Pachinko might enjoy this interview with Min Jin Lee on the Writers on Writing podcast.

Any fellow Littens going to be at #7sentencesva tomorrow?

It warms my heart to see my daughter reading Anne. Loved these books so much growing up.

Epic library haul!

"But if you can't give it up, if hearing how impossible the odds are only makes you dig in deeper, it doesn't really matter if you've got natural talent. Your job is to marshal the talent you do have and find people who believe in your vision. What's important, finally, is that you create, and that those creations define for you what matters most, that which cannot be extinguished even in the face of silence, solitude, and rejection." #amwriting

If I had given my daughter this book and told her to read it, she would have turned her nose up at it. So it rested quietly on the bookshelf for a few years, then lo and behold last night my daughter picked it out and started reading. And guess what? She likes it.

Spotted in Silver Spring, MD: a dress made of library check-out cards and an umbrella made of microfiche. I'm sorry I couldn't get a better photo because of the glare.

All snuggled up. I had insomnia last night. Here's hoping for a good night's sleep after a little reading.

Picked these up at the Friends of the Library bookstore yesterday. I'm rereading The Raven Cycle in anticipation of a one-day writing workshop that Maggie Stiefvater is teaching next month. So excited!

I loved the rich fantasy world in Daughter of Smoke and Bone and can't wait to discover what Laini Taylor has come up with in her latest. #YAYAY2

Currently reading this excellent YA. #yayay1

I keep two chairs at my desk because of this little seat stealer. She likes to take my spot when I get up for more tea. I rotate the chairs and we start over again...

"When you stop playing your game you've already lost."

I had an extraordinarily challenging weekend. At the moment, this book is exactly what I need.

Diving into this now.

My book club's pick for this month. I'm enjoying the audiobook so far and finding myself feeling quite endeared to Mr. Fry.

A new book and a kitty. The perfect Saturday night. So sorry I missed #litsypartyofone last night!

This has been the perfect escape. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

My mom passed along her love of Jane Austen to me. What can I say? They're my comfort books. #mostreread #feistyfeb

My favorite literary Shadow. #shadows #FeistyFeb

Chapter 12: On Christmas, Harry gets lots of presents, but we never hear about what he gives his friends. Doesn't he give them anything? #passivity #hpchapteraday

I need to step up my game--the rest of you Littens put me to shame with the number of books you devour on a monthly basis. I want to get through all of these in Feb. I'm already about halfway through the Laini Taylor. #tbr #feistyfeb

Spotted at Books with a Past Bookstore, Maryland

Sometimes fiction can illuminate history in ways that a straight-up history lesson cannot. This is one such work of fiction. It made me uncomfortable and expanded my worldview.

Congratulations to all of this year's ALA award winners! http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2017/01/american-library-association-anno...

Today's "destiny" theme sparked an interesting discussion with my daughters. What makes a person's destiny? Is it within or outside of our control? I referenced this fortune, which is taped to my laptop.

This is my kind of party! Thanks @Ambrosnazzy for the brilliant idea!

I'm a day late, but had to jump in with these #girlinthetitle books. I met Nikki Loftin last year--she's a beautiful writer who's warm and funny in person. The Carrie Brownstein was a gift from a dear friend who knew me back when I listened to Sleater-Kinney all the time.