In late June, a few hours ahead of his reading at Prairie Lights Books, I met Lee Cole over coffee in Iowa City. He was in town—back in town, really—to promote his new novel, Fulfillment, which tells the story of a dysfunctional family in which each member desperately wants something they can’t quite have. It’s… The post Lee Cole: What Happens When You Get What You Want? first appeared on Iowa Source.| Iowa Source
Lately, I’ve been working my way through the complete works of science writer Sam Kean. I first became aware of Kean while I was programming Out Loud!, an author series produced by Metro Library Network in Cedar Rapids. We presented Kean in Cedar Rapids and—in collaboration with the Iowa City Book Festival—in Iowa City in| Iowa Source - Iowa's Enlightening Magazine
"So, a lot of this book, you know, is engaging with some of the racist, dehumanizing attitudes that in my mind have a role to play in the environmental disaster we call the Dust Bowl,” said Karen Russell, who is passionate about the themes of her new novel, The Antidote. I talked with her via| Iowa Source - Iowa's Enlightening Magazine
When Bryan, our oldest child, who turns 28 this month, was in kindergarten, he came home one day with a flyer in his backpack. The flyer invited kids to try bowling at one of the local alleys. The fee was $4 a week and there was no upfront cost. We decided to give it a| Iowa Source - Iowa's Enlightening Magazine
Fairly often, I am tempted to reread a book. Most of the time, I resist the urge. There are some notable exceptions. I have, for example, returned to Douglas Adams’s Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series—a trilogy in five parts, as the marketing sometimes reads—any number of times. As regular readers of this column know,| Iowa Source - Iowa's Enlightening Magazine
Back in August, I walked into Daydreams Comics in Iowa City on a Wednesday morning (any regular patron of comic shops will tell you that Wednesday is new comic book day) to pick up my weekly stash of super heroics and the like. In short order, it became apparent that this was a special day| Iowa Source - Iowa's Enlightening Magazine
As faithful readers know, I am currently engaged in a project to reread the complete 87th Precinct series by Ed McBain. The series numbers over 50 books, and in August 2022 I shared my thoughts on the first three. The books came fast and furious starting in 1956. For this column, I’m picking up the| Iowa Source - Iowa's Enlightening Magazine
The Thirsty Word monthly reading series is excited to present a special program taking place on Thursday, July 18, at Cafe Paradiso, located on the northwest corner of the Fairfield town square. Titled “Shorts of July,” the evening will feature five original screenplay shorts and ten-minute plays, all written by area creative writers and performed| Iowa Source - Iowa's Enlightening Magazine
George Harrison was Jane Smiley’s favorite Beatle. He came up during my lunch with the Pulitzer Prize winner because she namechecks the Traveling Wilburys—a supergroup that included Harrison—in Lucky, her most recent novel. (Last month’s column includes the first part of our conversation.) Both she and I love the Wilburys, and our shared enthusiasm for| Iowa Source - Iowa's Enlightening Magazine
In Cumbria recently, I visited two monuments which – it occurred to me – oddly have something in common. I’ll get back to that. Heading for the Maryport Literature & Arts festival in March, I stopped off at Penrith and walked up Penrith Beacon, a fine precipitous wooded hill (‘fell’ in local parlance) overlooking the […] The post ODD MONUMENTS appeared first on Grevel Lindop.| Grevel Lindop
In Ambleside a few days ago to give a lecture, I decided to spend the afternoon walking up to Stockghyll Force, the lovely small waterfalls in the woods uphill behind Ambleside. The weather had been rainy so the Force was full and quite spectacular. Stockghyll has always been a favourite of mine, and especially so […] The post KEATS’S FIRST WATERFALL appeared first on Grevel Lindop.| Grevel Lindop
Margaret Cropper (1886-1980) is a poet about whom I’ve long been enthusiastic. I discovered her work when I was preparing my Literary Guide to the Lake District – her poems turned up in the Manchester Central Library and I’d never heard of her. I read her narrative poem Little Mary Crosbie and was stunned: it’s […] The post MARGARET CROPPER: REDISCOVERING A LAKELAND POET appeared first on Grevel Lindop.| Grevel Lindop
I’m delighted today to receive three volumes of the new edition of the novels of Charles Williams being produced by the US publisher Apocryphile. They’ve designed the covers beautifully, and these are really the first edition to do justice to these amazing books since they first appeared in the 1930s. […]| Grevel Lindop
Sometimes a book of poems comes along that I really want to draw attention to. Such a book is Ian Marriott’s pamphlet collection Touched, just published by the excellent Cinnamon Press. Ian Marriott’s poems are remarkably economical: invariably he uses very small brief stanzas, each one provoking thought before you move on to the next. […] The post Ian Marriott: Touched appeared first on Grevel Lindop.| Grevel Lindop
My grandfather, I’ve been told, was something of a magician. At any rate, he left behind him a substantial collection of occult books. Unfortunately, I never saw this collection: when he died, my parents (not from any motive of disapproval, but simply because they were tired, and had had enough of dealing with his possessions) […]| Grevel Lindop
Casting about for a good read? See if there’s something you fancy in this list. People are always asking what my favourite book is. I don’t have favourites. At least, today’s favo…| Freemagination
Your first book is published. Fame at last! Followed swiftly by fortune, one hopes. But will your publisher help you along the way to fame? Unlikely, unless you’re already famous. This articl…| Freemagination
I’m so grateful to my long-time friend Lesley Cookman for revealing some of the secrets of a bestselling novelist’s life. Read today’s guest blog to see what you have in common wi…| Freemagination
You have the blockbusting idea. You know all the novel-writing techniques. Your favourite cousin works for a publisher. You have all the gizmos and apps that a writer could ever want. Your characte…| Freemagination
…illustrated children’s book. This is a great insight into some of the challenges and solutions for writers itching to get their story told: a piece by Michael Gallant for the BookBaby …| Freemagination
When a hint of a thought of an idea catches on fire in your head… and you find yourself chasing your characters through the skies over London until the story comes to satisfying close, itR…| Freemagination
