Maybe I was meant to live and write in Portland, Oregon. But first I had to get London out of my system. In 2014, I retired from the University of Hawaii and moved to London. I’ve lived in the city before, short-term, but this time, I settle in for two years. My agenda: to reinvent …
Imagine a Door is the writing book you need: a step-by-step guide for writers to navigate the world of publishing, told with bravery and honesty by a true maverick of independent publishing. Stanfill spares no detail in describing her journey as the founder and publisher of Forest Avenue Press. This book contains vital information, especially if …
In the early 2000s, Laura Stanfill (Forest Avenue Press) and Nancy Townsley (author of the new debut novel Sunshine Girl) were colleagues at a community newspaper chain in Portland, Oregon. Nancy’s new novel follows Eliza Donovan, the daughter of a journalist, as she pursues her own reporting career amid turbulent industry changes and, in the …
Every Wednesday, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association publishes the regional bestseller list. On Thursdays, we celebrate Thursday Themes to shine a spotlight on some of the books from the list and give our brains a different way of thinking about books. This week we’re highlighting books about books. Interestingly, all but Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, …
There is some discomfort one must sit with when observing an obsessed character. Whether they are obsessed with a person, a place, or an object, the character is always intriguing to me. Lately I have been seeking books with such characters. These books may lead you to a valley of discomfort: tread lightly! Bookseller Naomi …
I met Hanna Halperin in Madison, Wisconsin in 2014. She was part of my MFA cohort, a sensitive and fiercely talented writer who wrote short stories about mothers and daughters, fraught family dynamics and soured relationships, and the kind of loneliness and discomfort we feel but cannot easily name. She had unique psychological acuity as …
This fascinating hodgepodge of essays, articles, and conference presentations by a well-known author of children’s fantasy celebrates the wonders of the human imagination and the crucial role which storytelling must play in a healthy society. Pullman’s thoughtful and often amusing musings branch out from the craft of modern writing to encompass painting, poetry, graphic novels, …
Imagine you are a writer and you just can’t think of anything to write about. What do you do? You take your dog for a walk through the neighborhood, of course! And wouldn’t you know, by the end of this quiet, unassuming book, Philip Stead has found a lot to write about without even thinking …
