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Remington Roundup: #Reading, #Writing, #Hosting

Roundup image: 1950s photo of woman sitting at Remington typewriter

March and April were full of conferences, conversation, writing ups and downs, and springtime observations. Here’s your Roundup of links to books, essays, and workshops to keep your mind musing and your pen moving.

#Reading

Roundup image: stack of books on desk

This is a stack of just a few books I’ve picked up over the last several weeks and miles of traveling.

I’ve got novels, a literary journal, a book on Native American medicines, and a book of fantasy fiction about a menopausal werewolf.

I’m gearing up for some major, very interesting, summer reading!

#Writing

Roundup: drawing of online symbol with symbols of people surrounding a paper and pencil

I’ve been teaching a great group of women in my Flash Nonfiction II course this Spring.

If you want to read some of their work (already published–these are real go-getters!), take a look at Gloria DiFulvio’s “Living on a Prayer” and Katie Vinson’s “Stealing Lilacs” on Life in 10 minutes.

This great online literary magazine speaks to my heart, encouraging writers to put pen to paper–just do it!–and start with 10 minutes. Because (as Founder Valley Haggard says) “it’s hard to convince yourself you don’t have 10 minutes.”

Outside of teaching on tiny essays, I’m spending the next several weeks revising my own, building a collection of essays and prompts to (hopefully) publish sooner than later. While you wait for that collection 🙂 you can read a few of the essays to be included here and here.

#Hosting

Roundup image: looking down on open laptop with woman holding coffee cup, phone and journal nearby, DREAM spelled out near laptop

You’re reading, you’re writing, you’re thinking about your next steps as an emerging author.

Hidden Timber Books is offering workshops for authors, with the first coming up soon!

Sign up by May 15th for Anne Clermont’s workshop on Author Websites: Your Calling Card for Readers. You’ll learn what makes for a great website that attracts readers, helps them discover your work, and keeps them coming back.

What’s on your reading & writing docket for Spring and Summer?

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A New Year and New Possibilities

Okay, so we’re two months into the new year, but my announcement today, quietly in the works since November, can finally be shared.

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know how much I love bringing stories, books, debut authors, and great collections into the spotlight. And you know I’ve said more than once that stories matter. Meaning, most of my posts on books or authors don’t focus only on great reading but on seeing the world in a different way, on making connections, on moving us through challenging times with the work of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.

Now I have an opportunity to go beyond simply blogging about books and authors.

Graphic of barn with Hidden Timber Books in red font below = possibilities!

A few years ago, a conversation over coffee, about my desire to bring the children’s story and artwork of Betty Sydow and Carolou Lennon Nelsen to print, grew into the first publishing project of Lisa Rivero at Hidden Timber Books.

After The Adventures of a Sparrow Named Stanley, my work with Lisa continued, as we collaborated on an anthology and I edited a collection of short stories. I could not be more proud and honored to have worked on all of these projects with Lisa.

She sought out the work of authors from quiet corners of the world and gave them a platform; she made space for stories, essays, and poems that speak to character, place, time, and the emotional connection of all three. She proved that a tiny press can do great, meaningful work that benefits writers and readers and the larger community.

A few months ago, I sat down with Lisa again to talk about the future of Hidden Timber Books.

image: woman's hand grasping handle of coffee cup with open book.

After thoughtful and personal reflection, she has decided to step back from publishing to pursue other creative endeavors. Together, we brainstormed possibilities and found a way to carry on the spirit of the press.

(There’s a cool story, about the woman who inspired the name of the press; I can’t wait to share with you!)

As Lisa steps back, I am stepping in to continue the work she began.

I write to you today as not only an author, teacher, and editor but Publisher as well.

image: woman's face from nose up with wide, surprised eyes.

I know, right?

You’ll still find me here, crafting weekly blog posts, posting author interviews, all the things I love to do. But you’ll also find me at Hidden Timber Books.

Many thanks to Lisa for being a wonderful role model (then and now), a true confidant, and a wise sounding board–in publishing and writing alike. I am grateful and honored to build on what she founded.

Stop by Lisa’s website to read about one of my favorites of her personal projects.

And stop by Hidden Timber Books to sign up for the newsletter, so you’ll receive early updates on events, giveaways, calls for submissions, and new releases.

I’m truly excited, nervous of course, but what I love most about taking on this new venture is that I don’t have to rush into or through anything. As in most things life and writing, I get to focus on the journey, the next project; I can delight in the work, as I discover your next story.