Amy Makechnie's Blog, page 13
July 18, 2023
It Was Miep Who Saved Anne Frank's Diary
On 4 August 1944, Anne Frank, her family, and four others hiding in the secret annex were discovered and arrested.
For two years, Miep Gies and a few trusted helpers kept the Frank family and others alive behind the secret bookcase. The story is brilliantly told in a series called A Small Light on Disney+ and National Geographic. We know Anne’s story, and yet Miep’s courage and pluck coupled with the suspense and stress of hiding from the Nazi’s will have you sweating and either breathing a sigh of relief or silently screaming no no no.
I highly recommend the show, not only because it’s immensely important and true, but to also watch the unfolding of story. As a writer, these are the types of stories we must continue to create (I’m desperately hoping the writer’s strike gets resolved soon, with fair pay and better working conditions for the writers!)
What made this series so compelling:
Point of View
Have you ever heard of Miep? (pronounced Meep) Before, I vaguely knew her name. Now I’ll never forget her. It’s fascinating to consider point of view as we tell a story. Who’s perspective and lens are you telling the story from? It will change everything.
Likability
Our hero must have some redeeming factor that makes us care and want to follow them. In Miep’s case, we are drawn to her funny, plucky, outspoken personality. And then we LOVE her because of the courageous choices she makes.
The Stakes
Getting arrested and killed by the Nazis is the obvious stakes here, but every hero of every story must have something to lose or why should we care? She must exhibit 20 seconds of courage again and again and again.
An Ordinary woman in Extraordinary Times
Miep is a young secretary, an ordinary person. So is our hero. She will need to find the courage to confront the bully on the playground - or the morality police (literally). We are still living in extraordinary times! Yesterday, NPR reported that Iran is bringing back the morality police after months of reprieve after mass protest and rioting when police killed a young woman in Iranian custody for not covering her hair as the cleric declared. My blood boils. Does our hero have the courage to protest by keeping her hair uncovered (would I? when I’m afraid of pain, death and retaliation…)
Know Your Why
It has to matter or nobody cares. It was so devastating to watch Miep’s despair. The allies were so close. The war was almost over! What had it all been for if Anne, Margot, Peter, Mr. and Mrs. Van Pels, and Fritz Pfeffer didn’t come back? Miep cries it’s like her existence is nothing if they didn’t survive the death camps…they didn’t. BUT SHE SAVED THE DIARY. And that diary changed the world - and that’s because of Miep.
I marveled and wondered why I didn’t know much about Miep before now. And then I thought - because someone needed to write this story.
Have you watched A Small Light? The show’s title comes from a quote by Miep, who dedicated the rest of her life to speaking about her experience:
But even an ordinary secretary or a housewife or a teenager can, within their own small ways, turn on a small light in a dark room. -Miep Gies
See the ordinary people doing extraordinary things. I hope you will write about them.
Amy ❣️
Book banning and censorship are on the rise. I am empathetic to parents who want to protect their children from books they’re not ready for, but the overreach has been alarming. Former president Barack Obama addressed the growing trend of book banning in a letter to librarians around the country:
Utah Friends…I’m On the Way!“The world is watching. If America — a nation built on freedom of expression — allows certain voices and ideas to be silenced, why should other countries go out of their way to protect them? Ironically, it is Christian and other religious texts — the sacred texts that some calling for book bannings in this country claim to want to defend — that have often been the first target of censorship and book banning efforts in authoritarian countries.”
I’ll be visiting one of my favorite bookstores, King’s English Bookshop, in Salt Lake City on August 12th, at 4pm. We will have a short Q&A followed by a book signing. PLEASE stop by!
Good News and Story Links:ICYMI: The McNifficents has been out for nearly a month!
Helpful: Please leave a review at Goodreads or Amazon - it helps TREMENDOUSLY
Miep’s Words: An Interview with Miep
New York Times: An Ordinary Woman Resists the Nazis
July 11, 2023
#2 What to Read (and watch)
Totally intended to post this a week ago but then so much happened (a colonoscopy! Company from Saudi Arabia. All the kids home. Summertime. Eating ice-cream instead of writing…I know you understand)
Two Books:Midnight Without a Moon by Linda Williams Jackson
On Goodreads, Linda writes: “I didn't know much about the Civil Rights Movement when I was growing up, even though I lived in a place that was steeped in its history. I didn't learn about Emmett Till until I was near adulthood, which is pretty shameful considering this all happened only a few towns over from my hometown and only a few years prior to my own coming-of-age years. But what really sparked my interest in centering a fictional story of my family's history around this historical event was a statement made by my mother about 10 years ago. She mentioned that she thought she knew someone who was involved in the murder. (For the record, there were MANY people--white and black--involved in that murder, not just two white men.) My mother's "remembering" of Emmett Till sealed the deal. I knew that I had to set my story in 1955.”
This is a truly remarkable book with exceptional “real” dialogue. Linda’s newsletter:
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
What would you do if your much-more-famous-than-you author friend died by choking in front of you? And you found her manuscript? What if you knew that it could be a monster hit if you reshaped, rewrote large portions, and made it your own? Is there anything wrong with…taking it? Does it make it any worse that you’re not Asian and she was?
What a juicy read. This book asks so many good questions and will make you feel many feelings.
Two Series:My new hero is a woman name Miep Gies, one of the helpers hiding Anne Frank’s family and others in the Secret Annex. After the arrest, Miep kept Anne's writings in a drawer of her desk. Watch A Small Light (Hulu and Disney +) The whole family was riveted. An IMPORTANT show and SO WELL told. Finishing tonight!
Swagger on Apple+ . Featuring young men and basketball, I thought it might be too “swagger” for me, but it’s really good (also on Apple+ recommends thriller Hijack with Idris Elba…)
Two Movies:Coincidentally, I heard about the movie, Till, right after reading Linda’s book. Told from the POV of Mamie Till-Mobley, who became a civil rights activist after the terrible death of her 14-year-old son, Emmett. This movie should have been an Oscar-contender. Then read this. Do people ever really escape their crimes…I don’t think so.
Forget the critics, we loved The Little Mermaid (and the all-you-can-eat-heartattack-waiting-to-happen-popcorn).
$6 Tuesday at Smitty’s Theater.n...That’s a wrap. Comments? Your recommendations?
Amy ❣️
Good Times at Two Bookstores:It was so fun to be at Gibson’s Bookstore with YOU ALL and Kari Allen. Thank you!
Wellesley Bookstore was also wonderful. I signed some books, found a schnauzer in the stuffed animal bin (had to purchase, of course), and new friend and author Lisa Rogers came to see me.
signed books are waiting for you in Wellesley Massachusetts! You can pet the schnauzer, too…Would you be so kind to leave a review of The McNifficents on Amazon or Goodreads? THANK YOU!
Good News and Story Links:ICYMI: Ann Patchett recommended McNifficents from her Parnassus bookstore
Next Week: I’ll be giving away a few copies of The McNifficents
When in Boston: Go see the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. What a collection (and 13 missing paintings with a $10 million dollar reward…)
What I Read (and Watched) #2
Totally intended to post this a week ago but then so much happened (a colonoscopy! Company from Saudi Arabia. All the kids home. Summertime. Eating ice-cream instead of writing…I know you understand)
Two Books:Midnight Without a Moon by Linda Williams Jackson
On Goodreads, Linda writes: “I didn't know much about the Civil Rights Movement when I was growing up, even though I lived in a place that was steeped in its history. I didn't learn about Emmett Till until I was near adulthood, which is pretty shameful considering this all happened only a few towns over from my hometown and only a few years prior to my own coming-of-age years. But what really sparked my interest in centering a fictional story of my family's history around this historical event was a statement made by my mother about 10 years ago. She mentioned that she thought she knew someone who was involved in the murder. (For the record, there were MANY people--white and black--involved in that murder, not just two white men.) My mother's "remembering" of Emmett Till sealed the deal. I knew that I had to set my story in 1955.”
This is a truly remarkable book with exceptional “real” dialogue. Linda’s newsletter:
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
What would you do if your much-more-famous-than-you author friend died by choking in front of you? And you found her manuscript? What if you knew that it could be a monster hit if you reshaped, rewrote large portions, and made it your own? Is there anything wrong with…taking it? Does it make it any worse that you’re not Asian and she was?
What a juicy read. This book asks so many good questions and will make you feel many feelings.
Two Series:My new hero is a woman name Miep Gies, one of the helpers hiding Anne Frank’s family and others in the Secret Annex. After the arrest, Miep kept Anne's writings in a drawer of her desk. Watch A Small Light (Hulu and Disney +) The whole family was riveted. An IMPORTANT show and SO WELL told. Finishing tonight!
Swagger on Apple+ . Featuring young men and basketball, I thought it might be too “swagger” for me, but it’s really good (also on Apple+ recommends thriller Hijack with Idris Elba…)
Two Movies:Coincidentally, I heard about the movie, Till, right after reading Linda’s book. Told from the POV of Mamie Till-Mobley, who became a civil rights activist after the terrible death of her 14-year-old son, Emmett. This movie should have been an Oscar-contender. Then read this. Do people ever really escape their crimes…I don’t think so.
Forget the critics, we loved The Little Mermaid (and the all-you-can-eat-heartattack-waiting-to-happen-popcorn).
$6 Tuesday at Smitty’s Theater.n...That’s a wrap. Comments? Your recommendations?
Amy ❣️
Good Times at Two Bookstores:It was so fun to be at Gibson’s Bookstore with YOU ALL and Kari Allen. Thank you!
Wellesley Bookstore was also wonderful. I signed some books, found a schnauzer in the stuffed animal bin (had to purchase, of course), and new friend and author Lisa Rogers came to see me.
signed books are waiting for you in Wellesley Massachusetts! You can pet the schnauzer, too…Would you be so kind to leave a review of The McNifficents on Amazon or Goodreads? THANK YOU!
Good News and Story Links:ICYMI: Ann Patchett recommended McNifficents from her Parnassus bookstore
Next Week: I’ll be giving away a few copies of The McNifficents
When in Boston: Go see the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. What a collection (and 13 missing paintings with a $10 million dollar reward…)
June 27, 2023
Thank You for the Book Launch
Thank you for helping me launch The McNifficents into the world!
If you’re a subscriber, then I know you’re invested in me and my writing. Ya’ll are basically keeping me alive! Your support and positivity is a tremendous serotonin boost (I’d say dopamine, but serotonin is attributed to longer lasting happiness than the temporary hit of dopamine :)
Thank you. It’s good to be alive and loved.
I enjoy hearing about how books come into the world, so here’s the short story on The McNiffs. I’ve been working on this story for over a decade; the first draft was begun in 2012! At the same time I was sending McNiff queries to literary agents, I was also querying Guinevere, which sold first. After that there was more interest for Ten Thousand Tries, so The McNiffs got bumped again. But here she is, finally a book!
A personal note of advice: my “sure-fire” ideas are most often met with a lukewarm response. TAKE HEART! You know what a good story idea is. Stick with it. Be so good that they can’t ignore you.
Amen.
I would love to write three more McNifficent books (one for every season). We shall see - it all depends on how well this first book “performs.” Ugh. It’s a hustle out there, I tell you.
Still, launching a book is pretty thrilling. When Guinevere St. Clair came out, I remember thinking I can never be unhappy again. Ha ha. I really did think that. Life was just so so good and dreams had come true. Was that dopamine or serotonin - or a combo?
Spoiler alert…that feeling lasted for months, but (shocker), didn’t last forever.
Instead of being happy about that achievement, I simply moved the goal posts further - now I could have angst about something else. I have theories about this: there is something about humans that likes to live in a state of unattainability. On the other hand, if we stopped striving, life would be dull and pointless. We would never “become” anything.
Here’s drawing Am I Doing This Right? I feel you, Lian.
Here’s a little drawing I did on my own feelings from the past week:
My biggest negative feelings were (unsurprisingly!) fueled by posts I saw on social media. There were happy author pictures and conferences and big awards ceremonies that inevitably led my brain to compare (THE THIEF OF JOY!).
Wonderful Simon and Schuster editor Justin Chanda once told me, “don’t worry about any of that stuff. Just keep working and write your best book.”
And yet, sometimes…I guess I’m a human. Or maybe I’m Ariel the mermaid, I want mooore…
While reading Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, I came across this all-too-accurate passage:
“People always describe jealousy as this sharp, green, venomous thing. Unfounded, vinegary, mean-spirited. But I’ve found that jealousy, to writers, feel more like fear…jealousy is constantly comparing myself to her and coming up short; is panicking that I’m not writing well enough or fast enough, that I am not, and never will be, enough…”
Oof.
And so, while comparing myself to others, my brain chemistry dipped…until I got a big serotonin spike when literary icon Ann Patchett recommended McNifficents on an Instagram reel. I can never be unhappy again!
YES! Ann Patchett is holding The McNifficents!Heavens. And so it goes, the roller coaster ride of publishing.
Must get a grip (but isn’t the Ann Patchett thing so cool?)
So while trying to make a living off of selling books (largely out of my control), I’m working on learning to be content with doing my best and knowing that it’s enough (but please let me get a paycheck to pay for groceries).
Contentment. Or, in biological terms, Homeostasis: when the body is in perfect balance, physiologically. When life throws us curve balls, we react, but scramble to balance as soon as possible. Our body likes to feel like a balanced seesaw.
I’m trying to be a balanced person and not an up-and-down psychopath (she said lovingly :)
In conclusion, together we launched a book into the world! Wow. GOOD WORK. And: Dear Universe, please let me write the next good thing.
I leave you with baby Jack, who reminds me of Harold and the Purple Crayon. He is most definitely a serotonin boost in life.
Forget your book, can I just walk Lord Tennyson around the store?Amy ❣️
p.s. I’ve run out of time, but next week: book recommendations, a great television series, and a movie I loved!
TONIGHT:Tuesday, June 27, GIBSON’S BOOKSTORE Join me and picture book author, Kari Allen for a book signing meet and greet. Concord NH, 4:30-6pm.
Or…Saturday, July 1, 2023, 2pm Wellesley Bookstore, Meet & Greet Book Signing, Wellesley MA.
Hope to see you there! I’ve got bookmarks, pencils, and story maps for you <3
Hey friends. If you ordered the McNifficents, would you please leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads? The algorithm pays attention and then recommends the book to more people. THANK YOU!
And if you like the book, thank you for recommending to a friend, library, school, or social media. I see your posts and am so thankful.
Come Along With Me is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
June 20, 2023
It's a Book Birthday for THE MCNIFFICENTS!
What a thrill to finally see The McNifficents out in the world today! This is a story about six rambunctious kids who are home for summer break with their steadfast nanny, Lord Tennyson, who happens to be a miniature schnauzer. He is a rather spectacular dog who would prefer bow ties to the bite marks on his collar from when Sweetums (18 months) was going through a particularly bad biting phase. Babies.
It’s a story about love and the special role that each person in a family plays. There are laughs! Tears! There are squabbles, a lost sister, wandering water buffalo, and reconciliation. The artwork by French illustrator, Ariel Landy, is spot on wonderful.
Thank you purchasing the book, recommending, leaving a review, asking your library to order, shared online, and for giving me support. All of these things are HUGELY helpful to an author (and not too late for any of them :) Getting a book into the world is a lot of work and I am thankful to YOU.
Amy ❣️
Your signed book is waiting for you!!!!Come Along With Me is a reader-supported publication. Subscribe now and thank you!
Book Trailer by Dan HaringI was thrilled to work with animator, Dan Haring, who created this terrific McNifficent book trailer:
An Interview With Middle Grade Book Village:If you’d like to read a little bit more about the inspiration behind The McNifficents, something surprising, and writing from the point of view of a dog (what?!) click HERE. Thanks for having me in the village!
TONIGHT IS THE MCNIFFICENT PARTY!Tonight, Tuesday, June 20, it’s a MCNIFFICENT BOOK LAUNCH PARTY. Morgan Hill Bookstore, New London NH, 6pm. CALL NOW to get your book! Come for snacks, swag, and a special furry friend to take pictures with (look for the big unicorn balloon swaying in the wind outside the bookstore :).
p.s. what should I wear? always the question.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:Tuesday, June 27, GIBSON’S BOOKSTORE Join me and picture book author, Kari Allen for a book signing meet and greet. Concord NH, 4:30-6pm.
Saturday, July 1, 2023, 2pm Wellesley Bookstore, Meet & Greet Book Signing, Wellesley MA.
Thank you, friends. SO MUCH.
Good News and Story Links:ICYMI: You can order MCNIFFICENTS HERE (from any book retailer)
Win a McNifficent Book: Here! Only twelve more hours before the giveaway closes…
Other Middle Grade Book Birthdays: Congratulations Rajani LaRocca (author and doctor), A VACCINE IS LIKE A MEMORY is out today. Chris Baron’s THE GRAY came out one week ago. I’m looking forward to both.
Reading: Authors behaving badly Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, and a healing book on faith and depression Silent Souls Weeping by Jane Clayson Johnson
Cheerio. Have a McNifficent day!
Come Along With Me is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
June 13, 2023
Why You Should Read The McNifficents
Hello friends!
A quick note to say that THE MCNIFFICENTS hits shelves IN ONE WEEK!
Thank you so much to all of you who have already ordered The McNifficents 🙏
If you haven’t yet, now’s your chance!
You might like this book if you:like stories about big, messy, chaotically-funny, imperfect families
like to laugh
may want to feel a little teary by the end
need a summertime feel-good book
like stories with a unique, gallant protagonist who strives to do the right thing
need to revisit your naughty, childhood days
want to feel brave like Pearl
want to remember your first crush at the lake
like stories about love between a beloved dog and his children
ever wanted to reimagine your childhood in New Hampshire with chickens, two rabbits, and wandering water buffalo
want a present for anyone who likes to read! (most especially kids, 5-12)
need a hero
Right after I wrote “hero” the lyrics to Bonnie Tyler popped into my brain:
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong, and he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
THIS IS LORD TENNYSON!!!! 😂
No, but for real.
Now it’s obvious, right? You want to read this book.
The time is now, my friends.
As always, with every order, I’m happy to send signed bookplates, visit classrooms, book clubs and/or summer programs. Lemme know. I’m here for you.
Thank you ever so much!
Amy ❣️
p.s. Coming soon: the McNifficent book trailer by the one and only (of Tangled fame!)
If you cannot purchase right now, here are other ways to help:Ask your librarian(s) to order the book
Add the book to your Goodreads shelf (Giveaway is live!)
Word of Mouth Recommendation (to librarians, schools, book clubs, summer reading programs, and bookstores that you frequent)
Share the book on social media. Your recommendation is golden
TY 🙏
COME SEE ME:Tuesday, June 20, MCNIFFICENT BOOK LAUNCH PARTY. Morgan Hill Bookstore, New London NH, 6pm. Preorder NOW and come for snacks, swag, and a special furry friend to take pictures with!
Tuesday, June 27, GIBSON’S BOOKSTORE Join me and picture book author, Kari Allen for a book signing meet and greet. Concord NH, 4:30-6pm.
Saturday, July 1, 2023, 2pm Wellesley Bookstore, Meet & Greet Book Signing, Wellesley MA.
Thank you, friends. SO MUCH.
Good News and Story Links:ICYMI: You can order MCNIFFICENTS HERE (from any book retailer)
Win a McNifficent Book: Here!
Roald Dahl’s Diaries and Book Ideas: By the wonderful
Inkygirl: Debbie’s first picture book came out when she was 50; it’s never too late
Come Along With Me is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
June 6, 2023
Only You Can Write That Story...
I am fascinated by what inspires an author to write a story. Anything and everything can be the start of your story. Is that wonderful? The seeds are EVERYWHERE!
One of my favorite parts of a book is the acknowledgements at the end because the author will often reference, thank, and acknowledge the inspiration behind a story. Some readers like to read the acknowledgements before they even start the book. I like to save it; it feels like such a juicy, anticipated treat!
A few examples of writers and real life:
Meg Medina’s picture book, Mango, Abuela and Me was inspired by her childhood and her far-away Spanish-speaking grandmother. There’s even a Spanish-talking parrot (love).
Mae Respicio’s experience as a Filipino-American plays into all of her middle grade novels in a really natural way.
John Green’s experience with a cancer-stricken teen when he was a student chaplain would inspire him to write the mega-hit THE FAULT IN OUR STARS.
This week, wrote about paying attention to the smallest of details. Like the ants gathering on a leaf. Have you ever watched busy-building ants? The other day I stopped and stood very still to watch a bubble-bee buzz around, hover, and land on my pink rhododendron plant. It was absolutely mesmerizing. There’s a story there.
Suleika calls this “the Annie Dillard effect,” named after the Pulitzer prize-winning book Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, where “anything and everything” caught her attention as she wrote.
The devil might be in the details - but so is great literature.
Suleika cites Annie Proulx and Cowboy Bar:
As the tale goes, she (Proulx) was there one night and caught a glance between a cowboy playing pool and another sitting alone at the bar—a glance that seemed to mean something more. She was curious, she wondered what that something more was, and she went back to her studio and wrote into that possibility.
That glance would become “Brokeback Mountain.”
took her boarding school experiences and turned them into the page-turning literary thriller I Have Some Questions For You. (I KNOW these schools!)
Everything , they say, is copy.
Using Real Life to Write Fabulous Fiction” part I and II.
writes a terrific newsletter that looks at writer’s diaries. What a treasure trove! Sylvia Plath, Roald Dahl, and C.S. Lewis…I am obsessed.
The point is: YOUR stories are all around you. And only YOU can write THAT story.
Here is some McNifficent inspiration:
There once was a dog named Lord Tennyson…
who was very very loved.
He was grabbed and tugged and tolerated the children
He counseled and comforted
He was dressed up for all of the holidays, much to his chagrin…
He accompanied the children on many naughty adventures…like pulling the bell at the library…My friends, the tiniest detail could be the seed for a much bigger and important creative work.
Observing life has become such a joy as I write it down and share it with others.
And if you don’t write it, who will? Elizabeth Gilbert has this interesting theory in “Big Magic.” She didn’t have the energy to write a particular story and so the idea left her and floated to Ann Patchett who did write it…WILD and woo-woo and I kindof love it…
In conclusion:
Last week I spoke to a group of fifth graders in their library and a group of eighth-graders as part of their “career day.” We talked about this “real life to fiction” idea. You should have seen their eyes (and their teacher’s eyes!) light up at all the possibilities. I tell you what, our kids and teachers are going through it. THEY HAVE STORIES.
And so do you.
If you want to write, you have everything you need. It’s right in front of you. I hope you know that. Now the only thing left to do is…START.
Amy ❣️
Come Along With Me is a reader-supported publication. Thank you for subscribing and supporting my work.
Event News:The McNifficents releases in 14 days. AHHHHH. Exciting times.
COME SEE ME:
Tuesday, June 20, MCNIFFICENT BOOK LAUNCH PARTY. Morgan Hill Bookstore, New London NH, 6pm. Preorder NOW and come for snacks, swag, and a special furry friend to take pictures with!
Tuesday, June 27, GIBSON’S BOOKSTORE Join me and picture book author, Kari Allen for a book signing meet and greet. Concord NH, 4:30-6pm.
Saturday, July 1, 2023, 2pm Wellesley Bookstore, Meet & Greet Book Signing, Wellesley MA.
Please spread the news and PLEASE BUY A COPY!
Thank you, friends. SO MUCH.
Good News and Story Links:ICYMI: 7 Questions With Emmy!
A 20-Book McNifficents Goodreads Giveaway: Here!
Breathtaking: Everything writes. Seriously.
What I’m Reading: Midnight Without a Moon by Linda Williams Jackson (WOW)
Watched: She Said (loved it; interview with Jodi Kantor and )
Can’t Wait:: Lessons in Chemistry coming Apple+ TV
May 30, 2023
What I Read (and LOVED) #1
Quick question.
Do you prefer one weekly book recommendation or a monthly round-up?
I’ve got books for you. I LOVED this month’s reading.
A coming of age story about a girl figuring out her faith, her body, and middle school, this is a quick and still-delightful read. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret celebrated fifty years in 2020 - that’s longevity. And REALLY cool that author-illustrator redesigned the new covers. Read about her experience HERE!
Another coming of age story, Hey, Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt with Family Addiction will kindof break your heart and then put it back together again. Sad, uplifting, with a great story about dealing with hard family relationships, a parent’s addiction, and the courage to pursue your God-given gifts. Yeah, this is a good one. A graphic novel written and illustrated by Jarrett J Krosoczka. Read it. You won’t regret it, no matter your age (A National Book Finalist!)
And finally, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. An utter delight. Brilliant, funny - and incredibly infuriating if you’re a woman and most esp if you’re a brilliant female chemist in the 1960s.
Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. “In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is not such thing as an average woman.”
While cooking in front of a studio audience, Elizabeth Zott (who would much rather be in a medical lab, but cooking is, after all, just chemistry), says:
“Chemistry is inseparable from life - by its very definition, chemistry is life. But like your pie, life requires a strong base. In your home, you are that base. It is an enormous responsibility, the most undervalued job in the world that, nonetheless, holds everything together.” Several women in the audience nodded vigorously…because they love Elizabeth Zott. She takes them seriously. “It is my experience that far too many people do not appreciate the work and sacrifice that goes into being a wife, a mother, a woman. Well, I am not one of them. At the end of our thirty minutes together, we WILL have done something worth doing. We will have created something that will not go unnoticed. We will have made supper. And it will matter.”
“Children, set the table. Your mother needs a moment to herself.” I wanted to jump up and CHEER.
And finally… 16 Words: William Carlos Williams & “The Red Wheelbarrow” by Lisa Rogers. A gorgeous introduction to the power of words and poetry. I read this for a story time read aloud and it was a big hit.
Come Along With Me is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Audiobooks in progress:Man’s Search for Meaning and The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper.
Listening on Libby and Hoopla, both FREE (both so good), with thousands of free audios to listen to. Ask your local librarian for assistance!
What are you reading right now?
Event News:A reminder that The McNifficents releases in 21 days. PLEASE considering ordering!
COME SEE ME:
Tuesday, June 20, MCNIFFICENT BOOK LAUNCH PARTY. Morgan Hill Bookstore, New London NH, 6pm. Preorder NOW and come for snacks, swag, and a special furry friend to take pictures with!
Tuesday, June 27, GIBSON’S BOOKSTORE Join me and picture book author, Kari Allen for a book signing meet and greet. Concord NH, 4:30-6pm.
Saturday, July 1, 2023, 2pm Wellesley Bookstore, Meet & Greet Book Signing, Wellesley MA
Please spread the news!
Thank you, friends. SO MUCH.
Good News and Story Links:Recorded: 7 Questions With Emmy! Emmy is the cutest 8-year-old interviewer ever (and also Drew Barrymore’s bestie, so….)
On the Roster: If you’re involved with the NH/VT Children’s Literacy Foundation, keep me in mind for a presentation. I want to come to your school!
ICYMI: Did I mention The McNifficents is On Sale now? Get a copy 🤓
Amy ❣️
What I Read (and LOVED) This Month
Quick question.
Do you prefer one weekly book recommendation or a monthly round-up?
I’ve got books for you. I LOVED this month’s reading.
A coming of age story about a girl figuring out her faith, her body, and middle school, this is a quick and still-delightful read. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret celebrated fifty years in 2020 - that’s longevity. And REALLY cool that author-illustrator redesigned the new covers. Read about her experience HERE!
Another coming of age story, Hey, Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt with Family Addiction will kindof break your heart and then put it back together again. Sad, uplifting, with a great story about dealing with hard family relationships, a parent’s addiction, and the courage to pursue your God-given gifts. Yeah, this is a good one. A graphic novel written and illustrated by Jarrett J Krosoczka. Read it. You won’t regret it, no matter your age (A National Book Finalist!)
And finally, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. An utter delight. Brilliant, funny - and incredibly infuriating if you’re a woman and most esp if you’re a brilliant female chemist in the 1960s.
Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. “In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is not such thing as an average woman.”
While cooking in front of a studio audience, Elizabeth Zott (who would much rather be in a medical lab, but cooking is, after all, just chemistry), says:
“Chemistry is inseparable from life - by its very definition, chemistry is life. But like your pie, life requires a strong base. In your home, you are that base. It is an enormous responsibility, the most undervalued job in the world that, nonetheless, holds everything together.” Several women in the audience nodded vigorously…because they love Elizabeth Zott. She takes them seriously. “It is my experience that far too many people do not appreciate the work and sacrifice that goes into being a wife, a mother, a woman. Well, I am not one of them. At the end of our thirty minutes together, we WILL have done something worth doing. We will have created something that will not go unnoticed. We will have made supper. And it will matter.”
“Children, set the table. Your mother needs a moment to herself.” I wanted to jump up and CHEER.
And finally… 16 Words: William Carlos Williams & “The Red Wheelbarrow” by Lisa Rogers. A gorgeous introduction to the power of words and poetry. I read this for a story time read aloud and it was a big hit.
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Audiobooks in progress:Man’s Search for Meaning and The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper.
Listening on Libby and Hoopla, both FREE (both so good), with thousands of free audios to listen to. Ask your local librarian for assistance!
What are you reading right now?
Event News:A reminder that The McNifficents releases in 21 days. PLEASE considering ordering!
COME SEE ME:
Tuesday, June 20, MCNIFFICENT BOOK LAUNCH PARTY. Morgan Hill Bookstore, New London NH, 6pm. Preorder NOW and come for snacks, swag, and a special furry friend to take pictures with!
Tuesday, June 27, GIBSON’S BOOKSTORE Join me and picture book author, Kari Allen for a book signing meet and greet. Concord NH, 4:30-6pm.
Saturday, July 1, 2023, 2pm Wellesley Bookstore, Meet & Greet Book Signing, Wellesley MA
Please spread the news!
Thank you, friends. SO MUCH.
Good News and Story Links:Recorded: 7 Questions With Emmy! Emmy is the cutest 8-year-old interviewer ever (and also Drew Barrymore’s bestie, so….)
On the Roster: If you’re involved with the NH/VT Children’s Literacy Foundation, keep me in mind for a presentation. I want to come to your school!
ICYMI: Did I mention The McNifficents is On Sale now? Get a copy 🤓
Amy ❣️
May 23, 2023
a poem for my daughters
The world
will find a way
to break down
and belittle
Her
But her mother
never will
There is only LIGHT
and YES YOU CAN.
This is feminism -
at its best
Inspired by a conversation I heard between authors Meg Wolitzer and (thanks for the link, Sarah!). I was listening, minding my own business, folding some laundry, when their words stopped me mid-sock-roll. I rushed to get a piece of paper to write it down. I never went back to see if I wrote it down correctly because...well, I liked where it landed and didn’t want to jinx it.
So thanks, Meg and Rebecca! Two female writers I adore.
It reminds me of two other women writers: my mother and Tony Morrison.
My mother because: feminism and her fierce love for women and children.
And Toni Morrison, who once said something like - do your eyes light up when your child enters the room?
They should, I think. What more does a child need? (besides Goldfish crackers? :)
Anyway. Let your eyes light up. Give them wings and watch them fly. That is all.
Amy ❣️
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#Taylornationoh wow. yes, we saw Taylor Swift on Friday night . It’s hard to explain how epic it was. From a writing standpoint: lyrical genius. From an evolution standpoint: awe-inspiring.
T. Swift has been making music professionally for seventeen years. From sweet acoustic country gal to cross-over global pop superstar, she is arguably the best in the world. I admire her immensely. We witnessed someone who has doggedly pursued her craft until achieving mastery. Also, she’s kind.
For three hours, she transformed from one “era” to the next. She was “lover” era with a flowery dress and guitar, transitioning to sequined bodysuits to rousing female empowerment anthems to fairy nympth floating around the stage talking about her quill pen. And the audience ATE IT UP. She is just SO GOOD.
My children made fun of me for wearing my Proctor fleece (which I had no intention of actually wearing at the concert) - but I was COLD! #nofashionregrets
Yes, I let them put pink glitter on my face 🙌
We didn’t get home until 4:50a.m. but as Paige said, “my life has been changed.” Thank you, Taylor Swift.
Event News:Hey, just a reminder that The McNifficents is available for pre-order now (29 days until release). Pre-orders are super important. Publishers pay a lot of attention to those numbers and that means your book is sent to bookstores…or not. Also that algorithm is paying attention. SO, THANK YOU in advance!
a tale of six children, summertime, and a rather spectacular dogAND, finally, I would really love to see you at either of these events…
Tuesday, June 20, MCNIFFICENT BOOK LAUNCH PARTY. Morgan Hill Bookstore, New London NH, 6pm. Snacks, swag, and a special furry friend to take pictures with!
Click to Order from Morgan Hill
Tuesday, June 27, GIBSON’S BOOKSTORE Join me and picture book author, Kari Allen for a book signing meet and greet. Concord NH, 4:30-6pm.
If you order from these two local bookstores, you not only help out a local indie, but also receive a signed book, bookmark, and watercolor story map! Wheeeee.
Thank you, friends. SO MUCH.
Come Along With Me is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
