Aaron Armstrong's Blog, page 21

Sitting at the Top of the Christian Publishing World

Our friend Mary Wiley joins us this week for a chat about publishing, writing theology books for kids, why we need more books like Gentle and Lowly, and the time a group of people lost their minds when Dave told them about a little book she wrote.

A few of the books mentioned on today’s episode Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund The Gospel Story and Everyday Theology by Mary Wiley The Last Kind Words Saloon by Larry McMurtry

Feeling the Randomness

It’s the day of random on today’s episode and Aaron & Dave share different moments from silly and ridiculous books they love.

A few of the books mentioned on this episode Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost A Hard Thing on a Beautiful Day by Ted Kluck Radical by David Platt Open by Andre Agassi

Breaking Reading Slumps and Books that Keep Us Up At Night

This week we’re taking things easy and letting the Internet guide our discussion, with three questions from our friends over at Goodreads:

What’s the last book that busted a reading slump for you?What was the last book you stayed up too late reading?Is there a best time to read?A few of the books we mentioned in this episode The Clanlands Book by Sam Heughan and Grant McTavish The High Divide and American Gospel by Lin Enger Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund The Multi-Directional Leade...

Hemingway, Returning to Conference Bookstores, Canada’s Ken Burns

Nature may or may not be healing, folks, because I’m back on duty in an exhibit hall for TGC’s Women’s and National Conferences! But that didn’t me from taking a few minutes on a Friday afternoon to talk with Dave about what it’s like being back in exotic Indianapolis and to be around all the books after all this time.

Meanwhile, Dave woke up at 2 in the morning to watch Ken Burns’ Hemingway documentary and couldn’t wait to talk about it and to ask an important question: who is Canada’s Ken B...

Celebrating Beverly Clearly

The literary world lost another giant when Beverly Cleary died a couple of weeks before her 105th birthday. Listen in as we discuss her enduring legacy, some of the surprise books we didn’t realize she wrote, and a whole lot more.

A selection of Beverly Cleary’s books mentioned in this episode Henry Huggins Ralph S. Mouse Ramona & Beezus

But really, all her books are delightful.

A couple of other books we discuss The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead True Believer: The Ris...

A big announcement on a special day…

As many of you may know, April 1 is an important day in my life as an author. It is the day when many of my most well-received books have been announced or released. Epic made its way into peoples’ hands on that day. The Bar Is Low brought a realistic view of what marriage can be. And today, I have the pleasure of announcing a new book.

It is a book still without a title, but one that has been nagging at me in the background for 6 years:

It’s a book for adult new believers trying to figure...

Special Announcements & Questionable Timing

A trend has emerged in recent years within Christian publishing circles: the book contract announcement photo. As it has evolved, it has taken on many different forms, beginning with the blurry contract corner and getting progressively more interesting as they go. Today we’re discussing several styles—what we like, what we don’t, and what we wish we’d see—along with me making a special announcement of my own.

But what is that announcement? You’ll have to listen to this special bonus episode t...

Mourning McMurtry

The literary world lost a legend last week when it was announced that Larry McMurtry, acclaimed author of Lonesome Dove, The Last Picture Show, and more than two dozen others, died at age 84. Listen in as we discuss what we know (and learn) about his work, and make plans to read one of his books together.

A selection of Larry McMurtry’s books mentioned on today’s episode The Last Picture Show Anything for Billy Terms of Endearment Comanche Moon Streets of Laredo Dead Man’s Walk A couple...

Identity Crisis-ish

Every organization, church, blog, and even podcast can succumb to mission drift if its identity is not continually being clarified. So today, much like Derek Zoolander did when he saw his reflection in a puddle, we’re getting a little introspective on the show and asking the question, “Who am I?” Listen in as we discuss:

What we’re really all about—and who are we really trying to beWhy our faith can’t not be a part of the show (even when we rarely discuss books connected to our faith)Carrying...

Too Christian and Not Christian Enough

One of the creative cohorts & publishing companies Dave and Aaron both love is The Rabbit Room, for many different reasons, not the least of which being the people running it. So this week, Dave and Aaron are joined by none other than Pete Peterson, its executive director and managing editor. Listen in as we discuss:

The story of The Rabbit RoomThe publishing philosophy of “do less better”The challenges of reading for pleasure when working in publishingThe feedback Pete—and his brother Andrew...