My attempt at fiction…

On Writing

Two weeks ago, I was sitting next to a woman at the informational session for numerous University of Washington certificate programs that begin this fall. She was there for the fiction section, I was there for the editing section. As we waited for our respective groups to be assigned rooms, I commented to her that I was never one to write fiction and that my imagination wasn’t up to snuff in that regard. I admired her penchant for creativity and she, my affinity for detail. We parted amiably and the conversation has stayed with me since.Continue reading

Living with Books

Bibliophile

Yesterday, my cousin shared a link on Facebook to a piece that the company she works for, Shelf Awareness, had posted regarding the possibility that surrounds books and the places that house them. It piqued my interest and was fun to mentally chew on for a bit. Bookshops, libraries, home stacks — all hold infinite potential that tether and summon a devoted reader in inexplicable ways.Continue reading

A Review:

Bibliophile

Blood, Bones & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton

Gabrielle Hamilton’s memoir, Blood, Bones, and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef, was the first impulse purchase I made on my Kindle after being wooed by its free sample. I have found the Kindle samples to be invaluable as I have never been one to stand in a bookstore reading from the book I eventually end up purchasing. I buy because I’m a sucker for good cover art, a bargain, or the shop’s clever display of a title. This willy-nilly way of book buying has led to many beautiful, but not beautifully written books, ending up in the never-read section of my shelves.Continue reading

“Life is a Scam”

Volunteering

During Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, the seed of obligation to serve one’s community had been deftly planted in my mind. The community service site he advocated relentlessly in his speeches was heavily trafficked in my Internet meanderings. I wanted to be a contributing member of that coveted realm of societal do-gooders he spoke about, but was reluctant to commit my time. While my excuses mounted (I work and socialize too much!), so too, did my guilt. The years passed.Continue reading

Conversations from the Countertop

Seattle, About Town

“What I bring to the interview is respect. The person recognizes that you respect them because you’re listening. Because you’re listening, they feel good about talking to you. When someone tells me a thing that happened, what do I feel inside? I want to get the story out. It’s for the person who reads it to have the feeling . . . In most cases the person I encounter is not a celebrity; rather the ordinary person. ‘Ordinary’ is a word I loathe. It has a patronizing air. I have come across ordinary people who have done extraordinary things.” — Studs Terkel (Touch and Go: A Memoir)Continue reading

Genesis

Bibliophile

Searching the Web for jobs in the publishing industry and voraciously scouring Amazon.com’s “Career” page offerings has revealed a common theme. Employers are seeking candidates that know the literary landscape, are voracious readers, and have a passion for books. As I peruse these ads, my mind screams out, “That’s me! That’s me!” It has also made me ponder, when did this love of books and reading begin?Continue reading

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