This week, between my regular pages and my audiobooks, I have had an excellent reading week and have a few good books to share with y’all. ❤

In the coming weeks, I’m reading – and listening to – several books on writing and creativity as I’m diving into my book project, intending to have a first draft by conference in June. That said, I’ll be sharing the best I find of those as well as my regular reads.

First is Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear. I listened to this audiobook on Libby earlier this week – read by Liz – and found it helpful for writers and really all creative types.

She offered plenty of  inspiring thoughts, encouraging everyone to “create whatever causes a revolution in your heart,” as well as concrete suggestions for getting the work done. It’s definitely worth a read – or listen.

The second book, Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, by Natalie Goldberg, was one I read as my “bedtime book,” which meant – as I’ve been experiencing some serious autoimmune fatigue and sleep disruption with this weather – I finished it between many naps through the night last night.

Still, it was a wonderful book for writers, one I’ve seen on many recommended lists over the years, and can’t believe I have just gotten to it.

Fellow writers, pick this one up.

The final book of this week’s report comes with a good story – and a wonderful group of friends.

At the first of the year, I was blessed and lucky to be “adopted” into the best book club where my Al and my Cheryl have belonged since its start several years ago.

This wonderful group of ladies welcomed me as a late comer – and I am so thankful.

Having arrived to the party so late, I was sitting in at this gathering as they were rating all of the books they have read over the past three years. At the time, I said I wasn’t really a fiction reader – but, of course, was going to read each monthly book to enjoy book club.

The collective recommendation was that I read The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams, a book that the group had loved and those who know me well felt sure I would also.

I came home and placed a hold on Libby. . .

Well, here we are almost three weeks later and some new things are true:

1. I loved this book so much – so very much – and recommend it highly, particularly to my ladies. It is outstanding.
2. Now, along with my regular TBR book pile, I also have a TBR fiction stack next to my bed with all of our spring book club reads – and I’m so looking forward to reading them with my friends – so I can’t really say I don’t read fiction anymore.

So grateful for learning new things – and especially for making new friends. ❤

Be well, everybody. Take care of yourselves and each other – and stay toasty out there.

Grace and Blessings.