Sydney Avey
Dynamic Woman — Changing Times
Thanksgiving Traditions
I have always cherished Thanksgiving traditions. In unsettled times, traditional celebrations offer the illusion that God is in His Heaven and all is right with the world. Don’t get me wrong. I believe in God and the essential order of the universe.
Book Review: Phoebe’s Journey by Kathryn B. Collett
Phoebe's Journey by Kathryn B. Collett My rating: 4 of 5 stars Phoebe's Journey: Part 1 Of Passion and Pride imagines the life of one of the Apostle Paul's benefactors. I was intrigued when author Kathryn B. Collett told me that Paul devoted two Bible verses (Romans...
Grandma in the Ozarks: The Conversational Loop
Last week, my husband visited Grandma in the Ozarks. The conversational loop she engages in resembles the crochet she used to do. She would work a pattern repeatedly in a circle until it was big enough to be a lace doily, or a tablecloth, or a bedspread. The...
Book Review: One Ordinary Sunday by Paula Huston
One Ordinary Sunday: A Meditation on the Mystery of the Mass by Paula Huston My rating: 4 of 5 stars One Ordinary Sunday by Paula Huston is tagged A Meditation on the Mystery of the Mass. That is three "M" words that raise red flags for many Protestants. I have always...
Women Writing the West: Conference Tidbits
Women Writing the West aims to create a literary explosion comparable to the Southern literary renaissance of the 1930s. Any setting west of the Mississippi River qualifies. Their annual October conference travels year to year to historic Western towns: Tucson,...
So You’ve Written a Book, Part 2
So you've written a book and are contemplating the next step. Where to start? Query the agents who have access to big publishers? Seek a small publisher? Self' publish? Whichever way you go, the "must dos" will fall on your head like fat raindrops. The joy you felt in...
So You’ve Written a Book, Part 1
You’ve written a book, found a publisher, and now it’s time to bring your work to market. I understand why some good writers choose not to publish. The learning curve is steep
Book Review: The Secret Chord
The Secret Chord is the fourth Geraldine Brooks novel I’ve read. I’m a fan. I was especially interested when I heard she was writing about the life of David. I wanted to know why he was so beloved of the Lord.
OSF: Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
A summer’s day at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival last week was a smoky affair. OSF canceled outdoor performances. A walk through town required an air filter mask. Still, we saw three plays on the indoor stages, each as different from the others as artistic realism is from abstract impressionism. So, let’s compare.
