“Contact light.” – Buzz Aldrin Although we remember the immortal line, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” from Neil Armstrong as he stepped onto the lunar surface, the above quote by Buzz Aldrin contains the actual first words spoken from the Moon when Apollo 11 landed on July 20, 1969. […]

The stress before the big day is done and finally the relaxing can begin! Your vacation packing checklist should include clothes, sunscreen, chargers, power adapters, and, of course, a great book. Here are a few of my recommendations for fun honeymoon reads: Southern Lady Code by Helen Ellis Ayesha At Last by Uzma Jalaluddin My […]

“The idea of waiting for something makes it more exciting.” Andy Warhol After what has seemed to be a never-ending winter and spring, with massive snows and torrential downpours, the heat of summer has finally started to make an appearance. The longer days bring more time for reading. As Lisa Schroeder wrote, “Books and summertime […]

With the final season of Game of Thrones coming to an end, the fervor over the television show has reached a fever pitch. Game of Thrones and the book series that inspired the show, A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin, have brought fantasy to new levels of worldwide popularity.  Fantasy and […]

“There is no such thing as a child who hates to read; there are only children who have not found the right book.” -Frank Serafini As a life long and voracious reader, I understandably love books, but I enjoy sharing the joys of reading even more. It is so wonderful to recommend the perfect book […]

Book lovers know the power of a great book. They know that inside those magical pages lies a story that can change lives. As Charles W. Eliot said, “Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” Books allow readers to paint […]

Dirty John, Fyre, Making a Murderer, and American Crime Story are just a few of the multitude of titles for true crime events that have been recently released. In fact it seems as if every time I turn around there is a new (and successful) show, documentary, or podcast devoted to a shocking crime. I […]

As the hustle and bustle of the holidays comes to an end, it is almost as if you can hear the collective deep breath from everyone. The completely immersive exhale of finally having everything done and attended to never quite feels like it lasts long enough. The world ramps up again with resolutions and normality, […]

As the holidays loom and the end of 2018 draws near, this period of time seems like an especially good one to reflect upon the year gone by and the wonderful books that I read. Since this time is filled with “best of” book lists, or the option to vote in the Goodreads Choice Awards, I […]

For me, as the night grows longer, the sky mimics it and imbues rich hues of indigo, celestial and midnight blue over our heads. The painted shades seem to be added one stroke at a time, furthering the transition into the deep dark night. The darkness inspires our dreams, and, in turn, allows us to […]

After writing about my deep love of art in my publisher’s note, I want to take this opportunity to share some wonderful art related books in my monthly column. Art is such a broad topic. It continues to fascinate me, and there seems to be something to suit every taste. Whether describing a famous artist […]

Growing up, the wonders of Kansas City seemed normal. It was just the place where I lived, with no history or preconceived notions to color my thoughts and experiences. The moment that changed was while I was watching the 1955 movie version of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!. I remember hearing the song, “Kansas City,” and […]

For me, August has always been the pinnacle of summer. The month where, instead of the climbing balmy winds of June and July, the heat of August sits still before the drop into the crisp chill of fall. August makes me want to eke out the last pleasures that summer has to offer and often […]

Making The Perfect Plan  As the shock and wonder of the perfect proposal starts to wear off, the panic of planning the wedding begins to set in. With all of the literature out there on the headache that planning a wedding can be, it seems difficult to almost impossible to figure out where to start. […]

Summer always seems to hit me like a freight train. The heavy, hot air condenses around me and knocks the wind from my lungs. The stickiness infuses a sense of lethargy and I’m suddenly brought back to a line from Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind, “the air was oppressive even in the early morning […]

It’s that time of year again. Between Mother’s Day, Graduation and Father’s Day, the need for meaningful gifts seems to crop up every couple of weeks. Since books make the best gifts, here is a gift guide complete with recommendations for the mom, dad, or grad in your life.  Mother’s Day Mothers: An Essay on […]

“Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history.” – Plato In honor of National Poetry Month, I tip my hat to this wonderful art form. Beginning in April of 1996, the Academy of American Poets was inspired by other successful celebratory months to create National Poetry Month. It aims to encourage the reading of poems, […]

Books are my addiction. The beautiful thing about books is that you are never reading the same novel. In each one, there is the opportunity to have an experience you’ve never had before, get lost in the pages or just find a new friend. Even re-reading books feels like catching up with a long lost […]

It’s the stillness that draws me in.  The winter season is the world without adornment. The trees are bare, the air is chillingly cold and even the green grass has gone dormant. The world seems still as if sleeping under blankets of pristine white snow. For me, the stillness of winter seems to hold all […]

The changing of one year to the next holds a type of mystical allure. It’s a time of reflection on the year that has gone by and excitement for the promise of a new beginning. As 2017 drew to a close, I felt as if I was in a speeding train watching the world go […]

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.  As I typed that, I couldn’t help but sing the words in my head. It seems that as soon as Thanksgiving passes, the holiday season is also roaring past. Lights and decorations go up as everyone seems to rush to get their shopping completed. For me though, […]