Browsed by
Author: The Refresh

Author to Author: Courtenay Hameister and Jackie Shannon Hollis

Author to Author: Courtenay Hameister and Jackie Shannon Hollis

In their memoirs, Jackie Shannon Hollis and Courtenay Hameister bravely tackle not only what it means when life doesn’t exactly go as hoped or planned, but how to navigate challenges with humor and grace. They discuss tips for emerging authors, the role social media engagement plays in reaching readers, how to write about difficult and  potentially revealing topics and how to honor existing relationships while telling their stories with honesty and sincerity. Jackie Shannon Hollis (JSH): I absolutely loved your…

Read More Read More

Mary Had a Little Poem: Reflections on Mary Oliver

Mary Had a Little Poem: Reflections on Mary Oliver

by: Lauren Jonik The sound of water rushing over the large, grey boulders that dotted the creek just outside punctuated the stillness. A faint light from a room adjacent to the yoga studio was the only source of illumination. As I lay on my back, surrounded by six other people and exhausted by the effort of my practice, my inhalations deepened. My muscles relaxed deeply into the thick, tan beach towel beneath me—I didn’t yet own a proper yoga mat….

Read More Read More

Author to Author: Soniah Kamal and Rebecca Entel

Author to Author: Soniah Kamal and Rebecca Entel

In their latest novels, Soniah Kamal and Rebecca Entel incorporate history and cultural heritage and reach back through time to create stories that have modern-day resonance. Kamal’s Unmarriageable is a retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice as viewed through a Pakistani lens. Entel’s Fingerprints on Previous Owners is a slave narrative set in the Caribbean. Rebecca Entel:  I recently attended a talk on Jane Austen fandom and couldn’t stop thinking about your new book! What was the impetus for Unmarriageable? Do…

Read More Read More

Walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela

Walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela

by: Ele Pawelski In the fiery orange of dawn, I cross the old San Marcos Bridge out of León, Spain. It’s early, but I’m far from alone. Walking poles tap-tap on ancient stone as I march ahead with the handful of other pilgrims. My first Camino day will be a 20-kilometer segment, with the goal of reaching Santiago de Compostela’s grand Cathedral in two weeks. I’m confident I can do it because this is Camino 2.0 for me. Walking the…

Read More Read More

Author to Author: Jennifer Haupt and Ele Pawelski

Author to Author: Jennifer Haupt and Ele Pawelski

Ele Pawelski, author of The Finest Supermarket in Kabul, and Jennifer Haupt, author of In the Shadow of 10,000 Hills, talk crossing the lines between fiction and nonfiction. Both have travelled extensively through conflict zones and have crafted fictional works that incorporate pieces of their harrowing, moving experiences. Jennifer Haupt: How long did you spend in Kabul, and why did you decide to write a novella instead of a memoir? Ele Pawelski: I was in Kabul for just under 18…

Read More Read More