Celebrating Our Humanity
The Guest House: An Unexpected Research Gift
I spent much of July acquainting you with The House Guests, my latest novel. Months ago, as I did research , I came across this powerful poem by Rumi because of the similar title. Today I want to share it with you. Does “The Guest House” relate directly to “The House Guests?” I think it…
Read MoreSaying Goodbye: Books are Like Children and Old Friends
I have four children, and I adore every one of them. But perhaps because I have four, empty nest syndrome was never a real problem in my life. When the first three took off, one after the other, the fourth was still around for years. And during that time the older three returned at varying…
Read MoreLaugh Like Your Life Depends On It
Do I look upset to you? Very, very upset? Or did you say to yourself (correctly) that, no, Emilie is channeling Lewis Black for a good laugh. Because that’s what I’m doing, and a pretty good job of it, too. On Saturday Proman and I did what we’ve promised ourselves we would do for a…
Read MoreGive Me Your Tired…
The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus (1883) Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome;…
Read MoreThe Sweet Spot Between Pride and Guilt
Do you feel like you’ve accomplished enough in your life? Or do you feel as if you never quite got there, or will? I’ll confess I’m firmly in that second category. I don’t care about lists or number of books sold–at least not too much. I don’t care if every reader who picked up one…
Read MoreChautauqua: The Most American Thing in America
According to President Theodore Roosevelt, Chautauqua, where I spend my summers, “is the most American thing in America.” President Roosevelt may well have been speaking about the traveling Chautauquas as well as the “Mother Chautauqua” planted on Lake Chautauqua in Western NY in 1874, after a period of great political crisis as well as religious…
Read MoreThe Election: The Five-Hundred Pound Gorilla in your Living Room
I’ve debated writing a blog about the election for a while. I don’t believe Southern Exposure is the right place for politics. In fact I’m sure it’s not. At the same time I like to think what I say here is relevant to our daily lives, mine and yours. Last Sunday’s inspirational post was about the delights…
Read MoreStrike Up the Band for Reading
Distractions are part of the deal for writers. A child cries. A stomach rumbles. A favorite TV show is on in another part of the house. And if you’re a writer at Chautauqua Institution in Western New York, one of those distractions each year is a vivid reminder that books matter. A lot. Today a…
Read MoreResurrecting the Past
While my new book, When We Were Sisters, explores the lives of two foster sisters who are slowly resurrecting the past they shared, in my own life, I’ve been doing some of the same. Some of you know that we lost our beloved beagle several weeks ago. Nemo’s death was a surprise of the kind none…
Read MoreGlobal Literacy
A reminder to all of us from the proofreading website Grammarly. If you’re reading this blog, then you have been given one of the greatest of gifts, the ability to read. International Literacy Day was September 8th, a fact I just discovered, but the message is important any day of the year. I’m looking forward…
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