Every writer aims to be an effective storyteller with their novels. That goal in itself is a lofty challenge. To come across as an effective storyteller in person is a whole new game, especially for those who fit the stereotype of the introvert writer. Bestselling author Jacquelyn Mitchard has the written and verbal craft of storytelling mastered. Readers of…
To get from the seed of an initial idea to a published book, writers have to discover the habits and practices that work best for them. Christina Baker Kline published several works before her most recent novel, Orphan Train, sold over 2 million copies. While her previous books did not attract immediate attention in the way Orphan Train did, her writing…
If Orphan Train has been on your to-read list since its release in 2013, consider bumping it up to your must-read-right-now list. I had been skirting around Christina Baker Kline’s bestselling novel and finally picked it up when I saw she was coming to the Des Moines Public Library’s Authors Visiting in Des Moines (AViD) series. Every…
Historical nonfiction is not a genre I normally dive into, but after listening to best-selling author Karen Abbott speak, I couldn’t be more eager to read her book. Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy interweaves the stories of four women who risked everything during the Civil War. Abbott began her speech by saying that she prefers her protagonists to…
“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” -Charles Darwin Over happy hour martinis and stuffed peppers one evening, my friend brought up a good point; Des Moines, the city we live in, has incredible opportunities for personal development that we could…
