Steeped in the rugged beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains as America’s War on Terror rages in the background, Sarah St. Vincent’s Ways to Hide in Winter is a powerful story about violence and redemption, betrayal and empathy, and how we reconcile the unforgivable in those we love. < Back Ways to Hide in Winter Sarah St. Vincent July 18, 2019 After surviving a car crash that left her widowed at twenty-two, Kathleen has retreated to a remote corner of a state park, where she works flipping burgers for deer hunters and hikers—happy, she insists, to be left alone. But when a stranger appears in the dead of winter—seemingly out of nowhere, kicking snow from his flimsy dress shoes—Kathleen is intrigued, despite herself. He says he’s a student visiting from Uzbekistan, and his worldliness fills her with curiosity about life beyond the valley. After a cautious friendship settles between them, the stranger confesses to a terrible crime in his home country, and Kathleen finds herself in the grip of a manhunt—and face-to-face with secrets of her own. Steeped in the rugged beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains as America’s War on Terror rages in the background, Sarah St. Vincent ’s Ways to Hide in Winter (Melville House, 2018) is a powerful story about violence and redemption, betrayal and empathy, and how we reconcile the unforgivable in those we love. Sarah St. Vincent grew up in a rural Pennsylvania community similar to the one in which this novel is set. She attended Swarthmore College, Harvard University, and the University of Michigan Law School. She has worked as a legal fellow at the Center for Democracy & Technology and as a clerk at the International Court of Justice. St. Vincent is currently a researcher and advocate on national security, surveillance, and domestic law enforcement for Human Rights Watch. She frequently writes on these topics and has been interviewed recently by such outlets as the Washington Post , The Daily Beast , Reuters, NPR, and Bloomberg West. She lives in New York. Ways to Hide in Winter is her first novel. Listen to Episode Buy Book Previous Next

Sparks fly in Megan Staffel’s novel, The Causative Factor (Regal House 2024), when Rachel is randomly paired with Rubiat, a fellow student, for an assignment in their college art class. < Back The Causative Factor Megan Staffel November 5, 2024 Sparks fly in Megan Staffel’s novel, The Causative Factor (Regal House 2024), when Rachel is randomly paired with Rubiat, a fellow student, for an assignment in their college art class. After a heavenly night together, they go hiking, and he dives off a cliff, disappearing without a trace. Although Rachel graduates with an art degree, moves to New York, and supports her painting as an ESL teacher, she’s scarred for years by the mystery of Rubiat’s disappearance. This is a sweet coming-of-age, but also a suspense-filled novel told in shifting viewpoints, about art, growing up, making choices, and finding love. Megan Staffel splits her time between a farm in western New York State and an apartment in Brooklyn. She is an avid walker, bird watcher, and gardener. Her new novel, The Causative Factor , was inspired by a hike she took with her husband in a state park in October, 2020 and grew into a story about an artist trying to understand the mysterious disappearance of her lover. Staffel's interest in the arts and in the process of art-making has been a life-long passion. Her first novel, She Wanted Something Else , was a story about an artist as well. Staffel's other book publications include a third novel and three collections of short stories. She taught for many years in the MFA program at Warren Wilson College and writes a monthly Substack newsletter, "Page and Story." Listen to Episode Buy Book Previous Next

Caitlin Hamilton Summie’s award-winning collection of short stories is peopled with characters who leave home, return home, or dream of home. The stories alternate between sweet, thoughtful, and sad, all expressing a universal longing for family, friendship and connection. < Back To Lay to Rest our Ghosts Caitlin Hamilton Summie February 14, 2019 An 8-year-old awaits her father’s return from the war. A young man returns home to northern Minnesota for his sister’s funeral. A woman struggles to survive in New York City. Caitlin Hamilton Summie’s award-winning collection of short stories is peopled with characters who leave home, return home, or dream of home. The stories alternate between sweet, thoughtful, and sad, all expressing a universal longing for family, friendship and connection. To Lay to Rest our Ghosts (Fomite Press, 2017) won Silver in the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award for Short Stories, was selected for 35 Over 35’s annual 2017 list, and was named a Pulpwood Queen Book Club Bonus Book. It is also the winner of the fourth annual Phillip H. McMath Post Publication book award. Summie, who earned an MFA at Colorado State University, is the co-founder/owner of a book marketing firm and is online at caitlinhamiltonsummie.com . Listen to Episode Buy Book Previous Next

Written as a series of web posts, Instagram essays, Snapchat posts, rejected Yelp reviews, Facebook screeds, and streams-of-consciousness that merge volcanic confession with eagle-eyed art criticism, Art Is Everything is about a woman who has to grapple with being derailed. < Back Art Is Everything Yxta Maya Murray January 5, 2021 In Art Is Everything (TriQuarterly Books, 2021), L.A. native Amanda Ruiz is a successful Chicana performance artist who is madly in love with her girlfriend, Xochitl. Amanda is about to enjoy a residency at the Guggenheim Museum in New York and plans to film a groundbreaking documentary in Mexico. Then Xochitl’s biological clock begins beeping, Amanda’s father dies, and Amanda is assaulted during an Uber ride. Her life and art are upended and she’s not sure how to get back on track. Written as a series of web posts, Instagram essays, Snapchat posts, rejected Yelp reviews, Facebook screeds, and streams-of-consciousness that merge volcanic confession with eagle-eyed art criticism, Art Is Everything is about a woman who has to grapple with being derailed. After earning her J.D. at Stanford Law School, Yxta Maya Murray clerked for two judges and then joined the Loyola Law School faculty in 1995. Recipient of an Art Writer’s Grant from the Andy Warhol Foundation, she published a one-act play about the Christine Blasey Ford hearings, titled Advice and Consent (LARB Books 2019) and was named a finalist for the National Magazine Awards in Fiction. Her scholarly work focuses on Community Constitutionalism, Criminal Law, Property Law, Gender Justice, and Law and Literature. Professor Murray has published in a number of law journals, where her most recent work concerns FEMA’s failures in Puerto Rico. As a novelist and art critic, she has published six books and won a 1999 Whiting Writer’s Award. Her seventh novel, Art Is Everything, is being published by TriQuarterly Books. When she is not teaching, reading, or writing, Murray enjoys running, photography, painting, and eating. Listen to Episode Buy Book Previous Next

After Genna’s husband betrays her, she finds a way to spend six months writing a cookbook based on the city of Paris. In this lighthearted women’s fiction, Cram’s protagonist pairs both famous and lesser-known Parisian landmarks with often mouth-watering sounding recipes. < Back Love Among the Recipes Carol M. Cram April 20, 2021 Today I talked to Carol Cram about her new book Love Among the Recipes (New Arcadia Publishing, 2020). After Genna’s husband betrays her, she finds a way to spend six months writing a cookbook based on the city of Paris. In this lighthearted women’s fiction, Cram’s protagonist pairs both famous and lesser-known Parisian landmarks with often mouth-watering sounding recipes. Genna shops and cooks, sometimes for friends, sometimes for her landlord, but always for herself. Each chapter starts with a description of a different kind of macaron in varying colors and flavors that often describe the mood of the chapter that follows. In addition to exploring Paris, making friends with people she meets in her French class, and meeting a charming widower, Genna begins to understand that she has it in her power to create her own happiness. Carol M. Cram loves the arts, food, travel, and writing novels about people who follow their passions. Three previous novels of historical fiction, The Towers of Tuscany (Lake Union Publishing, 2014) and A Woman of Note (Lake Union Publishing, 2015), and Muse on Fire (New Arcadia Publishing 2018) are also about women in the arts, and she matches her travel-inspired vignettes with pastel drawings created by her husband, Canadian artist Gregg Simpson in Pastel & Pen: Travels in Europe (New Arcadia Publishing, 2018). Carol expresses her enthusiasm for the written word, the arts, and her love of travel on Artsy Traveler ( www.artsytraveler.com ) and Art In Fiction ( www.artinfiction.com ), and on the Art In Fiction Podcast in her chats with authors who write novels inspired by the arts. Listen to Episode Buy Book Previous Next

It’s the summer of 1943 and an unexploded mortar shell kills 9-year-old Salvatore’s twin brothers. His faith is destroyed, and his family unravels, fueling fear that the Vassallo name is cursed. Salvatore and his sister, Nella, accept the help of a fascist Italian soldier, Vincenzo, who accompanies them to a new life in America. < Back How Fires End Marco Rafalà May 12, 2020 In a sad but loving tribute to his Sicilian-Italian heritage, Marco Rafala ’s debut novel How Fires End (Little A, 2019) centers on the haunting legacy of WWII on the people of a small Sicilian village. It’s the summer of 1943 and an unexploded mortar shell kills 9-year-old Salvatore’s twin brothers. His faith is destroyed, and his family unravels, fueling fear that the Vassallo name is cursed. Salvatore and his sister, Nella, accept the help of a fascist Italian soldier, Vincenzo, who accompanies them to a new life in America. But the three of them make the choice to keep their secrets hidden, and years later in America, Salvatore’s son, David, is swept up in the chaotic aftermath of their hidden pasts. This is a story about loyalty, family, and forgiveness. Marco Rafalà is a first-generation Sicilian American, novelist, musician, and writer for award-winning tabletop role-playing games (e.g. The One Ring). He earned his MFA in fiction from The New School and is a co-curator of the Guerrilla Lit Reading Series in New York City. His fiction and non-fiction have appeared in the Bellevue Literary Review and LitHub. Born in Middletown, Connecticut, he now lives in Brooklyn, New York. And when not working, reading or writing, Rafalà loves walking in the cemetery with his partner. Listen to Episode Buy Book Previous Next

"Starling is 19 and was raised in a camper van by a strong-willed mother who cut them off from their community of fellow travelers. Starling, who has never gone to school or to the dentist, knows the nomadic life of trapping rabbits, foraging for food, and getting kicked out by local police." < Back Starling Sarah Jane Butler December 20, 2022 Today I talked to Sarah Jane Butler about her novel Starling (Fairlight Books, 2022). Starling is 19 and was raised in a camper van by a strong-willed mother who cut them off from their community of fellow travelers. Starling, who has never gone to school or to the dentist, knows the nomadic life of trapping rabbits, foraging for food, and getting kicked out by local police. When her mother suddenly leaves one morning, Starling has to figure out a way to survive in a harsh world, on her own. She walks until she connects with an old friend from another traveling family and starts to consider settling into a more conventional way of life, but first, she needs to figure out who she is. Sarah Jane Butler grew up on the edge of Southborough Common in Kent. She studied languages at university and spent time living in France and Spain. Her short stories (some published under the name SJ Butler) have appeared in literary journals and anthologies, and her story ‘The Swimmer’ was included in Best British Short Stories 2011. She has twice won the 26 Project Writer’s Award, most recently in 2021 for her poem ‘Flow’, and has performed her work in pubs, a festival tent and a disused light vessel. Starling is her debut novel. As well as writing fiction, she is a copywriter and communications consultant. She lives in Sussex with her husband and two children. Sarah enjoys seeing the world around her, and often walks around fields and woods to try and identify and learn about local wildlife – she has also set up a small village wildlife group for those who share her interest. She has swum in her local river for many years and has kayaked and canoed on it all her adult life. Listen to Episode Buy Book Previous Next

Serve as shown in sections in the bowl because it looks awesome. Then mix at the table. < Back Mango-Avocado Salad June 11, 2020 Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 0 Minutes Serves: 4 Servings Tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Entrees About the Recipe Ingredients 1 Mango cut in small pieces 1 Medium Avocado cut in small pieces 1 cup (or more) chopped Napa cabbage 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley 1/2 cup chopped red onion Juice and zest of one medium lime 1/4 cup Trader Joe’s Chunky Salsa (my favorite – has a smoky flavor) Salt and Pepper to taste (optional) Preparation Serve as shown in sections in the bowl because it looks awesome. Then mix at the table. Or just serve it already mixed. It’ll taste delicious either way! Previous Next

Who doesn't love freshly baked chocolate chip cookies? < Back Peanut or Almond-Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies July 2, 2019 Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cook Time: 12 Minutes Serves: 24 Servings Tags: Gluten Free, Vegan, Cookies and Brownies About the Recipe p.156 Battered: A Whipped and Sipped Mystery “Everyone approached the gigantic tray and chose a cookie or two. After much study, the children took two or three each and scattered to the back bedrooms. Everyone munched while LaTonya continued taking pictures. Tinley was first to comment. “I love this chocolate-chocolate chip cookie,” she said. “Mine is coffee-flavored,” said Bill, making a face. “I hate coffee.” Tinley smacked him on his shoulder. “Does everyone need to know what you don’t like?” Alene wanted to hug her. Lydia said she loved her cinnamon cookie and wondered if it was gluten-free but nobody responded. She nibbled a few bites before passing it to Theo, who said, “Crunchiest cookie I’ve ever tasted.” Cal and Mitzi wanted to taste more flavors, so they shared plates. Neal blurted across the table, “This one is kind of buttery almond. Did you use real butter, Ruthie? I thought you were vegetarian.” Ruthie smiled while Alene imagined an imaginary bubble above her head that said, “Of course there’s no butter, you dingbat. Vegans don’t use animal products.” What Ruthie actually said, in the same voice she used to speak to her eight-year-old son was, “I’m vegan, and we don’t use animal products in anything, Neal. Which cookie did you like best?” Neal muttered, “They’re both good, I guess.” Ingredients 1 cup Almond or Peanut Butter (smooth or chunky) ½ to 1 cup packed dark brown sugar (optional, really) 1 egg (or a flax egg, or whip up half the liquid from a can of chickpeas) 1/2 tsp vanilla 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 package semisweet vegan chocolate chips Preparation Line two baking pans with silicone baking mats or parchment paper Preheat oven to 350 degrees Stir first six ingredients together with a spoon Stir in chocolate chips Place unformed globs of batter about 2″ apart on greased baking pan Bake about 12 minutes until they are slightly browned and puffy Cool on pan and then transfer to a rack They store well and are great cold from the fridge Previous Next

The perfect and refreshing snack for a hot day! Who doesn't love a recipe that requires dumping everything into a blender? < Back Chilled Minty Cucumber-Melon Soup April 27, 2021 Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes Serves: 4-6 Servings Tags: Entrees, Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Soup About the Recipe Great for summer! Ingredients 1 honeydew melon, peeled, seeded, cut into chunks 1 large, peeled cucumber Lime zest and juice from one lime Handful of fresh mint ½ tsp kosher or sea salt 1 or 2 TBSPs tahini Preparation In a food processor or blender, cream everything until smooth and frothy, about 60-90 seconds. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Add a small mint leaf to each bowl or glass. Optional: serve with a sprinkling of sunflower seeds, chopped hazelnuts, or finely chopped cucumber (set aside a piece after you peel the cucumber) Previous Next

"Would you like a pot of chamomile tea?" < Back Ginger-Molasses Cookies G.F. V. May 8, 2020 Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cook Time: 10 Minutes Serves: 24 Cookies Tags: Gluten Free, Vegetarian, Baking, Cookies and Brownies, Vegan About the Recipe Keep these chewy cookies in the freezer and eat at least one each day. Sometimes I make a sandwich with a piece of banana in the middle, but mostly I just grab one from the freezer for a little burst of gingery deliciousness. Ingredients 2 ½ cup steel-cut oats (gives extra crunch) or other GF oats 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp fine-grained sea salt 1 tsp ground ginger ½ tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp ground nutmeg ½ cup coconut or brown sugar ¼ cup canola or coconut oil ¼ cup unsulphured molasses 1 TBSP unfiltered apple cider vinegar 1 tsp pure vanilla extract Preparation Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C and spray or line 2 cookie sheets In a processor or high-speed blender, blend oats into a fine flour, 60-90 seconds Pulse in baking soda, baking powder, salt, spices, and sugar In a large bowl, combine oil, molasses, vinegar, and vanilla Add dry ingredients to the bowl of wet ingredients and stir together If the dough feels too dry, add a few TBSPs of water Use a small scooper or wet hands to form about 26 1 inch balls, 13 on each sheet Bake for 10 minutes until golden brown (if you overbake, they’ll be crispier) Remove from the oven and let them cool before eating Can be frozen and eaten directly from the freezer (or zapped in the microwave) Optional: To add protein, use a cup of unsalted almonds in place of one cup of the oats. Previous Next

I like to mash veggies from my Friday roasted veggie tray and try different combos. < Back Mashed Cauliflower and Acorn Squash December 10, 2020 Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cook Time: 45 Minutes Serves: 4 Servings Tags: Dips and Sauces, Entrees, Vegetarian, Vegan About the Recipe Ingredients 1 small cauliflower 1 small acorn squash, seeded 1 small red onion ¼ cup olive oil 3 or 4 cloves garlic, or 2 tsp ground garlic 2 tsp basil 1 tsp kosher or sea salt ½ tsp pepper 2 cups water Preparation Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C . Cover a large baking pan with foil. Cut acorn squash into quarters (with skin), cauliflower, and onion into quarters and toss in a large bowl with the oil, garlic, basil, salt, and pepper. Spread out on the baking pan and roast for about 45 minutes uncovered until soft and slightly browned. Remove from the oven and let the vegetables cool. Then blend with water in a large food processor or blender until creamy and smooth. Add additional water to make this into a filling soup. Season to taste, sprinkle with dehydrated onion and chopped parsley. Sometimes I reserve some of the roasted onion and chop it up to garnish the top. Previous Next