Like all writers, I get a LOT of rejection letters. It’s par for the course. This week was really nice though, with two publications! My short piece, The Offs, won first place in The Pete Wood Challenge writing competition for November 2024 and was published by Stupefying Stories.
As a writer, I love used bookstores. Perhaps not for the reason you think (books, books, and more books), but because it is when I am inside a used bookstore, that I find out what people really read. Nielsen BookScan compiles sales figures and is a great publishing industry resource, but the numbers are dry. In a good used bookstore, I see it live.
That is especially true for a writer like me, who leans less toward literary reads and more towards genres like sci-fi, mysteries, thrillers and humorous short stories.
I’m in Missoula, Montana this week and found a really great used bookstore: The Book Exchange. They have a wide range of books, from classics like Isaac Asimov’s robot novels through current books like Percival Everett’s James (high on my TBR list) and Rebecca Yarros’s romantasies (among my ‘guilty pleasures’).
Writers, of course, also go to libraries, frequent bookstores that sell new books, and read book reviewers. But that is like going to a museum: what you see is curated by experts. Unbelievably valuable but filtered by gatekeepers. Suggestions on what people should read, but not the skinny on what people do read.
If you are ever in Missoula, check out The Book Exchange.
One of my favorite sources for writing inspiration and education is Jane Friedman.com. In her weekly newsletter, she reprints articles about the craft of writing.
Jane displays great taste in the articles she includes (like a museum curator when selecting paintings for a new exhibition). She recently included a piece that really struck a chord with me: Jason Keath’s “3 Bad Ideas for More Creative Writing.”
Some of the paintings I used in writing my children’s book, Vincent, Theo and the Fox, are from the artist’s final period. They are among my favorites.
This upcoming exhibit at London’s National Gallery includes 60 paintings and drawings, including The Yellow House, where the fox starts its journey of self-discovery. The exhibit also features Wheatfield With Crows, where the wily fox learns what it wants to be when it grows up.
If you’re fortunate enough to make it to London, the exhibit runs through January 29, 2025.
Vincent, Theo and the Fox is a children’s book about Vincent van Gogh and growing up. Step into the art of Vincent van Gogh. Follow young Vincent and his brother Theo as they chase a fox on an imaginary adventure through the artists greatest paintings, including The Starry Night, Vincent’s Bedroom, and Wheatfield with Crows. On their magical journey, the boys – and the fox – experience failure. From it, they discover how to become the best you can be when you grow up.
“A charming, unique way to introduce youngsters to great art while providing an important message.”—Kirkus Reviews.
The book combines storytelling with full-color reproductions of 30 van Gogh paintings. Young readers will appreciate his art in a deeper way, discover details of van Gogh’s life, and learn how siblings achieve a shared goal.
This is a fascinating article from the New York Times about artificial intelligence. The author, Eliott Ulm, not only shows what AI can accomplish in the literary field, it includes the background failures that led to the AI’s success and the hidden limits on that success. Ulm also addresses how humans can interact with AI.
I sometimes wonder if the novel I’m working on will ever get published. What will people think of it? Every creator goes through this. Whether you are writing fiction or cooking a special dinner, there may come a time when you lose hope. So, for my inspiration and yours, here is my favorite Dr. Who clip—the time when Vincent van Gogh visits the museum.
Leslie Clingan is a mom and former librarian who reviews books on her blog onceuponatimehappilyeverafter. I’m fortunate she chose to review Seeking Cézanne.
Goodreads giveaways are very straightforward. One signs in to Goodreads and enters the contest. At the close, Goodreads randomly chooses six of the people who entered and copies are mailed to the six winners. The only requirement is that people who enter agree to list the book as “want to read” on their Goodreads page. They do not have to buy the book or pay anything.
Seeking Cézanne: A Children’s Mystery Inspired by Paul Cézanne and Other Artists is an adventure story about a brother and sister lost in a world of paintings and trying to get home. Grades 2 to 4, but anyone who appreciates beautiful art will love it.
Ted Macaluso - Author 
