Novelist Terrence Cheng on how writing is like being in love, right down to the rejection:

Which is why rejection, particularly in your love life, is good training for being a writer. Because your work, if it’s true, is you—the culmination and symbol of your heart, your passion, your hopes and dreams. Your work is everything you want and need to make things right in the world—it’s what sets you apart from the rest, what makes you believe that all the devotion, dedication, and the grueling brutal daily grind to produce actually means something.

Of course it means something to you, but does it mean something to anyone else? For it to mean something, you want and need that validation from the outside, just like you need someone else to know you are more than just a “nice guy.” You want someone to really know you, to trust in you, to take a risk.

Writing and love are both leaps into the unknown, acts of discipline as much as they are acts of faith. If you are not in love with writing then you shouldn’t write, because without love, you won’t be able to take it. (And I didn’t say in love with your writing—I said in love with writing. There’s a difference.)

Read the rest of his essay in Glimmer Train’s Bulletin 37.

I’m so honored to be featured as a Pennsylvania author for the Literary Road Trip at Beth Fish Reads! As I have mentioned here a few times, a group of book bloggers—including myself—are working together to highlight local authors, state by state.  Since I was born in and currently live in Ohio, my goal is to feature Ohio authors; Beth, who was also born in Ohio but now lives in Pennsylvania, is featuring Pennsylvania authors.  So if I live in Ohio, what am I doing featured as a Pennsylvania author? Easy. My husband and I lived in Philadelphia for almost 6 years, during which time we began writing our History Lives series, and the first 3 volumes came out while we lived there. Beth graciously asked me if I would write a guest post for her blog, and of course I was thrilled to, since her blog is one of my newer favorites.  So please pop over and check it out.  She’s doing a great job with the Literary Road Trip–her clever ideas are inspiring me to get on the ball with all the Ohio authors!–and just in general writes a lot of thoughtful stuff.  Thanks so much, Beth!

So you probably already know that hundreds of readers, authors, bloggers, and publishers are celebrating this week as Book Blogger Appreciation Week.  I’ve had my hands so full lately that I haven’t been able to participate as much as I wanted to. But in honor of all my fellow blogging friends, some of whom put an enormous amount of effort into their blogs, I do want to take a moment to mention some of the blogs I read and why.  Some of them were nominated for BBAW awards, but to me they are all winners.  I hope you’ll find a few new blogs in this list, and through them, a lot more great books!

Iliana at Bookgirl’s Nightstand might be the very first book blogger I ever encountered.  After reading her enthusiastic reports of books purchased, read, and loved for several months, I was convinced that other book lovers would be interested in what I was reading, too, eventually leading me to create my own blog.  So you might consider her my bloggy godmother!

The first author blog I recall reading was Kate’s Book Blog.  Kate Sutherland is a talented fiction writer, and every one of her posts is an intelligent discussion of the process of writing or a favorite book or author.  I especially love the posts where she pulls out a teaser quote from a book or an online article, which almost always makes me want to read the rest of the piece (and is always as thought-provoking as she suggests).  These posts inspired my own Well Said series of quotes, usually by writers about the craft of writing.

Sherry’s Semicolon is another one I’ve been reading for years.  She reads a ton, writes thoughtful reviews, and often agrees with my proclamations about the “best” books! :o)  Her Saturday Review of Books is a major weekly clearinghouse of reviews. 

Carrie at Books and Movies is a prolific blogger and also one of the nicest (which is saying something, considering the overwhelming friendliness of the book blogosphere).  She reads a wide range of books, always writes fair reviews, and is raising four adorable readers who no doubt will follow their mom’s footsteps and become book bloggers one of these days!

Beth Fish Reads is one of my more recent finds.  In addition to reviewing lots of books, she does great author interviews, supports independent publishers and bookstores, takes part in lots of reading challenges, and is a fellow participant in the Literary Road Trip.

Annie at Reading is My Superpower claims to read “all the books,” and from the number of posts she writes, I believe her.  She provides a synopsis and brief review of every book she reads, and her critical thinking comes out even in these short posts.  And if you need another reason to read her, one of her all-time favorites is Sigrid Undset’s Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy!  Great minds…

And finally, Kim at Sophisticated Dorkiness is a journalism student and avid reader.  She’s really good with all the tech details of running a blog and gladly shared her skills with everyone who participated (or just lurked, like me!) in her Blog Improvement Project.  One of my favorite of her ideas was doing joint reviews with her sister, who doesn’t exactly share her taste in books–their comments to each other  were a great way to experience the book!

That’s all I have time for today, though I am leaving out dozens of other great bloggers who inspire me.  Please visit these fellow book bloggers and tell them I sent you!

Just a quick reminder that Brandon and I are appearing at The Stately Raven Bookstore (Findlay, Ohio) tomorrow.  We’ll be reading from and signing the titles in our History Lives series, and are so looking forward to chatting with readers.  If you’re anywhere in the area, please do stop by!