Writer. Contributing Editor at The Discarded Image. Digital Content Strategist. Here's where I publicly explore the books I'm reading, the projects I'm working on, and other current interests. Help choose next Festival’s speakers
I’ve been sick this week, a cold or some such upper-respiratory nuisance. When my head is foggy, I find it very difficult to write. I used to get into bed with the remote when I felt this way, but I can’t watch tv anymore. Not only has Netflix and hulu.com led to a severe allergy to commercials, but also I can barely stomach the omnipresent election talk. So, in place of alternative diversions, I am wiping my nose and brainstorming about a fun topic — and I’d love your help (with the brainstorming, that is; I’ll keep my nose to my self).
Since February, you’ve been listening to me rave about the Festival of Faith & Writing. Now, the organizers have asked those of us who attended this year to suggest speakers for the next festival, in April 2010. These would be writers whose work exhibits spiritual depth and religious understanding, though the writers may or may not claim to be members of a particular faith community. For example, this year’s festival speakers included “Christian novelists” Francine Rivers and Davis Bunn, as well as Michael Chabon, a “secular Jew,” and Yann Martel, who had a non-religious upbringing but explores various religious ideas in his writings. You can view the complete list of this year’s speakers here.
I plan to suggest Peter Hobbs, author of one of my top 10 spiritually-moving novels The Short Day Dying, as well Geraldine Brooks, whose most recent novel — which I have not yet read — is People of the Book. Reflecting on the books you have been reading this year, what writers do you recommend? Please post their names along with the titles of their books you find spiritually compelling. Then I’ll forward our list to the Festival folks for consideration. Thinking caps on!
And while I’m raving about the Festival again, check out this page, where you can listen to a few of this year’s recordings now available to non-attendees.
Comments (4)