Recently, my husband and I were engrossed in the movie “Genius,” a captivating biographical drama released in 2016. Directed by Michael Grandage and written by John Logan, the film draws inspiration from the compelling biography “Max Perkins: Editor of Genius” by A. Scott Berg, which earned the National Book Award in 1978.

Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression in 1929, the film depicts a poignant scene where author Thomas Wolfe, played by Jude Law, walks alongside his editor, Max Perkins, portrayed by Colin Firth. As they pass a soup line bustling with downtrodden individuals, Wolfe, deeply affected by the grim reality, questions the purpose of crafting fiction novels amidst widespread suffering, feeling a sense of frivolity in their creative endeavors.

Perkins, pausing to reflect, responds with quiet reassurance,

“You’re not frivolous, Tom. I think, back in the caveman days, our ancestors would huddle around the fire at night, and wolves would be howling in the dark just beyond the light. And one person would start talking, and he would tell a story. So we wouldn’t be so scared in the dark.“

Inspired by this poignant exchange, I rushed to my kitchen, seized my journal, and penned down Perkins’ profound words. It felt as though someone had stepped directly into my living room, reminding me of the power of writing down my own story. While my book, “Portraits of White,” doesn’t feel frivolous to me (since it really is my true story) and while it may not explore the realm of howling wolves, it does dig into the shadows that often accompany the holiday season. I liked the analogy of sharing stories so people wouldn’t be so scared in the dark. Perhaps my book will be a radiant hearth, a comforting campfire where those grappling with holiday struggles can find solace and warmth in the midst of the darkness.

Exciting Opportunity for Morgan James Publishers: Nonfiction Authors, Take Note!

Today, I took another step toward getting my book ‘out there.’ My publishing team told me of an opportunity for Morgan James authors where we can send author copies of our book to a company who features nonfiction books on their Instagram page. BookThinkers (with 167K followers as of this writing) is a company who believes that the right books at the right time can change lives. 

Here’s the special offer made to Morgan James authors:

1) Unboxing Story on Instagram:
Each week, BookThinkers unboxes between 3 and 12 books on its Instagram stories. The purpose of these unboxing sessions is to highlight new books and authors that their audience might be interested in. They tag your Instagram page and show your book on screen. They usually have a few thousand people tune in.

2) Raving Fans Book Giveaway:
They have a number of US followers who engage with their content regularly. To reward these “raving fans,” they like to send them books as often as possible. For this offering, we ask that you send BookThinkers between 5-25 free physical copies of your book. They will take care of the distribution on their side. Please send the books and your Instagram handle to . . .

** I have 12 books boxed and ready to be sent to Taunton, MA! **

London Symphony Orchestra Project Update:

On Wednesday afternoon, April 10th, Kirstin Myers and I treated ourselves to our favorite beverages at Starbucks on Chocolate Avenue in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Across the street was a lovely bed of tulips. I couldn’t resist snapping a photo.

Of course, being on Chocolate Avenue, it was only fitting to indulge in something chocolatey—I opted for a cafe mocha latte, while Kirstin went for tea. We weren’t there simply for a casual outing; rather, we had the pleasure of meeting an incredibly inspiring and highly motivated couple.

While I’m bursting with excitement to share the details of our encounter, I must hold back for now to avoid spoiling the surprise prematurely. What I can reveal is that both Kirstin and I felt an undeniable sense of fate in our connection with them, and we eagerly anticipate the unfolding of events that are sure to follow.

It feels like another big step up the Mt. Everest climb toward our Christmas album endeavor.

And oh . . . you can follow BookThinkers on Instagram here.

Follow me on Instagram to see what happens when BookThinkers unboxes Portraits of White.