Sophfronia’s Blog
Kind Words
A blog about what I find amazing, smart, beautiful, or just plain fun.
Book Review: Living in the Weather of the World by Richard Bausch
This book made me reconsider the word “story”—not the definition of story but our experience of story in its ages-old form before it had the word “short” in front of it; before it was bound in hardcover and made eligible for awards. Before all that there was someone talking and [...]
Happy 100th Birthday Ella Fitzgerald
Today is the 100th birthday of the Queen of Jazz, Ella Fitzgerald. Her music and bold personality have always been an inspiration for me so it's no wonder that one of her songs should find its way into my writing. Her "A Sunday Kind of Love" features prominently in my forthcoming [...]
Inspired by Jackie Robinson
Seventy years ago today, on April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson crossed the color line to play for Major League Baseball's Brooklyn Dodgers. In my forthcoming novel, UNFORGIVABLE LOVE, my character Valiant Jackson is present in the stadium for that historic moment. When he witnesses Robinson's classy behavior in the face [...]
Book Review: Lincoln in the Bardo
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders My rating: 5 of 5 stars Any writer can break the rules of our craft. If he does it poorly the resulting pieces remain at our feet and the confused reader is left to kick at them unsatisfied, like viewing the aftermath of [...]
When Writing Seeds Sprout
I have so much on my plate for 2017 but it's all exciting and you will see many changes. Look for my new novel, Unforgivable Love, from William Morrow. The publication date is September 26, 2017. The cover design is underway and I'm thrilled to share it with you because I've been writing [...]
Book Review: Eleven Hours by Pamela Erens
Destiny would have it that when two people meet, especially when they are of disparate personalities and cultures as Lore and Franckline, the main characters created by Pamela Erens for her third novel, Eleven Hours, they have something to learn from each other. Perhaps there’s a need, a bit of [...]
The Mentor I’ve Never Met
Here's my latest on Ruminate Magazine's site: The writer Frederick Buechner I’ve never met Frederick Buechner—let’s start there. In case you don’t know him, here’s the quick rundown from his website: Frederick Buechner (pronounced BEEK-ner) is an American writer and theologian, the author of more than thirty published books. He [...]
The Gifts of My MFA
For many years I held close to my heart the desire to go back to school to get my MFA in creative writing. I had this feeling that I was in a place where such intensive study would help my art immensely. But whenever I shared this thought I would [...]
