• Home
  • About
  • Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness
    • Build Your Book Apothecary Guest Submission
  • KidLit Love
  • Podcast Merch
  • Bookology
    • Bookology Lists for Adults
    • Bookology Lists for Children
  • Social Media Nav Menu

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

A Lit Life

Books That Inspire Writing

Here’s a list of books full of writing inspiration: inspiration to write, characters that write and notebook goodness!

You’ll find links to my Amazon and Bookshop affiliate stores below. Thanks for your bookish support!

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

This book is nourishment for the writing soul: the good, the bad and the ugly. Anne does not shy away from the realities of what it means to the write, but inspires the writer within each of us with heartfelt words and inspiration woven into each and every page. I’ll be revising this book often to reread the many, many sticky notes filling these incredible pages.
Like ∙ flag
 

Jazmin’s Notebook by Nikki Grimes

I love books that remind me how important it is not only to have a strong reading life, but a strong writing life, too. This book did just that. It follow’s Jazmin through her daily life, a life filled with struggles and challenges, but love and joy, too. Jazmin uses her notebook to make sense of it all and to process her feelings on the page. Her story will touch your heart and her writing will inspire your own.

Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life by Cleo Wade

A beautifully illustrated book from Cleo Wade—the artist, poet, and speaker who has been called “the Millennial Oprah” by New York Magazine —that offers creative inspiration and life lessons through poetry, mantras, and affirmations, perfect for fans of the bestseller Milk & Honey.

Keep Heart Talk by your bedside table or in your bag for an empowering boost of spiritual adrenaline that can help you discover and unlock what is blocking you from thriving emotionally and spiritually.

Primary Sidebar

ABOUT

Stephanie

A book-loving, notebook-hoarding bookologist on a mission to change lives one book and one notebook at a time.

SEARCH FOR POSTS

FOLLOW ME ON GOODREADS!

Stephanie's books

Paperweight
Paperweight
by Meg Haston
I read this hauntingly beautiful book on the recommendation of my teenage daughter. She told me it was powerful, told me I wouldn't want to stop reading it...and she was right. Meg Haston invites readers into the mind of Stevie, causing ...
The Gifts of Imperfection
it was amazing
The Gifts of Imperfection
by Brené Brown
I haven't stumbled across anything written by Brene Brown that I did not love and this book is no exception. Written so conversationally as if Brene was literally speaking directly, and only, to me, I could'n help bu be personally moved ...
I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life
it was amazing
I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life
by Anne Bogel
True to its title, this book was simply delightful. I felt like I was talking with a long-lost friend, a fellow book-lover whose life was just as entangled with the plots, settings and characters of fictional books as they were those in ...
Some Places More Than Others
it was amazing
Some Places More Than Others
by Renée Watson
It was almost like I was reading a book that was written just for me, even though the daily lives and locations of the characters were vastly different. The theme of love, self-worth and family connection was prevalent on each and every ...
Touching Spirit Bear
it was amazing
Touching Spirit Bear
by Ben Mikaelsen
This book shook me to my motherly core. I read this with my 13-year old twins as part of a school assignment and was swept into Cole's story of literally fighting for survival and for love. My children were drawn to Cole's story of survi...

goodreads.com

AMAZON AND BOOKSHOP AFFILIATE

As an Amazon and Bookshop Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Footer

Books make Mondays better! This week, I'm knee-de Books make Mondays better!

This week, I'm knee-deep in THE SUMMER OF YES by Courtney Walsh.

If you only read one book this summer, let it be this one. 

It will change the trajectory of all the days left in the season, I promise. 

Here's the quick overview from the publisher: A near-death experience catapults workaholic junior editor Kelsey Worthington into changing her life--one yes at a time.

Here's my take: Take two women at very different stages of their life, add in a dose of regret and shame, shake it up with a pledge to do something different and sprinkle in all kinds of love. 

READ THIS. Then, come join us in my book club on Substack to talk all about it next Thursday!

@courtneywalsh
#BooksMakeMondaysBetter
#IMWAYR
#BookClub
#SummerYES
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m ta On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Jack Mackay about his newest middle grade book: THE HAUNTING OF OLD SPLINTER.

In this be-careful-what-you-wish-for middle grade horror novel, Peter and his half brother Adrian’s innocent wish to protect their family turns into a sinister reality with the help of a mummified hand that can grant any wish…with dark consequences. Readers will be glued to the page. I know I was!

Come listen as we talk about this delightfully creepy, horror novel with heart that is for every reader no matter what their experience and interest in horror novels are. We discuss how the book offers an immersive world for readers wanting a bit of creepiness along with the heartfelt themes of family, siblinghood and middle grade life, much of which was inspired by Jack’s own siblings and love of horror.

https://open.substack.com/pub/kidlitlove/p/e237-heartwarming-horror-the-haunting?r=azy11&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m ta On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Cristo Fernandez about his new picture book: Fútbol Is Life! / ¡Fútbol es vida!

This inspirational bilingual picture book follows Critobalito, a young boy who is sidelined from the game he loves so much, but who finds new joy in the space that opened up as a result. It explores themes like being open to change and exploring new passions and is a book for everyone.

Come listen as we talk about Cristo’s real-life inspiration behind the book, the important themes around being open to new things and the reminder that it’s never too late to follow your dreams and see what happens. It’s a book for all readers who need that reminder, like me!

#KidLitLove PODCAST LINK IN BIO!
Books make Mondays better! This week, I'm traveli Books make Mondays better!

This week, I'm traveling to Italy through books as I read:

The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman

Here's the one-sentence summary: A trio of second-born daughters set out to break the family curse that says they’ll never find love on a whirlwind journey through the lush Italian countryside.

Sounds pretty good for Summer reading to me!

@lorinelsonspielman
#BooksMakeMondaysBetter
#IMWAYR
#ALitLife
#SummerReading

What books are making your Monday better?
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m ta On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Susan Rose & Silvia Lopez about their newest book: HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSE & FELIZ.

This is the newest book in their Jose & El Perro series, a bilingual adventure series that shines a spotlight on rescue dogs and encourages young readers to create special moments of their own to celebrate the ones they love. In this newest book, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOSE & FELIZ, Jose realizes that his best furry friend needs a birthday celebration and the book showcases his journey to giving Feliz the celebration he deserves.

Come listen as we talk about how the collaboration between Susan and Siliva came to be, the delightful storyline inside each book in the series, the interesting fact about shelter dog birthdays that might be new to you and their hopes for readers who get this book into their hands.

https://open.substack.com/pub/kidlitlove/p/e235-bilingual-celebration-and-joy?r=azy11&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Books make Mondays better! This week, I'm reading Books make Mondays better!

This week, I'm reading FOOD THERAPY: CONSCIOUS EATING TO NAVIGATE ANXIETY, STRESS & TRAUMA by Luis Mojica.

If you know me, you know I am gluten free and dairy free to combat stomach and autoimmune issues and those restrictions have helped me feel much better. 

But.

After listening to Luis on The Cure For Chronic Pain podcast with Nicole Sachs, I've been rethinking so much and this book is helping me do it. It looks at eating in a completely new-to-me way that relates to our nervous system over everything else and is providing such insight into why I might feel the way I do related to food and why I might crave the things I crave, too. 

So much to read and learn!

What books are making your Monday better?

#BooksMakeMondaysBetter
#IMWAYR
#ALitLife
@nicolesachslcsw 
@holistic.life.navigation
JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM
  • About Stephanie
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

COPYRIGHT © 2026 · THEME BY WATDESIGNEXPRESS