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A Lit Life

Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness

Literate Love in April 2023

April 30, 2023 in Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness
It’s time for my monthly bonus episode of literate love! Each month, I’ll share what I’ve been reading, writing, learning and loving in hopes that it inspires your own literate life, too.  Today, I share the books I’ve read, the writing prompts I’ve...
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The How & Why of Shelf-Care

April 25, 2023 in Books & Reading, Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness
Spring is in the air and that means Spring cleaning, organizing and freshening. Why not bring a bit of that Spring organization to our bookshelves? Today, I am talking about shelf-care: showing love to your bookshelf in mindful and intentional ways to rejuvenate your reading life. Here are the books mentioned...
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The Kindred Spirits Mailbox

April 18, 2023 in Life & Living, Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness
Today, I’ve officially added a new place to my bookish bucket list: The Kindred Spirits Mailbox in North Carolina.  I am quite smitten with this mailbox and all it represents. Join me today to hear what the Kindred Spirits Mailbox is, what it represents, the books it reminds me of and...
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Self-Discovery Journaling with Jen Laffin

April 11, 2023 in Notebooks & Writing, Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness
Books and notebooks are my favorite tools to create a life we love.  Today, I am talking with someone who offers a new kind of journaling to help others achieve their biggest goals. Jen Laffin is an educator-turned life coach that believes in the power of the pen to guide us...
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All Things Morning Pages

April 6, 2023 in Notebooks & Writing, Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness
Notebooking is a big part of my life and my most treasured notebook is my Morning Pages journal. I’ve mentioned it a few times on the podcast, but I haven’t taken a deep dive into the world of Morning Pages….until now. Join me as I explore what Morning pages are, how...
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ChatGPT Told Me to Read It

April 4, 2023 in Books & Reading, Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness
I’ve been experimenting with ChatGPT in my professional and personal life and have some strong opinions about how it might be used to boost our reading lives. Today, I share the specific prompts I used inside ChatGPT to decide what to read next. I was shocked at the accurateness of the...
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Monthly Literate Love: March 2023

March 30, 2023 in Literate Love, Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness
I love sending literate love out into the world so that my obsession can inspire others to lean into what they love, too.  So, I’ve launched a monthly addition to the Get Lit(erate). podcast: monthly literate love! Each month, I’ll share what I’ve been reading, writing, learning and loving in hopes...
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Crafty Books & Sew It! Workshop with Ellen Lumpkin Brown

March 28, 2023 in Books & Reading, Creativity & Inspiration, Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness
March is National Crafting month and I have a new kind of episode for you that blends a set of crafty books with a crafty interview with someone who connects her love of books, libraries and crafts together.  Today, I am talking with Ellen Lumpkin Brown of Sew It! Workshop, a...
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The Power of Middle Grade Novels with Ann Braden

March 23, 2023 in Children's Literature, Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness
How’s your Middle Grade March been going? I’m here with a VERY special guest. She is one of my favorite middle grade authors: Ann Braden! Today, we celebrate the power of middle grade novels. You’ll learn about her unexpected backstory, the pieces of her life found inside all three of her...
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Books to be Read in Small Doses and No Particular Order

March 21, 2023 in Books & Reading, Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness
Today’s episode was inspired by my recent #ReadYourFeed post. This is where I read the social media feed of a friend or follower and recommend a book I think they’ll love.  Last week’s recommendation sent me down a rabbit hole of bookish inspiration full of inspirational books that could be read...
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ABOUT

Stephanie

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

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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...

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Middle grade novels hold a unique kind of magic an Middle grade novels hold a unique kind of magic and Ann Braden unlocks that magic with every novel she writes.

Her newest book is no exception.

HIJACKED BY GOATS is a heartfelt middle grade novel that delicately captures Josie’s inner world and the sheer number of compulsive and overwhelming thoughts that battle for her attention. Officially diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Josie progresses through residential treatment and outpatient therapy as she navigates recovery and a kinder way of treating herself.

Ann delicately captures the challenges Josie faces, the overwhelming thoughts and feelings that won’t let her rest and the brave choices she makes to move through them with the support of new friends, family and knowledgeable professionals.

While every middle grade reader might not be able to relate to Josie directly, they WILL be able to relate to going through something hard, wishing away particular thoughts or feelings or knowing someone who is struggling with their mental health. So will every adult reading this book, too.

This book so beautifully captures the entirety of the human condition and invites every emotion to the table, holding out a hand to those that need it and providing a window of empathy to those that need that, too.

It’s an incredible book and I’m forever grateful for having read it.

@annbradenbooks
#KidLitLove
#ALitLife
#MiddleGrade
#OCD
#Bibliotherapy
This. I know this face. I’ve made this face. I now This. I know this face. I’ve made this face. I now have better words to explain the significance of it and the love it holds. Thank you, Ann. ❤️

HIJACKED BY GOATS by Ann Braden

Coming September 2026
Full review coming soon.
@annbradenbooks
A restorative reading and writing practice doesn't A restorative reading and writing practice doesn't just feel good.....it sends a signal of safety to our nervous systems and THAT is what starts well-being at a cellular level.

Come listen as I talk about the one thing standing in the way of a reading and writing life that makes your actual life better and helps you feel better, too. 

We'll take a sensory audit of our reading and writing and brainstorm key ways to speak the language of our bodies and truly enhance our practice. 

Click the podcast link in my bio or visit me on Substack to listen!
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m ta On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Melanie Dale about her newest upper middle grade novel: A GIRL OF LORE.

In this atmospheric paranormal novel, inner demons and town secrets collide in the haunting Southern town of London, Georgia. It had me guessing on every page, closing my eyes on some of them and truly inviting me into Mina’s world throughout.

Come listen as we talk about the unexpected way Melanie decided to write her first middle grade novel, the varied themes and entry points for all readers and why you should read it and hug it, too. Don’t be mistaken: even if you do not typically read novels like this, this book is for you. It’s enchanting. 

@melanierdale
#KidLitLove Podcast Link in Bio
#ALitLife
Books make Mondays better! This month, my one wor Books make Mondays better!

This month, my one word theme is RELEASE: of the past, of the things that no longer serve me....and the clothes that no longer fit. =)

This memoir is part of my book apothecary for the month to help me do just that:

THEY LEFT US EVERYTHING by Plum Johnson

It's been hailed as "a funny, touching memoir about the importance of preserving family history to make sense of the past and nurturing family bonds to safeguard the future."

I'm only two chapters in and I cannot get enough quickly enough. I have a feeling I'll hug this one after I'm done.

What books are making your Monday better?

#BooksMakeMondaysBetter
#IMWAYR
#ALitLife
#Memoirs
A Note from my Nudge Notebook... A Nudge Notebook A Note from my Nudge Notebook...

A Nudge Notebook is a special notebook where I track all of the whispers, nudges and ideas I get for making my life better from the books I read.

This week’s nudge came from The New Menopause: Navigating Your Path Through Hormonal Change with Purpose, Power, and Facts by Mary Claire Haver.

In it, she recommends tracking your daily nutritional intake through an app called Cronometer. I am NOT a person to track my food for a few reasons, but for some reason, it stuck with me and I’ve tried it for a couple of weeks with surprising results. 

My favorite takeaway is what I’ve learned about micronutrients: 

I’m not getting NEARLY what I thought I was, but after a couple weeks of tracking and making small changes, I am MUCH more balanced than I was and I can feel the difference. 

What nudges did you get from your reading this week?

@drmaryclaire
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