AmiMaxine

AFT: The Art Garage

The Art Garage is one of the featured locations in my novel All Falling Things. In the story, it’s an old mechanic shop turned art gallery in Chicago – five stall capacity with the glass garage doors left in place, concrete cleaned of all stains and polished, and moveable walls constructed to section off individualContinue reading “AFT: The Art Garage”

Another Year of Camping

I’m not gonna lie – this school year took it out of me. If you didn’t already know, in addition to being a writer, I also teach writing at a small community college. Most of my course load is composition (those first-year writing classes that no one would take if they weren’t required to) withContinue reading “Another Year of Camping”

Noticing a New Detail

A couple months ago, as I noted in a previous post, I hopped across the pond for a little adventure with my bezzie mate. During our time, we visited Liverpool, Dublin, and drove along the north coast of Wales. It was a wonderful trip, and I can’t wait to return. While we were in DublinContinue reading “Noticing a New Detail”

Baseball Season has Begun

I know what you’re probably saying (at least if you are a fan of Major League Baseball, that is): “The season began a while ago. Where have you been?” Yes, my cubbies have been at it for a couple months now. That’s not the baseball I’m talking about. I’m talking about a baseball with fewerContinue reading “Baseball Season has Begun”

First Friday Rec: When Books Went to War

Title: When Books Went to WarAuthor: Molly Guptill ManningGenre: Nonfiction, History, InformativePages: 267Publication Date: 2 Dec 2014StoryGraph* Moods: Informative, Inspiring, ReflectiveHow I Stumbled Upon This Book: I had originally heard about it from a friend and thought to put it on my TBR; then I read a historical fiction novel for book club that includedContinue reading “First Friday Rec: When Books Went to War”

AFT: Meet the Team

You’ve met Alice. You’ve met Stanley. Now, meet the team. 🙂 Along with my main characters, I like to cast prominent secondary characters. This helps me keep a specific image of them straight in my head as I write. I thought I’d take a minute to introduce you to some of those characters. In thisContinue reading “AFT: Meet the Team”

Strawberry Field

Before I can tell you the story I wish to tell you, I have to tell you another story – of a young girl growing up in a suburb of Chicago, whose father also grew up in a suburb of Chicago and played in a rock’n’roll band (this was the ’60s/’70s). Music is one ofContinue reading “Strawberry Field”

Desert Island Discs

I tend to consume a lot of British content. Through this, I have also stumbled across some fun podcast formats. In many cases, the format involves learning about someone’s life through a very specific lens, which I find rather enjoyable. (If you have read past blogs of mine, you likely already know this – I’mContinue reading “Desert Island Discs”

First Friday Rec: Like, Literally, Dude

Title: Like, Literally, DudeAuthor: Valerie FridlandGenre: Nonfiction, Reference, InformativePages: 336Publication Date: 18 Apr 2023StoryGraph* Moods: Informative, Funny, LightheartedHow I Stumbled Upon This Book: Armchair Expert interviewOther Books by this author: A textbook called Language and Society: What Your Speech Says About You*StoryGraph also offers content warnings. Description: From Bookshop.org: “In Like, Literally, Dude, linguist Valerie FridlandContinue reading “First Friday Rec: Like, Literally, Dude”

Film Review: Adaptation of Project Hail Mary

Title: Project Hail MaryAuthor: Andy WeirGenre: Science Fiction, Mystery, ThrillerTime: 2 hrs 36 minsRelease Date: Mar 20, 2026StoryGraph* Moods: Adventurous, Funny, HopefulHow I Stumbled Upon This Film: I read the book and loved it. Having been eagerly anticipating this movie since it was announced.Books by this author: Project Hail Mary The Martian, Artemis*StoryGraph also offersContinue reading “Film Review: Adaptation of Project Hail Mary”