AmiMaxine

Camping

I’ve been camping since the womb. Quite literally. My mother tent camped pregnant with me. There are a lot of photos (and a few vague memories) of my family tent camping at Peninsula State Park (which was also the campground my dad had been camping at since he was five). I’ve been told that weContinue reading “Camping”

First Friday Rec: Educated

Title: EducatedAuthor: Tara WestoverGenre: nonfiction, memoir, reflectivePages: 368Publication Date: Feb 8, 2022StoryGraph* Moods: emotional, reflective, inspiringHow I Stumbled Upon This Book: The cover caught my attention while wondering through a bookshop.Other Books by this author: none as of this writing*StoryGraph also offers content warnings. Description: Imagine being seventeen and never having stepped foot into aContinue reading “First Friday Rec: Educated”

Rogue Characters: Murder Mystery Edition

Have you ever had a writer friend who talked about how sometimes it felt like they weren’t writing the story – their characters were? I know. It sounds absurd. But sometimes – it really does feel that way. Last week, I had rounded 80K on the first draft of my murder mystery novel, and IContinue reading “Rogue Characters: Murder Mystery Edition”

An Evening with Heather Headley

Twenty-two years ago (plus a couple months), I saw the national tour of Aida at the Weidner Center, which was located on my college’s campus. I took full advantage of the fact that my city’s performing arts center was walking distance and offered student rush tickets. I loved it so much that I went backContinue reading “An Evening with Heather Headley”

Woodfield Mall

I’ll admit, this post is mostly for my own nostalgia. But a couple weeks ago (by the time this posts, more like a month), I was listening to a podcast where one of the hosts, who is also from the Chicagoland area, mentioned Woodfield Mall – which is located in Schaumburg, IL, and is theContinue reading “Woodfield Mall”

First Friday Rec: Binti

Title: BintiAuthor: Nnedi OkoraforGenre: science fiction, adventurousPages: 74Publication Date: 2015StoryGraph* Moods: adventure, emotional, hopefulHow I Stumbled Upon This Book: book clubOther Books by Okorafor: Death of the Author, She Who Knows, Noor, Who Fears Death, The Book of Phoenix, Lagoon, Kabu Kabu, *StoryGraph also offers content warnings. Description: Binti, of the Himba people, is theContinue reading “First Friday Rec: Binti”

Farmers’ Markets

Not gonna lie, I’m not a huge fan of the summer months. I don’t like hot, humid weather. I’m allergic to everything that blooms. And I have to douse myself in a gallon of sun block any time I’ll be outside. You’re probably thinking I’m joking, but let’s just say this comic by the talentedContinue reading “Farmers’ Markets”

Pushy Story Ideas

On a day near the end of March, I was driving, and an idea came to me (I have a long commute, so this is not unusual). “They” say (there was a study that I read that I can’t find – but I’m still looking – so thus the air quotes around ‘they’) that weContinue reading “Pushy Story Ideas”

Summer Teachin’

Like Summer Lovin’ but for teaching? Haha. What? Not funny? Yeah, Ok. This summer, I finally get to be that teacher – the ones people always throw in our faces when we ever dare to ask for a raise. The ones that get the ENTIRE summer off. *gasp* I just finished up my sixteenth yearContinue reading “Summer Teachin’”

Kavarna: Twenty Years

I’ve been hitting some milestones lately that have felt…unreal. Impossible? I’m in my sixteenth year of teaching – but I swear I’ve only been at my college for a few years. I’m also coming up on twenty years since I graduated from undergrad (the specific date is three days from now) – and given theContinue reading “Kavarna: Twenty Years”