Bonnie Dodge

My bookclub is currently reading Labyrinth by Kate Mosse. To be honest, I almost gave up on this book. There are spelling errors and rattling body parts, but the concept of the book kept me reading. I enjoyed the historic elements and learned a lot about the Cathars and the Inquisition. When I went on-line to find a picture of Montsegur, I could see what inspired Kate to write this book. Aspiring writers will find her website/blog enlightening.

Now if I could only put my hands on a copy of Greg Mosse’s companion book, The Secrets of the Labyrinth, I will have had my dose of history for July.

Montsegur June 22, 1988 Photo by Peter Vronsky.

I took several advanced English classes from Bill Studebaker, and even attended a class with his wife Judy. This is a sad week for his family, friends, and fellow writers.  Missing since July 4, it is believed that Bill drowned kayaking near Yellow Pine.

Fisher’s Lake near Hagerman, Idaho

Mention Idaho writers and Ezra Pound and Ernest Hemingway come to mind. Many people don’t know that Vardis Fisher lived and died in Southern Idaho, only miles from where I live. While my son was visiting from Oregon, I showed him what is left of Fisher’s house. Then we dangled our feet in Fisher’s Lake and reminisced about the writer and his work.

In June I made a quick trip to Great Falls, Montana, to visit my aunt. On the way home, I took a detour and drove over MacDonald Pass and into Elliston, Montana, the town where my fictional character, Kate O’Brien grew up. It was fun, not to mention surreal to envision Kate in her hometown. The drive made me want to get back to revisions on that book, The Bones of Pele. Which just goes to show, every now and then you have to get away from the computer and out into the real world to breathe life into your stories.

Elliston, Montana

The more I write, the pickier I become about the books I read; they have to have substance; they have to be well written. I tend to read more non-fiction, but I recently finished The Girl with No Shadow by Joanne Harris, and fell in love with the book. Not only does Harris weave an engaging story, she does it with three first-person narrators. If you liked Chocolat, you will enjoy the sequel, The Girl with No Shadow.

Me and Alice Hoffman. Woot!

Years ago when my son was born, I’d walk around the house singing Sweet Life by Paul Davis, and that song became my husband’s and my theme song. This April I had another chance to make a dream come true. My favorite author, Alice Hoffman, was on a book tour and did a reading at Powells, in Beaverton, Oregon. Since that sweet little boy I used to sing Sweet Life to lives only minutes from Beaverton, he was kind enough to take me to the reading. Thanks, Trevor, for making another of my dreams come true.

It’s final, the new American Idol is DAVID COOK. He’s been my favorite all season. As in typical David fashion, he credits his brother Andrew for dragging him to tryouts. What a Cinderella story, way to go David Cook, you rock.

We are coming upon another anniversary of my mother’s death. She died suddenly at age 63 on May 5, 1994. When I heard Mariah Carey sing Bye Bye on American Idol Wednesday night (4-16-08 ) it resonated deeply within me. If you have lost someone close, you will appreciate the lyrics. Enjoy.