by kristinoakley | Apr 19, 2025 | For Readers, For Writers, Newsletter, Writing Life
I bought a brand new condo on March 28th and moved in on April 7th. The last few weeks have been stressful and . . . amazing. Even though I’ve neglected working on The Runner (and publishing newsletters), the experience has triggered ideas and insights into how...
by kristinoakley | Mar 16, 2025 | For Readers, For Writers, Newsletter, Writer's Book Club
For this month’s book club, I listened to the audiobook of The Ministry of Time, by Kaliane Bradley, read by George Weightman and Katie Leung. The premise of this novel is intriguing—a civil servant becomes a “bridge” (a guide) for a time-traveler...
by kristinoakley | Mar 2, 2025 | Creativity & Craft, For Readers, For Writers, Newsletter
Imagine you’re working in an office, dressed in a suit and tie or a blouse and skirt, seated at a cubicle, staring at numbers on an outdated computer screen, selecting the ones that are “scary”, and moving them to a trash bin. You don’t know...
by kristinoakley | Feb 16, 2025 | For Readers, For Writers, Newsletter, Writer's Book Club
For this month’s Writer’s Book Club, I read Richard Powers’ Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Overstory. It follows the family histories and lives of nine people and their tight connection to trees. It was a struggle to get through—too wordy and too...
by kristinoakley | Feb 2, 2025 | Creativity & Craft, For Readers, For Writers, Newsletter
How we sound, what we say, whether we joke or take everything seriously, gives people insight into who we are. For instance, when my sister and I realized people couldn’t tell our voices apart on the phone, we had a blast pranking boyfriends. People who are good...
by kristinoakley | Jan 19, 2025 | For Readers, For Writers, Newsletter, Writer's Book Club
Wow, what a crazy week of listening to audiobooks. My older daughter reminded me how good All-American Girl by Meg Cabot is. So, I decided to listen to it and finished it in one afternoon. It’s a well-written charming teen romance with a good deal of action....
by kristinoakley | Jan 5, 2025 | For Readers, For Writers, Newsletter, Writing Life
Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are excited for 2025. I am! The new year is a fresh start, a promise of rebirth and renewal. It’s a great time to reflect on last year—the successes and the struggles—and make plans for this...
by kristinoakley | Dec 6, 2024 | Books and Movies, For Readers, For Writers, Newsletter
Here are my favorite books, games, and present ideas for the 2024 holidays. My favorite books of 2024 Tana French’s The Searcher and The Hunter – murder mysteries involving a Chicago cop who retired to Ireland. These books have well-developed...
