The Storyteller | Mary Vee

Sometimes taking a vay-cay to Paris is impossible, but a trip to Paris, Wisconsin or Paris, Tennessee, or Paris, Texas is a little more affordable.  We can always take a picture of the sign, buy new clothes, eat at a restaurant, and call it good, right? Or not. Sigh. There's something about being in the real place. Today's book talk with real scene photos by Mary Vee is:  Paris by the Book by Liam Callanan Definitely a 5 stars story. Well written. Engaging. Focused on the story. Rich. I totally loved this story, especially the way Callanan told the tale. Here is why: The story begins in Paris, Wisconsin. Our main character, Leah  is drawn to Robert by a chance encounter outside their small town bookstore. She wanted The Red Balloon , he wanted Madeline . Two stories with a Parisian setting. Their love story continues into their wedding. As you might expect, about one third into the story, Leah travels from Wisconsin to her dream place, Paris, France. ...

This summer a pair of wild geese raised a family on the grassy shore outside our home. This was the first time a family stayed from gosling to raised geese. Recently, they flew away and didn't return. I read  North by Night  this week as part of my research for the story I'm currently writing. The main character is Lucy, a teen girl living in small town, Ohio, who helps her family hide slaves fleeing north in the 1800's. The story is powerful and I highly recommend it. In the days of the Underground Railroad, individuals fleeing slavery were called Wild Geese. It was a code word. Pictures and drawings of wild geese pointed the way north, because, as we know, geese go south for the summer, have their babies, then fly north. It took courage to modify businesses or homes to harbor, feed, and cloth these individuals on the run. Families risked their lives to help men, women, and children find freedom. They often kept their secret from r...

Yes, the weather is extremely chilly, for all of us. As long as you are in the northern hemisphere, that is. Brrr. This, my friend, is the perfect time to pick up a book and read it all the way through. Cover to cover. We are a TV, media age and are missing so many wonderful stories told only in books. True movies may have the props, the music, etc. BUT media does not have YOUR imagination. The setting you see, the voice you hear, the touch, the taste (did you know lasagna tastes different to you than it does for me?) This is a fourth of my library. Yeah, hubby and I place a priority on reading. He even built the shelfs. Since this is still January, we have time to establish great habits for 2017. Rather than encourage you to read a book, I'm going to ask you to step outside of your box. The comfy box. The one where you have four of five good books sitting on your nights stand that you plan, have been planning, and might, kinda, sorta, event...