Midsummer Mingle: A Day with Authors 2026

 

I LOVE reader events! I'm still on Cloud 9 from attending Midsummer Mingle (at Baker Book House) earlier this month.

 The combination of authors plus readers is magical. Running into bookworm friends, both old and new, having authors recognize you and call you by name, and browsing the endless maze of books at Baker. It's pure bliss.  

There was lots of laughter. I enjoyed the author panels. Soaking up the knowledge they shared like a sponge. Several authors spoke about the importance of community. This theme resonated with me. We all need one another. I appreciate that particularly in the Christian fiction space there's a seat at the table whether you're a reader, aspiring writer, debut author or a multi-published, award-winning author. Everyone is welcome. 

Bethany Turner, Karen Witemeyer, Jill Kremer, Gabrielle Meyer, Amanda Dykes, Jessica Patch, and Dani Petrey rounded out this delightful group of writers. 

The greatest highlight of the day for me was having lunch with my favorite author Karen Witemeyer. (Cue the excitement) This is a core memory I'll treasure forever. Karen has the wonderful gift of making people feel seen with her kind, gracious, and generous character. She has a genuine care for her readers that shines through. I'm a fan for life! 

On my drive home with a bag full of books, my heart was overflowing thinking back to encouraging conversations, hugs and memories to last a lifetime. I'm thankful to be a part of the Christian fiction community. While it's the stories that bring us together it's the authors behind the books that keep us coming back. 

Happy reading! 

Spies, Lies and Alibis: A Fun Summer Read

 

If you love books with mystery, espionage, and romance you need to check out Natatlie Walters new novel Spies, Lies, & Alibis. 

Bennet "Ben" Bradley is deep undercover with the FBI posing as a financial advisor with a reputation for helping the wealthy launder money. His mission requires him to maintain his cover navigating a world of deception and danger. 

Running into childhood friend Cybil Langford throws his world off kilter.  Spies, Lies, and Alibis is a 1st person dual POV novel. The banter between Ben and Cybil is the best part of the story. I love the "will they won't they get together" tension that the author carries through the story. 

Ben and Cybil embark on a dangerous game of cat and mouse wondering if they can trust the other person. The author does a great job with character building, the pacing and keeps the reader guessing until the end. 

Like all good books, the ending left me wanting more. I feel like Natalie purposely left the book open ended possibly hinting at additional adventures with Ben and Cybil. I hope to see more rom com style books by this author. It's clear she enjoyed writing this book.  Spies, Lies, and Alibis was a fun summer read that I'd rate 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Books that Became Me

  I wrote this essay for my newsletter subscribers in May's newsletter and wanted to share it with all of you in hopes that it would bring you joy.

If you like this content, you can subscribe to my newsletters through this link (Blonde Classic). 

 

Books.

Just seeing this five-letter, one syllable word brings a smile to my face.

My life has never been the same since I wore out three copies of the Little Golden Book, I Can Fly by the age of three. (Sorry Mom.) Even then, I recognized books can take you on quests.

If it’s true your cells regenerate every seven years, then over my lifetime of reading I’ve changed many times over. I like to think that pieces of my favorite books remain stitched into my DNA.

One of my favorite lines from You’ve Got Mail Kathleen Kelly says, “When you read a book as a child it becomes part of your identity in a way no other reading in your whole life does.” I’ve always believed this is true.

In middle school and high school, books became long- lost acquaintances. I found a real home as a spunky red-headed orphan in Anne of Green Gables, watched old maid Valancy Stirling become who she was meant to be in The Blue Castle, crossed swords with The Three Musketeers, and quietly carried the moral weight of To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s also where my love and slight obsession of all things Jane Austen began. (Emma is still my favorite).

College deepened my relationship with literature. My major (and I’m sure you can guess what it was) required reading I might never have selected on my own. Some books challenged me, intimidated me, and some stayed with me long after the semester ended. The Faerie Queen, The Lady of Shalott, Middlemarch, and The Souls of Black Folk all expended my understanding of what literature could do. They taught me books are more than stories, but conversations across generations.

Whenever someone asks me for my favorite book, my mind immediately short circuits under pressure. Choosing one feels impossible and disloyal because the books I love are tied to different versions of myself.

Over the years, I’ve changed as a reader. When I was younger, I read for adventure. Today, I still see reading as an escape from reality, but I read a little slower. I find myself relishing the beautiful cadence of words, insights, and themes of a book. The excitement of opening a book knowing I may not be the same person when I close the book remains the same.

Perhaps that’s why I continue to love reading so deeply. Books do more than entertain us. They accompany us. They leave fingerprints on our lives in ways we don’t always recognize until years later.

Isn’t it wonderful that pieces of all these stories will remain with me forever?