In This Giving Season…
It's snowing, and the child in me dances for joy. Being a December birthday girl, my earliest memories remain infused with the delight and wonder of snowfall, the way it covers all the imperfections we humans have created on the [...]
A Thanksgiving List of Blessings
I admit to trepidation in trying to form a list of things to be thankful for during this strange, maddening, sad, unprecedented (how often have we heard that word over the last four years?) time. So, I'll start with the [...]
A November Placemarker
I have a new essay almost ready to go, but the looming election has me quite anxious. Instead of posting the essay just yet, I thought I'd wait until after November 3. I'll be working the polls, so I'll have [...]
An October Like No Other
When I was a kid, the best thing about October was the run-up to Halloween. The expectation of a bagful of treats overrode any other considerations. Those with birthdays that month had their happiness doubled by the promise of presents [...]
A Sporting Chance
I must admit to a certain degree of sadness at the loss of college football this year. Oh, I know several conferences have decided to forge ahead with abbreviated schedules, and others are involved in lawsuits asking for the universities [...]
Let’s Dance!
The summer grows hotter. The world roils with the pandemic. I stretch the limits of my housebound sanctuary and, when the mood strikes, I dance. Visiting our grandchildren last weekend, I was struck by the eagerness of my five-year-old grandson [...]
December 2020 Author of the Month: MEREDITH DOENCH
The month of December always arrives precipitously, hard on the heels of November feasting, bringing with it my birthday, the festive holiday season, and the longest day of the year. This has to be my favorite month, and who better to grace it than one of my favorite authors, a Dayton local who teaches at the University of Dayton, offers multiple writing workshops around town, and has written a deliciously entertaining series of mysteries. The Luce Hansen tales introduce the reader to an intriguing new sleuth with a setting dear to my heart, the southeastern portion of Ohio.
Janet Irvin: Hi, Meredith, and welcome to my web home. I want to start by addressing your dual roles in your professional life. You are a teacher and a writer. How do your two worlds interact?
Meredith Doench: I have learned through my teaching that […]
Previous Months’ Authors
November 2020 Author of the Month: SARAH ANNE CARTER
One of the many things I miss during this pandemic year is the opportunity to attend book fairs and signings and meet other authors. This month’s guest — Sarah Anne […]
October 2020 Author Of The Month: KATHLEEN AMBRO
I met Kathleen Ambro at a writers’ gathering before the pandemic took them all away. She was delightful. We shared information and talked about our writing. I’m always intrigued by […]
2020 September Author of the Month: ROCHELLE BRADLEY
Rochelle Bradley is a local Dayton area author whose novels combine humor with romantic encounters. She involves herself in community events, mentoring beginning writers and sharing her expertise with readers […]
2020 August Author of the Month: VALERIE J. COLEMAN
My August author is a dynamo of energy, enthusiasm, and personality. She is multi-talented, writing, editing, publishing, and presenting at conferences, both in person and now in the virtual arena. […]
2020 July Author of the Month: DAWN PAUL
This middle-of-summer, 2020, demands a bit of whimsy, and who better to supply it than my featured author, Dawn Paul, whose tales of gnomes invite us to the world of […]
2020 June Author of the Month: KATE CARLISLE
I must admit to a fascination with Kate Carlisle, our June author, especially her Bibliophile mysteries. After I read the first one, I was hooked, probably because protagonist Brooklyn Wainwright, […]