Long winter, no see

Winter came (around January in Alabama), and brought with it snow, the flu, and a huge case of writer's block. It was so bad, I had a hard time even reading...and I can't say that's ever happened to me before. But, low and behold, a light bulb finally came on in my winter-logged brain, and I've found a topic for an upcoming essay for this summer's SOL creative non-fiction workshop with Diane Thiel. I'm also reading for a 19th century American poetry class with Dr. Jenn Lewin (one of my favorite SOL professors). 

April's Camp NaNoWriMo begins on April 1, and I've set my word count goal at 10,000, during which time I'll be working on my essay for the summer. 

Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting by Ann Hood

Found Ann Hood's Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting in Barnes and Noble this past weekend, and I LOVE this collection of essays. You don't have to be a knitter to get something out of them, either.



Here's an overview:

“In this lovely anthology, Sue Grafton, Barbara Kingsolver, and other authors go public with their passion for knitting.”—People magazine, four stars
“The impressive collection of writers here have contributed essays that celebrate knitting and knitters. They share their knitting triumphs and disasters as well as their life triumphs and disasters. . . . These essays will break your heart. They will have you laughing out loud.”—Ann Hood, from the introduction
Why does knitting occupy a place in the hearts of so many writers? What’s so magical and transformative about yarn and needles? How does knitting help us get through life-changing events and inspire joy? In Knitting Yarns, twenty-seven writers tell stories about how knitting healed, challenged, or helped them to grow. Barbara Kingsolver describes sheering a sheep for yarn. Elizabeth Berg writes about her frustration at failing to knit. Ann Patchett traces her life through her knitting, writing about the scarf that knits together the women she’s loved and lost. Knitting a Christmas gift for his blind aunt helped Andre Dubus III knit an understanding with his girlfriend. Kaylie Jones finds the woman who used knitting to help raise her in France and heals old wounds. Sue Grafton writes about her passion for knitting. Also included are five original knitting patterns created by Helen Bingham.Poignant, funny, and moving, Knitting Yarns is sure to delight knitting enthusiasts and lovers of literature alike.