Resources

Here are some fun things I hope you will check out and enjoy. Please email me with some of your favorites. As I experience new things, I will be adding to this page so please check back often.

Labyrinth Info

Labyrinth Locator - a resource to locate labyrinths world-wide

Labyrinth at Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville

Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, California

Guidelines for Walking a Labyrinth from St. Basils Church

Information About Labyrinths and Walking from Luther Hill Ministries 

Veriditas - Resources and information about labyrinths, training, walking, building and more

Labyrinth Board on Pinterest - This is my personal Pinterest board with photos and wide-ranging information about labyrinths

Books

Although the following links to Amazon.com so you can see and learn about the following books, I encourage you to order and buy books from your local independent bookseller when possible.

Don't have a good, local independent bookseller? Then call or check out Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee. They are independent and will ship world-wide. Plus it's owned by best selling author, Ann Patchett.

Writing

Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft, (9th Edition) by Janet Burroway - This is a textbook on the craft of writing fiction. I purchased my 6th edition copy years ago and have not updated it. Although expensive, you can find older editions and used copies at more reasonable prices. I keep this book at my side while writing.

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, by Anne Lamott - A book everyone recommends and for good reason. It is simple and wise and funny and instructive. Intimidated by writing or stuck? Check out this book.

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, by Natalie Goldberg - With insight, humor, and practicality, Natalie Goldberg inspires writers and would-be writers to take the leap into writing skillfully and creatively.

Chi Writing, by T. A. Pierce - Full disclosure! Tom has been a client of mine and I worked with him as he wrote and produced this book. Having gotten that out of the way, this is a novel concept, written by a storyteller and endurance athlete, well presented on how to get your book finished and out into the world. You’ll learn a unique, practical, and systematic way to put words on the page consistently and progressively by applying endurance training principles to the writing process.

Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living, by Krista Tippett - “‘Becoming Wise’ challenges all forms of dogma, in science, politics and philosophy as well as religion, and it affirms the holiness of the body and the glory of the inquiring mind. While our dominant media suggest that humans are incorrigibly selfish and greedy and cruel, Tippett and her conversation partners demonstrate that the longing to lead a good life, a moral life, remains powerful and pervasive in our day….” ~ Washington Post 

Photography

Examples: The Making of 40 Photographs, by Ansel Adams: Each of Adams 40 photographs presented here is accompanied by an engaging narrative that explores the technical and aesthetic problems presented by the subject and includes reminiscences of the places and people involved. Old school but timeless reminders in today's "point and shoot" world.

Food

Spain: A Culinary Road Trip, by Mario Batali with Gwyneth Paltrow: the companion book to the prime-time public television series Spain...On The Road Again. The premise is simple: Mario Batali and Mark Bittman are single-minded, food-obsessed friends who are constantly on the lookout for the food, wine, and cooking that is unique to Spain—and in this series they will find it. Gwyneth Paltrow and the Spanish actress Claudia Bassols are eager to enjoy all the pleasures the country has to offer, and each pair will be lured into the worlds of the other. Although the book is out of print, it is worth finding the television series and the book, just for the romance of the perfect marriage of travel and food. Plus the recipe for paella alone is worth the price of the book.

Everyday Cook, by Alton Brown: Lovable Cooking Channel and Food Network chef combines the art of Julia Child with the science of Bill Nye to not only bring good eats to the table but to teach you the hows and whys to make them good. If you are a fan of any of his work, you have the added bonus of hearing his voice as you read and prepare. Oh, bother...

Paris Express: Simple Food from the City of Style, by Laura Calder - Do you believe that French cooking is fussy and difficult? Laura begins with the radical idea that Parisian-style food can be easy and sophisticated, delicious and simple. Cooking Channel's Laura Calder is friendly, conversational, instructive, and encouraging. Want to add a little adventure to your kitchen? This cookbook is for you.

Italian Cooking Party: A Little Bit of Italy at Home, by Chef Paulette Licitra - Paulette hosts Italian cooking parties in Nashville, Tennessee and is the publisher of the journal, Alimentum. She graduated from the Institute of Culinary Education in NYC, has cooked in Mario Batali's Lupa restaurant, and has studied with home cooks throughout Italy. She leads annual cooking tours to Italy, and appears regularly on Nashville's NBC affiliate, WSMV-TV. She is a friend and I'm happy to say that I've attended several of her cooking parties and have eaten well and learned much. I took her recipes to a castle in Tuscany and prepared authentic Italian meals with the local meats and produce. Molto bene!

Appetites: A Cookbook, by Anthony Bourdain - Anthony Bourdain is a man of many appetites. And for many years, first as a chef, later as a world-traveling chronicler of food and culture on his CNN series Parts Unknown, he has made a profession of understanding the appetites of others. These days, however, if he’s cooking, it’s for family and friends. Sometimes his language is as spicy as his recipes but if you develop a taste for his personality, you'll find a depth of life as rich as a savory béchamel. 

David Rocco's Dolce Vita, by David Rocco - David is another Cooking Channel host who brings his personality, his love of life and his family recipes to both television and books. He prefers not to be considered a chef, rather he's learned in the kitchens of his mother and grandmothers and brings these recipes to you and me. Literally translated, "dolce vita" means sweet life. To David, dolce vita is a state of mindfulness, of being fully present and finding the joy in moments even when circumstances are not joyful. Many of us find those around the tables as we share with family and friends. If you love Italian food, you'll love this cook book and the recipes that originated with the farming class, people who lived simply off their land. And you will come to appreciate the Italian phrase, "quanto basta," which roughly translates "as much as you need" or "as much as you like." Grab this book, and bottles of good extra virgin olive oil and be prepared to have all you need...oh, and a good bottle of Chianti.

Heritage, by Sean Brock - Yes, you can order one of these New York Times Bestseller "Blue Ribbon Chef Cookbook of the Year" cookbooks from Amazon or Parnassus Books but why not just come to Nashville and have lunch or dinner at Husk Nashville instead. You can then pick up a copy at the restaurant or you can still travel a few miles and pick up your copy at Parnassus. And you might get lucky and see Chef Sean milling about Husk, making sure everything is as it should be. I had the incredible good fortune of doing a photo shoot with Sean Brock for a piece in the journal 2nd & Church and shadowed him for a day. He was kind and generous, knowledgeable and sharing, passionate and fun. He has been described by Chef Anthony Bourdain as "one of the most important chefs in America...He is a transformative figure." 

Semplice, Semplice, Semplice: The Simple Cooking of Tuscany, by Rita Ricci - There is an expression, "the thin places" that describe those magical places where the veil between heaven and earth is the thinnest, where it almost seems as if you can pass easily between the two. One of those places is in a section of a castle on a hilltop south of Firenze, Italy, Colognole, nestled in Greve-in-Chianti in Tuscany. It is not easy to get to but then heaven is not supposed to be easy to attain. There you can rent an apartment with gardens that overlook what appears to be the whole of Tuscany laid out before you. This quadrant of the Colognole Castle is owned by sisters, Rosita and Rita Ricci, who are not only the perfect hostesses but Rita also will cook for you and provide cooking classes, if you like. I have been most fortunate to have visited and dined with Rita and Rosita several times and I long to return. Rita's cookbook has been published in small batches and I bought mine while there. I suggest a trip to the castle, a meal and cooking class with Rita, and a purchase of the cookbook. You'll thank me later. 

On the cover of the cookbook is the quote by Robert Browning, "Open my heart and you will see, engraved inside it, Italy." I agree.

More to come, but those will get you started!

Miscellaneous Fun!

Sailing Fundamentals, by Gary Jobson - Want to learn about sailing but not sure where to start? Here, my friend, here...

Blogs

In Search of America by David Robert Farmerie - A companion blog to the In Search of America project by renowned photographer, David Robert Farmerie. See his website, his work, and check out his podcast (info below.)

Brene Brown: COURAGEworks - Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston where she holds the Huffington Foundation-Brené Brown Endowed Chair at The Graduate College of Social Work. She has spent the past sixteen years studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy and is the author of three #1 New York Times bestsellers.

Charlotte Rains Dixon - author of the novel Emma Jean’s Bad Behavior and articles published in magazines such as Vogue Knitting, The Oregonian and Pology, and has had short fiction published in Somerset Studios, The Trunk and the Santa Fe Writer’s Project. She's been teaching and coaching writers, both privately and as an adjunct professor, at Middle Tennessee State University’s MTSU Write program.

Neelam Tewar - a writer and poet. Those familiar with her work often say her words uplifts hearts and minds. Practicing the art of loving compassion and the human condition is the nucleus of all her work. What is most dearest to Neelam is the connection within and to those invisible threads tying each one of us together.

Emily Jordan - a friend, and a wise twenty-something who has lived in France and worked as an English teacher. This blog is a place where Emily writes about her travels, everyday life experiences, and thoughts on this world that she's lucky enough to have seen so much of. She gives an open and honest perspective on life as a young woman abroad, while leaving plenty of room for wonder and romanticism.

Jamie Ridler - the creative director of Jamie Ridler Studios, a lively online hub for bringing creativity to life reaching thousands of readers, listeners and viewers each day. 

Podcasts