Sleep is an optional activity in Oxford. This is a fact I do my best to resist by actually sleeping. But sometimes, even I succumb to the vast and varied pace of this place and stay up until the wee sma's when the stars blink down in bewilderment at my still-opened eyes.

Today, an excerpt from Caught Up in aStoryas I have been reading back through Berry here in between papers and thinking about the way that literature teaches us what it looks like to be faithful.

Hello friends. Today, I bring you a glimpse from my summer literary rambles. I had a few extra days after working at a conference in Oxford in July, and I decided to take a train right up to the Lake District.

(Note: I & Q from this time forth shall stand for the series of blog posts listed under "Illustrations and Quotations." There are just too many letters in the full version to fit in a post title, so this version stands. Consider this series the upping of your artistic and literary "IQ.")

Welcome to the first official Tuesday post my Storyformed friends! About three weeks ago I went to an orientation session here at my college in Oxford that set my mind to simmering.

I'm back! Well, I should say I'm settled, and have finished three first essays, and been inducted into more libraries than I can visit in a year. Friends, I can now say I'm really living in Oxford. Which means, I have a weekly schedule at last. Which means, I can finally write.

You all. (I guess I should dig into my Texas background and say ya'll.) My good old friend Sam has written a children's book that I think will become a family favorite the minute its published. Oh, it's a grand story. I savored it.

Well. I have reached a moment of halfway calm poised between the launch of this site and my departure for Oxford. Oh yes, lovely world, I'm about to join the ranks of Lewis and Tolkien in the city of the dreaming spires. I shall have much, much to write about.

The last few days of launch celebration around here have been lovely. I've never really done anything like that before. Thanks for your comments and encouragement and hearty dose of enthusiasm

I have immensely enjoyed reading your numerous comments (thank you !). I love discovering the many kindred spirits out there in this endeavor to create and defend the beauty of a life rich in story. I'm so excited to be part of your reading journey.

This is our second festival day, complete with giveaways and a few new updates. First, in case you missed it in the confusion yesterday (things kept changing), Caught Up in a Storyis finally available. You can go HERE to get your copy.

It's going to be a grand few days. We'll be celebrating today, Wednesday, and Thursday, so be sure to check back often for fresh updates and info, and be sure to enter the daily giveaways. 

After a whirlwind of a summer, I am finally ready to release the new book and launch this website in style! Things always take ten times longer than I think they will, but here we are, and the party is going to be a good one.

I'm back from England with fingers itching to write. In the next few weeks, I'll be adding quite a bit to the site in preparation for the launch, but I would love your input on one particular thing before I start: booklists.

“None of the children knew who Aslan was any more than you do; but the moment the Beaver had spoken these words everyone felt quite different.

I am sitting on a bus with the low thrum of the engine idling as we wait for the last sleepy passengers to amble in to catch their ride to Cambridge.

Well, it's probably no surprise to those who know me well, but I'm off to England... again! The good news about that is that I'm going to be collecting all sorts of lovely literary things to post here.

“How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book.”(Thoreau)

I’m sitting in a coffee shop, supposed to be busy as a bee at about a dozen different and deadlined tasks, but I’ve just begun a marvelous book and I’m momentarily rebelling against responsibility in order to tell you that I think you should read it too.