Debbie Laskey's Blog

Welcome to Debbie Laskey's insights and commentary about BRANDING, MARKETING, LEADERSHIP, SOCIAL MEDIA, EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT, and CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES. Debbie has worked in high-tech, the Consumer Marketing Department at Disneyland Paris in France, nonprofits, and insurance. Expertise includes strategic planning, brand development, marketing plans and audits, competitive positioning, websites, communications, public relations, employee engagement, customer experiences, and social media marketing.

Showing posts with label reading is my super power. Show all posts

Monday, October 26, 2026

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES 2026 featuring Amanda Hahn-Peters

Following in the footsteps of eight previous series where thought leaders responded to questions on my blog over the last several years to discuss leadership, marketing, reading, and the Olympics, I'm thrilled to announce that it's time for my 9th series!

During the Fall season (each Monday from September 28th through December 20th), I'm welcoming a dozen thought leaders to share their insights about reading, books, personal branding, and leadership. Today, Amanda Hahn-Peters is my featured expert. Amanda is a copywriter, content writer, and marketing strategist that collaborates with creative business owners and impact-driven brands to uncover and share the stories that connect them to their audience. She's also a former professional triathlete-turned-endurance coach and now coaches runners and triathletes through her endurance coaching business, AHP Endurance. When she isn't writing or coaching, Amanda enjoys traveling, reading, attending theater productions, and spending time with her baby daughter, husband, and cat. She's also a lover of musicals who thinks in song lyrics. When I met her on Twitter/X in early 2025, her pinned post sang to me: "If you could swap your email sign-off with song lyrics, what would you choose? Defying gravity, Amanda." Is anyone else a fan of WICKED?!

Before we begin, I'd like to share my two favorite reading quotes to set the stage:

"If you give a person a book, you give him the world." ~New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel (from her work of historical fiction, "The Paris Daughter")

"For you unlock magic that is hidden within, and opening the cover is how you begin. Oh, all the worlds and the places you'll see; when you hold a book, you hold the key." ~Caroline Derlatka

And now, let's begin.

QUESTION: What was the last book (fiction or non-fiction) you read? What stood out as memorable, and would you recommend it?

AMANDA HAHN-PETERS: The last book I read was "The Correspondent" by Virginia Evans. The story is told entirely through letters, and readers act as detectives, piecing together the life and relationships of a retired law clerk in her 70's. Beyond the format and the hinting at unsent letters (the power of words left unsaid), what stood out to me was the main character's ability to seek personal growth and forgiveness in her "winter season" of life.

QUESTION: Which book (fiction or non-fiction) is on the top of your to-be-read pile (or first in your digital reader), and why?

AMANDA HAHN-PETERS: The next book on my TBR is "The Wedding People" by Alison Espach. The main reason I want to read it? I've seen many of my friends on Goodreads give it 5 stars. And, from the plot summary, it seems to highlight the power of unexpected connections (which sounds lovely) and mix heartwarming moments with dark humor.

QUESTION: With all the streaming services available, many works of fiction are now adapted into films or TV series. During the last year, have you watched a film or TV show and been impressed and/or inspired by the adaptation? (If you haven't watched any adaptations, are you looking forward to any currently in the planning or production phases?)

AMANDA HAHN-PETERS: While I haven't read the entire Bridgerton series (only a few books), I'm a big fan of the TV series adaptation on Netflix. The acting is great and I love the unexpected addition of the pop instrumental music (a great way to mix the British Regency era with modern day). Also, even though it's only a voice part, it makes my heart so happy to see Julie Andrews still acting!

QUESTION: If you're a fan of the TED LASSO series on Apple TV, have you watched the new season (that returned on August 5th)? If yes, what stands out about Ted's leadership lessons or leadership style from the new season? Alternatively, if you're not a fan of the show or have not yet watched it, is there another CURRENT TV show that showcases inspiring leadership?

AMANDA HAHN-PETERS: I thought the Netflix show "The Crown" did a great job highlighting the significant responsibility and struggle of being a leader. Queen Elizabeth's life was one that was largely devoted to public service, and, as is showcased, she realizes the weight of her decisions (and how they affect a large number of people) and often turns to trusted advisors to help her make the most informed choices. This is a great reminder that successful leaders don't act alone — they surround themselves with smart people they can trust.

QUESTION: Which author (either from history or currently writing) would you choose to have dinner with, and what would you discuss?

AMANDA HAHN-PETERS: This is a tough question because I have multiple answers, but the first author that popped into my head while writing this was Jane Austen. I'd love to ask her how her personal life inspired her books, and, since we'd be having dinner in 2026, we'd discuss what social commentary would look like if she published a book today. Additionally, I'd like to know whether or not she's surprised by the progress women have made since the 1800's. And, of course, I need to know her favorite movie adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice!"

SHARE THIS: If you give a person a book, you give him the world. ~@KristinHarmel #ReadingOpensMinds #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: A bibliophile is a lover of books, while a lectiophile is a lover of reading. The distinction is due to the object versus the activity. #FunFact #ReadingIsMySuperPower #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: Mariana Serdynska/Shutterstock via Portland Monthly.

Meet Amanda at this link:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-hahn-peters

Read Amanda's previous appearance on my Blog:

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2025/05/spring-leadership-series-2025-featuring_0723303817.html

Check out these related recaps here on my Blog:

Highlights of My #FallBacktoReadingSeries2025 (December 21, 2025):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2025/12/highlights-of-fallbacktoreadingseries20.html

Highlights of My #FallBacktoReadingSeries2023 (January 31, 2024):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/01/highlights-of-my-fallbacktoreadingseries.html

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Competition versus Collaboration

Want to add a good book to your non-fiction to-be-read pile? I recently read "UNCOMPETE: Rejecting Competition to Unlock Success" by Ruchika T. Malhotra and highly recommend it.

Ruchika Malhotra, an award-winning inclusion strategist and speaker, is CEO and Founder of Candour, which works with organizations to create diverse teams and inclusive cultures. A former business journalist, she has reported from four countries and writes regularly on inclusive leadership for the Harvard Business Review. She was named to the Thinkers50 list, a global ranking described by the Financial Times as the "Oscars of Management Thinking." And she wrote two books prior to UNCOMPETE: "Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work" and "The Diversity Advantage." Back in 2025, Ruchika graciously appeared here on my blog in a Q&A.

Here were some stand-out concepts from the book:

Ruchika explained that when we UNCOMPETE, we intentionally:

(1) CHOOSE what's best for the group and environment NOT INSTEAD OF the individual;

(2) ACT in the spirit of collaboration, curiosity, and consideration; and

(3) RESIST cultural norms that are rooted in the domination and exploitation of others, especially marginalized communities.

Ruchika further explained that "When you uncompete, you live up to the promise of a world where everyone wins. And not just you, but your community, your society, and the world...To uncompete offers an alternative where we are empowered, grounded, and forward-looking. We move from believing we have no agency to knowing we can make choices to change our lives and the lives around us. To uncompete is to invest in building a beautiful, thriving future for all."

A memorable example from the book was the reference to the medal podium at the 2024 Paris Olympics from the individual gymnastics competition. You may recall the inspiring photo of the three winners: Gold Medalist Rebecca Andrade from Brazil, Silver Medalist American Simone Biles, and Bronze Medalist American Jordan Chiles. The two Americans bowed to Andrade. This was the perfect example of the theory behind UNCOMPETE because the two Americans were "finding joy in others' joy" - they were applauding Andrade's accomplishment with tremendous respect.

Monday, October 19, 2026

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES 2026 featuring Melanie Bell

During the Fall season (each Monday from September 28th through December 20th), I'm welcoming a dozen thought leaders to share their insights about reading, books, personal branding, and leadership. Today, Melanie Bell is my featured expert. Melanie is the Co-Founder of Strategic Piece, a company that helps B2B businesses generate outstanding revenue growth by aligning their marketing, sales, and service teams around an information-driven customer experience. Also a passionate reader, Melanie founded Leaders Who Fiction, a virtual monthly book club where participants hone their leadership skills by reading and discussing works of fiction. (Thanks to Twitter/X, we met in November 2023, and I value my participation in the group.) Melanie earned a BA in International Development from McGill University in Montreal and an MBA from Rice University in Houston.

Before we begin, I'd like to share my two favorite reading quotes to set the stage:

"If you give a person a book, you give him the world." ~New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel (from her work of historical fiction, "The Paris Daughter")

"For you unlock magic that is hidden within, and opening the cover is how you begin. Oh, all the worlds and the places you'll see; when you hold a book, you hold the key." ~Caroline Derlatka

And now, let's begin.

QUESTION: What was the last book (fiction or non-fiction) you read? What stood out as memorable, and would you recommend it?

MELANIE BELL: I've been DNF-ing (did not finish) a lot of books recently. The last one I finished reading was "My Friends" by Fredrik Backman, which was the July selection for Leaders Who Fiction. I absolutely adored the opening paragraph: "Louisa is a teenager, the best kind of human. The evidence for this is very simple: little children think teenagers are the best humans, and teenagers think teenagers are the best humans, the only people who don't think that teenagers are the best humans are adults. Which is obviously because adults are the worst kind of humans." Backman is a strong writer, and I so appreciated how he flips generally agreed upon sentiments (like teenagers are so hard!).

QUESTION: Which book (fiction or non-fiction) is on the top of your to-be-read pile (or first in your digital reader), and why?

MELANIE BELL: I'm currently reading "Land" by Maggie O’Farrell, who I love. Any new book of hers will be high on my TBR list. After that, I think "Lady Tremaine" just hopped to the top. I've been dancing around reading it for a while, but there was a long wait time for it at the local library when it first came out, and then I forgot about it. I keep hearing good things, and as a stepmom, I'm intrigued to hear Cinderella from the perspective of the "evil stepmother."

MELANIE BELL: I know the adaptation of "Remarkably Bright Creatures" was not everyone's cup of tea, but I enjoyed it, in part because I'm a fan of Sally Field. I try to let a lot of time go by between reading a book and watching the adaptation to consider the movie or show on its own merit rather than comparing it closely to its origin. Plus, the scenery was stunning! Clearly, I need to make a trip back to British Columbia. (But I still do think the book was better!)

MELANIE BELL: I am a fan of Ted Lasso but I haven't watched the new season yet. And this gives me a chance to shout out my favorite show of the year: "Widow's Bay." It is spooky—I couldn't watch it close to bedtime—but it's also so funny, and the acting is brilliant. Matthew Rhys plays a mayor of a struggling and cursed town on an island off the coast of New England. He desperately wants the town to be the next Martha's Vineyard despite locals warning him against bringing tourists to the island. There are lots of great leadership lessons in each episode as well. Highly recommend if you don't mind something scary every once in a while!

QUESTION: Which author (either from history or currently writing) would you choose to have dinner with, and what would you discuss?

MELANIE BELL: The first author who popped into my head was Ann Patchett. I could listen to her talk about writing forever. But the author I thought of next would also be AMAZING to meet: Elena Ferrante. Nobody knows who she actually is (I assume a woman, but Ferrante could be a man since this is a pen name).

This is a quote from Ferrante about writing: "I employ all the strategies I know to capture the reader's attention, stimulate curiosity, make the page as dense as possible and as easy as possible to turn. But once I have the reader's attention I feel it is my right to pull it in whichever direction I choose. I don't think the reader should be indulged as a consumer, because he isn't one. Literature that indulges the tastes of the reader is a degraded literature. My goal is to disappoint the usual expectations and inspire new ones."

And, of course, there would be Italian food. Actually, could we make this a dinner party?!

SHARE THIS: If you give a person a book, you give him the world. ~@KristinHarmel #ReadingOpensMinds #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: A bibliophile is a lover of books, while a lectiophile is a lover of reading. The distinction is due to the object versus the activity. #FunFact #ReadingIsMySuperPower #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: Mariana Serdynska/Shutterstock via Portland Monthly.

Read "How DNF Became A-OK" from The New York Times (August 2026):

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/09/books/review/dnf-goodreads-finish-books.html

Read Elena Ferrante Interview about Anonymity from The Guardian (February 2016):

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/feb/19/elena-ferrante-anonymity-lets-me-concentrate-exclusively-on-writing

Meet Melanie at this link:

https://www.strategicpiece.com

Check out Leaders Who Fiction:

https://www.leaderswhofiction.com/upcoming-books

Read Melanie's previous appearance on my Blog:

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2026/02/winter-olympics-leadership-series-2026_0517258420.html

Check out these related recaps here on my Blog:

Highlights of My #FallBacktoReadingSeries2025 (December 21, 2025):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2025/12/highlights-of-fallbacktoreadingseries20.html

Highlights of My #FallBacktoReadingSeries2023 (January 31, 2024):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/01/highlights-of-my-fallbacktoreadingseries.html

Monday, October 12, 2026

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES 2026 featuring Allan Pratt

During the Fall season (each Monday from September 28th through December 20th), I'm welcoming a dozen thought leaders to share their insights about reading, books, personal branding, and leadership. Today, Allan Pratt is my featured expert. Allan is an infosecurity strategist and represents the intersection of management and technology. He has an MBA Degree and six CompTIA certifications in computers, cloud computing, networks, servers, security, and mobility; and formerly worked in various roles in the tech sector. He has also been a contributor to several technology blogs and been quoted in industry publications. For the past 15 years, he has taught numerous CompTIA certification courses at Los Angeles City College (online since the covid pandemic began resulting in larger classes than when they were held in-person). His most notable accomplishment was the creation of the Cybersecurity Certificate and A.S. program for LA City College, the first program of its kind within the Los Angeles Community College District.

Before we begin, I'd like to share my two favorite reading quotes to set the stage:

"If you give a person a book, you give him the world." ~New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel (from her work of historical fiction, "The Paris Daughter")

"For you unlock magic that is hidden within, and opening the cover is how you begin. Oh, all the worlds and the places you'll see; when you hold a book, you hold the key." ~Caroline Derlatka

And now, let's begin.

QUESTION: What was the last book (fiction or non-fiction) you read? What stood out as memorable, and would you recommend it?

ALLAN PRATT: My favorite genre is geopolitical thrillers featuring international politics, military strategy, espionage, high-pressure situations, and more. Recently, I discovered R.J. Patterson's 21-book series featuring former Navy SEAL Brady Hawk and just finished reading book number 17, "Code Red." The novel featured a United States President, a terrorist cell, and an election - no more details to avoid a spoiler. Check out the series if you enjoy this genre.

I enjoy detailed character development over time and different situations that can only happen when there are many books in a series, and I also like the connection that results between the main character and the reader. Other examples are Lee Child's Jack Reacher, James Patterson's Alex Cross, and Stephen King's Roland Deschain.

QUESTION: Which book (fiction or non-fiction) is on the top of your to-be-read pile (or first in your digital reader), and why?

ALLAN PRATT: Due to my enjoyment of geopolitical thrillers, I'm also a fan of Brad Thor's 25-book series featuring protagonist Scot Horvath. His latest novel is next on my reading pile, "Choke Point." Here's a teaser from his website, "A devastating series of bombings tears through Bangkok. Scores of American citizens are dead. The attacks send shock waves around the world. As global assistance pours into Thailand including the FBI's famed Evidence Response Team, the President of the United States quietly prepares a plan B: Scot Harvath, America's top spy, trained to operate outside the law and probe the dark corners others can't...or won't. But the bomber Harvath is pursuing isn't a terrorist. He's something far more dangerous — one of ours. Meanwhile, in Washington, a former United States Marine is being hunted — and he has no idea why. Desperate for answers, he turns to the one person he still trusts — his ex-fiancée, a rising star in the White House. The problem is, she isn't sure she can trust him. As Harvath closes in on the bomber, a devastating truth begins to emerge. China has quietly deployed its most elite intelligence unit to Thailand. Their objective: to ignite chaos, trigger a military coup, and seize control of a narrow but critical piece of land, one that could give Beijing a decisive advantage. If the plan succeeds, Beijing will secure a key gateway between two oceans, eroding American naval dominance and tipping the balance in any war between the world's great powers. China will control the ultimate geopolitical choke point."

And on a side note for those who enjoy television and/or movie adaptations, Netflix announced in January 2026 that it's developing a feature adaptation of "Cold Zero" co-written by Brad Thor with Ward Larsen. The story was described as follows, "A vanished plane. An earth-shattering secret. A countdown to World War III. Hemisphere Airlines Flight 777 — the most advanced jetliner ever built — disappears without a trace over the North Pole. Crippled by sabotage, it crash-lands on the ice, stranding the surviving passengers in a wasteland of frigid cold and chaos. The real storm, however, is still coming. Hidden inside the wreckage is the prototype for a revolutionary piece of technology that could upend the balance of world power. Now Washington, Moscow, and Beijing are racing to be the first on scene to retrieve it — at any cost. Trapped in the middle of the world’s most dangerous flash point are CIA operative Kasey Sheridan and former fighter pilot turned first officer, Brett Sharpe. Hunted by enemy forces, they must spirit both the device and its creator across the ice to safety — before rival superpowers turn the Arctic into a war zone. With the clock ticking and the temperature dropping, the fate of the free world is about to be decided at the top of the globe." I guess that book is also in my to-be-read pile!

ALLAN PRATT: I would be remiss not to return to Lee Child's series about Jack Reacher, or just "Reacher," as the character tells people when they refer to him as "Mr. Reacher." He's a former U.S. military police officer who travels by bus, train, or by hitch-hiking without a destination, and as a result, gets mixed up in crazy adventures with bad people by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I've read the entire series, and when I heard that a new version would be made for television (on Amazon Prime Video), I hoped Tom Cruise would not be cast again in the lead role. He portrayed Reacher in two films ("Reacher" in 2012 and "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back" in 2016), and he was the wrong choice.

By contrast, Adam Ritchson (in the TV version) is exactly how I pictured the character while reading the books. He has the stature, the confidence, the dry sense of humor, the personality, and the overall attitude as Lee Child described him in the series. In fact, Ritchson is such an embodiment of the character that he was injured performing stunts during the filming of the third season. The fourth season showcased much of the same action, character development, and storytelling that viewers like me have come to expect as well as Reacher's concern for a stranger that he runs into and has to help, just because that's the type of person he is. Prime Video already renewed the show for a fifth season set to debut in 2027.

According to The Times (of London), "In a world of often over-hyped publishing numbers, the most intimidating statistic of all is the fact that a Jack Reacher novel is purchased somewhere around the globe every four seconds. Reacher novels had been sold in 95 countries and in 40 languages."

Here's a fun fact: Lee Child says he came up with the character's name because an old woman remarked on his own physique while asking him to reach for a can of pears in a supermarket. (Child is 6 feet 4 inches tall.)

And here's an interesting reversal of a book's adaptation into a TV show or film: a character from the "Reacher" series and TV show, U.S. Army Master Sergeant Frances Neagley, became so popular during the TV show that a spin-off premiered on Prime Video on September 16th (the same night as the final show of series four of "Reacher"). And more exciting news for "Reacher" fans, a NEAGLEY novel by Lee Child and Yasmin Angoe entitled "Zero Margin" will be published in March 2027.

ALLAN PRATT: As season four began, Ted realized that he was in a rut. Due to the job offer from soccer/football team owner Rebecca to return to England to coach a girls team, Ted decided to move his family and return to England. As a leader, one has to know when they're stuck in place, treading water, and when to move on. This is critical because employees know when their leaders are unable to inspire them due to their own negative mindsets.

As season four continued, feminism became a major theme because Rebecca hired a man (Ted) to coach a girls soccer team. At the first press conference, Ted was asked about the men's team, not the women's team - and he didn't know the status of the team nor the players. The assistant coach for the girls team was a woman (Alice), and she had wanted the head coaching job, but Rebecca explained that she had not even considered Alice, instead, she had hired Ted. But then, Rebecca asked herself why she had ignored the opportunity that had been in front of her all along: hiring a woman to lead the girls team.

During the entire season, the concept of equal opportunities in the workplace was front and center. As a leader, do you hire people based on ability or how they look or speak? Do you promote people based on ability or how they look or speak? Do you lead with blinders on?

Ted showed his support of Alice by asking her to remain as his assistant coach (she had resigned in the second episode of the season), and spoiler alert, there's a memorable ending about leadership in the season's final episode!

QUESTION: Which author (either from history or currently writing) would you choose to have dinner with, and what would you discuss?

ALLAN PRATT: I would like to dine with Stephen King. I would pick his brain as to how he creates his plots and characters. We would also discuss "The Dark Tower" series, since those books are my favorites.

He also wrote a book about writing entitled, "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft," and explained, "The situation comes first. The characters — always flat and unfeatured, to begin with — come next. Once these things are fixed in my mind, I begin to narrate. I often have an idea of what the outcome may be, but I have never demanded a set of characters that they do things my way. On the contrary, I want them to do things their way. In some instances, the outcome is what I visualized. In most, however, it's something I never expected."

SHARE THIS: If you give a person a book, you give him the world. ~@KristinHarmel #ReadingOpensMinds #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: A bibliophile is a lover of books, while a lectiophile is a lover of reading. The distinction is due to the object versus the activity. #FunFact #ReadingIsMySuperPower #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: Mariana Serdynska/Shutterstock via Portland Monthly.

Meet Allan at this link:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/allanp

Read Allan's previous appearance on my Blog:

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2025/05/spring-leadership-series-2025-featuring_01580804400.html

Check out the research behind "Choke Point" from author Brad Thor:

https://bradthor.com/brad-thor-blog/peeling-back-the-headlines-the-research-behind-choke-point/

Check out these related recaps here on my Blog:

Highlights of My #FallBacktoReadingSeries2025 (December 21, 2025):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2025/12/highlights-of-fallbacktoreadingseries20.html

Highlights of My #FallBacktoReadingSeries2023 (January 31, 2024):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/01/highlights-of-my-fallbacktoreadingseries.html

Monday, October 5, 2026

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES 2026 featuring Joseph Lalonde

During the Fall season (each Monday from September 28th through December 20th), I'm welcoming a dozen thought leaders to share their insights about reading, books, personal branding, and leadership. Today, Joseph Lalonde is my featured expert. Based in Michigan, Joe is experienced in all aspects of IT, leadership, project/sales, and design with a history of working with small businesses and individuals. He is also an award-winning leadership blogger ranked in the top 40 leadership blogs in the world, and his book "Reel Leadership" showcases the intersection of leadership and entertainment. As Joe says, "I love great stories and feel we all have a great story to tell."

Before we begin, I'd like to share my two favorite reading quotes to set the stage:

"If you give a person a book, you give him the world." ~New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel (from her work of historical fiction, "The Paris Daughter")

"For you unlock magic that is hidden within, and opening the cover is how you begin. Oh, all the worlds and the places you'll see; when you hold a book, you hold the key." ~Caroline Derlatka

And now, let's begin.

QUESTION: What was the last book (fiction or non-fiction) you read? What stood out as memorable, and would you recommend it?

JOSEPH LALONDE: The last book I read was "The Hoarder In You" by Robin Zasio. Zasio is a psychologist and has been featured on the show Hoarders. It's helped me understand why some of us collect and hoard items while others don't have the same compulsion.

QUESTION: Which book (fiction or non-fiction) is on the top of your to-be-read pile (or first in your digital reader), and why?

JOSEPH LALONDE: I'm really excited to read "X-Men: Elsewhen" by John Byrne. It's a graphic novel that revisits the X-Men after the Phoenix Saga. It's an alternative timeline and one Byrne had wanted originally, but his vision had been nixed by Marvel's leadership.

JOSEPH LALONDE: I watched "Project Hail Mary" when it was released in theaters. The film was adapted from the book of the same name by Andy Weir. The story was fun and engaging. It was a blast seeing the book brought to life.

JOSEPH LALONDE: As you mentioned, there are so many streaming services available to viewers today. Apple TV is not a service I subscribe to currently, so I'm missing out on the current Ted Lasso series. I have watched previous seasons and enjoyed them. I did notice quite a few leadership lessons from Ted. Here's one from a previous season: There's a team relationship between two players, Jamie and Roy. Roy is frustrated with Jamie because he's the hotshot, up-and-coming football player with a lot of attitude. He's good, great, in fact. However, he brings the team down because of his actions and attitude. Through the episodes so far, there's a great scene where Roy realizes he's been the Jamie of the team. He had the same type of attitude and opinion that he's seeing in the younger player.

QUESTION: Which author (either from history or currently writing) would you choose to have dinner with, and what would you discuss?

JOSEPH LALONDE: I'd choose to have dinner with Dan Miller (1947-2024). He's the author who really set me on the path of personal development and self-improvement. He literally changed the course of my life. I'd love to have the opportunity to sit down and chat with him about his personal faith, how he overcame so many obstacles, and how he feels, knowing that he's impacted so many lives.

SHARE THIS: If you give a person a book, you give him the world. ~@KristinHarmel #ReadingOpensMinds #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: A bibliophile is a lover of books, while a lectiophile is a lover of reading. The distinction is due to the object versus the activity. #FunFact #ReadingIsMySuperPower #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: Mariana Serdynska/Shutterstock via Portland Monthly.

Meet Joe at this link:

https://www.jmlalonde.com

Read Joe's previous appearance here on my Blog:

WINTER OLYMPICS LEADERSHIP SERIES 2026 - Featuring Joseph Lalonde (February 13, 2026):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2026/02/winter-olympics-leadership-series-2026_01510336309.html

Check out these related recaps here on my Blog:

Highlights of My #FallBacktoReadingSeries2025 (December 21, 2025):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2025/12/highlights-of-fallbacktoreadingseries20.html

Highlights of My #FallBacktoReadingSeries2023 (January 31, 2024):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/01/highlights-of-my-fallbacktoreadingseries.html

Sunday, October 4, 2026

Oppose Censorship During Banned Books Week!

If reading books is important to you and you enjoy the freedom of reading any book you want, then you know this week's significance: Banned Books Week takes place October 4-10, 2026.

Co-sponsored by the American Library Association and Banned Books Week Coalition, 2026's theme is "Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read."

According to Banned Books Week, "The struggle against book bans is too immense to capture in a single image. This year's Banned Books Week campaign features three illustrations showing how libraries and access to information enrich our lives. The artwork from award-winning illustrators Hyesu Lee, Loveis Wise, and Mikey Burton embraces joy and creativity as acts of resilience, reminding our communities that a handful of people running organized censorship campaigns should not be allowed to dictate what the rest of us can read."

According to American Library Association President Sam Helmick. "Banned Books Week is a celebration of the freedom to read and the joy that comes from discovering stories that expand our understanding of ourselves and one another. Every person has the right to seek information and choose books without censorship. When we say "Let Books Be," we're showing up for readers everywhere and reaffirming that libraries are for everyone."

Barbara Stripling, chair of the Banned Books Week Coalition, added, "We must let books be a window into ourselves and others, a door to new ideas and possibilities, and a path to full participation in our society."

DID YOU KNOW?

Banned Books Week launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of book challenges in libraries, schools, and bookstores.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

(1) Write a letter to your state and federal elected officials and let them know you oppose censorship and support public schools, libraries, diverse books, and the value they bring to your community.

(2) Read a banned book.

(3) Read a banned picture book with a child.

(4) Stand for the freedom to read by joining literacy and advocacy organizations to fight censorship and book banning efforts nationally and internationally.

(5) Make a financial contribution to an organization that fights censorship and book banning.

Before we begin, I'd like to share my two favorite reading quotes to set the stage:

"If you give a person a book, you give him the world." ~New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel (from her work of historical fiction, "The Paris Daughter")

"For you unlock magic that is hidden within, and opening the cover is how you begin. Oh, all the worlds and the places you'll see; when you hold a book, you hold the key." ~Caroline Derlatka

And now, let's begin.

QUESTION: What was the last book (fiction or non-fiction) you read? What stood out as memorable, and would you recommend it?

ERIKA ANDERSEN: The last book I finished was Irene Vallejo's "El Infinito en un Junco: La Invencion de los Libros en el Mundo Antiguo. (Literally, "Infinity in a Reed: the Invention of Books in the Ancient World," though the English title is "Papyrus," which I find so much less evocative.)

Reading it was a marvel; it's now one of my favorite all-time books. I love Vallejo's writing, which includes incredibly deep and broad research, fascinating historical detail, wonderful threading together of distant past, recent past, and present – all in a lyrical, personal voice. And it's not just about books, but about how written languages, especially in book form, have been a core element of the development of the western world for the past ten thousand years. Every chapter was a treasure box of new knowledge, understanding, and insight.

It was also memorable for me, because it was the first book I've read that was written in Spanish. I've read a number of books translated from English into Spanish, but this was a distinctly different experience. In my opinion, Spanish is a much more poetic, evocative language, and it seems easier to blend fact and feeling. I read some of her sentences multiple times, just for the joy of it.

QUESTION: Which book (fiction or non-fiction) is on the top of your to-be-read pile (or first in your digital reader), and why?

ERIKA ANDERSEN: I've just started a series of books called "La Reconquista" (The Reconquest) by Isabel San Sebastien. They're historical novels dealing with the period of Spain's history from 722-1492, during which time Muslim invaders conquered much of Spain, and then, at the end of the 15th century, were driven out.

I'm reading the first one called "La Visigoda" (The Visigoth – but specifically, the female Visigoth). One unusual thing about this series that I'm really enjoying: it's told through the eyes of women. The 'visigoda' from the title is a women named Alana, born in 770, who lives a long and interesting life, caught up in the battles and events of her Spanish homeland of Asturias, which is where we now live. It's so engaging and fun reading about things that happened 1,200 years ago in the places I see and experience every day.

ERIKA ANDERSEN: We just started watching the third season of "Silo," which was adapted from the three-book series by Hugh Howey originally called "The Wool Trilogy." It's remarkable, and all the key actors are very impressive – especially Rebecca Ferguson, who plays the main character of Juliette Nichols.

ERIKA ANDERSEN: We're huge Ted Lasso fans, and in fact, just rewatched the first three seasons to remind us of all the plot and character development - and also just because we wanted to watch it again! I can’t comment on Ted's fourth season leadership yet, but all the marvelous leadership lessons from the first three seasons are fresh in my mind. I especially loved the arc with Nathan Shelley. His leaving to become manager of West Ham out of misplaced negative emotions. Him trying to fit in with the soulless, Machiavellian culture fomented by Rupert. His gradual realization (with the help of his wonderful new girlfriend Jade) that he wasn't capable of becoming (and didn't want to become) the same kind of horrible 'leader' as Rupert. His returning to Richmond, with all the players and coaches both acknowledging his mistakes and completely forgiving and welcoming him. So satisfying.

QUESTION: Which author (either from history or currently writing) would you choose to have dinner with, and what would you discuss?

ERIKA ANDERSEN: I adore this question! I would love to dine with Shakespeare (assuming he really wrote his plays). And I would most like to find out who he was; what kind of a person and what experiences he had that allowed him to put into writing so eloquently so many core truths and insights about the human condition. We could spend a big chunk of the evening, for instance, digging into "This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man." When I encountered that line in my late teens, I realized it captured something I had already taken as a guiding principle for my life, and have tried to adhere to ever since.

SHARE THIS: If you give a person a book, you give him the world. ~@KristinHarmel #ReadingOpensMinds #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: A bibliophile is a lover of books, while a lectiophile is a lover of reading. The distinction is due to the object versus the activity. #FunFact #ReadingIsMySuperPower #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: Mariana Serdynska/Shutterstock via Portland Monthly.

Meet Erika at this link:

https://erikaandersen.com

Read Erika's previous appearance on my Blog (December 15, 2025):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2025/12/fall-back-to-reading-series-2025_01610137751.html

Read a review of Erika's book "Being Strategic" on my Blog (July 11, 2011):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2011/07/want-to-be-nicknamed-strategy-guru.html

Check out these related recaps here on my Blog:

Highlights of My #FallBacktoReadingSeries2025 (December 21, 2025):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2025/12/highlights-of-fallbacktoreadingseries20.html

Highlights of My #FallBacktoReadingSeries2023 (January 31, 2024):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/01/highlights-of-my-fallbacktoreadingseries.html

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Introducing the #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 on #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Following in the footsteps of eight previous series where thought leaders responded to questions on my blog over the last several years (starting with the most recent) in my #OlympicsLeadershipSeries2026, #FallBacktoReadingSeries2025, #SpringLeadershipSeries2025, #HolidayLeadershipSeries (2024), #PostElectionSeries (2024), #OlympicsLeadershipSeries (2024), #SpringLeadershipSeries (2024), and #FallBacktoReadingSeries (2023), I'm thrilled to announce my 9th series!

For the Fall season through December, I will welcome a dozen thought leaders to share their insights about reading, books, personal branding, and leadership. The #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 will begin on Monday, September 28th, and will continue each Monday through October, November, and December with a final post on December 14th. The series recap will appear on December 20th.

Some of the most inspiring posts that have appeared on my blog over the years have been the ones that were part of my various series. So, to get ready for this series (as I've done in the past), I'll introduce the five questions for the series plus MY RESPONSES.

However, before we begin, I'd like to share my two favorite quotes about reading to set the stage:

"If you give a person a book, you give him the world." ~New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel (from her historical novel, "The Paris Daughter")

"For you unlock magic that is hidden within, and opening the cover is how you begin. Oh, all the worlds and the places you'll see; when you hold a book, you hold the key." ~Caroline Derlatka

And now, let's begin.

QUESTION: What was the last book (fiction or non-fiction) you read? What stood out as memorable, and would you recommend it?

DEBBIE LASKEY: While I read "The Lion Women of Tehran" by Marjan Kamali during the summer, I will never forget it and highly recommend it. A work of historical fiction, the themes centered around friendship, family, courage, and the fight for women's equality. In order to avoid any spoilers, I'm going to include two quotes about the book.

Fehmida Zakeer wrote, "At the heart of the narrative is the concept of "shir zan or lion women," women who fight in every way possible to create better lives for themselves despite the obstacles. This concept comes through in the stories of not only the main characters but also their mothers and friends - strong women from all sections of society who have had to fight battles and carve out acceptable spaces of life for themselves, sometimes making great personal sacrifices to ensure a better life for their children."

And from Readers with Wrinkles, "The Lion Women of Tehran reminds us that some friendships shape us so profoundly that they echo across decades, continents, and even betrayals. It's a story about becoming the women we're meant to be, even when history itself seems determined to stop us."

Lastly, Kamali eloquently summarized the importance of historical fiction in an interview about this book, "History shows us what happened, but fiction shows us HOW what happened makes people feel."

QUESTION: Which book (fiction or non-fiction) is on the top of your to-be-read pile (or first in your digital reader), and why?

DEBBIE LASKEY: There are two on top of my pile by two talented storytellers: "Meet Me in Paris" by Kristin Harmel and "The Parisian Heist" by Jo Piazza. Both include the city of Paris as a central theme of their stories, and since I've read and enjoyed several books by both authors, whenever they announce new books, their new books quickly move to the top of my to-be-read pile!

I agree with this explanation from Gilliam Writers Group, "Paris continues to enchant and inspire. The city's combination of modernity and tradition allows authors to weave narratives that feel both timeless and current."

DEBBIE LASKEY: During the last year, I watched two film adaptations that for the most part reflected the original books: "Remarkably Bright Creatures" by Shelby Van Pelt and "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" by Maria Semple. I also watched two TV series that did not live up to the quality of the original books: "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus and "The Last Thing He Told Me" by Laura Dave. The "Reacher" TV series adaptation of Lee Child's books of the same name are excellent interpretations of the books due to the casting and quality of storytelling. Also, after reading and enjoying "The Correspondent" by Virginia Evans, I heard that it would be adapted into a film adaptation starring Jane Fonda in the main role of Sybil Van Antwerp; and after reading and enjoying the geo-political thriller "Cold Zero" by Brad Thor, I heard that a film adaptation is underway.

DEBBIE LASKEY: While I'm a fan of the "Ted Lasso" series, the fourth season has not yet concluded. So, I'll mention "THE PITT," which stands out not only among other medical dramas ("Grey's Anatomy," "Chicago Med," and "Doc,") but also dramas in other categories currently on television.

Two leadership lessons that appear consistently throughout all episodes include the following:

(1) BE OPEN TO LEARNING: As senior attending physician of a busy emergency department, Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch, is at the top of the medical leadership ladder but also genuinely listens to his residents, nurses, and other staff. He sets an example for others to follow, and viewers watch as the people he has mentored take his leadership lessons with them as they continue in their careers.

(2) BE A TEAM PLAYER: Dr. Robby encourages teamwork in his emergency department. Shelby Stewart-Soldan described this leadership lesson best: "The residents, interns and attending physicians will often start on a case together, usually two to three of them at a time, depending on the severity of the case. Two heads are better than one, and working together as a team can help bounce ideas back and forth."

QUESTION: Which author (either from history or currently writing) would you choose to have dinner with, and what would you discuss?

DEBBIE LASKEY: No surprise...I would enjoy an evening spent with Kristin Harmel in Paris. Since many of her historical fiction books take place in Paris or elsewhere in France, we'd definitely dine at the Jules Verne restaurant on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. I would ask what first attracted her to the genre of historical fiction, what her favorite books were as a child, what types of books she currently reads, what her writing process is - and, of course, what she plans to write next. I highly recommend that you check out her books!

As a reminder, my #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 will appear on my blog every Monday beginning September 28th and will continue throughout the Fall ending on December 14th. A series recap will appear on December 20th. See you next Monday, and happy reading!

SHARE THIS: A bibliophile is a lover of books, while a lectiophile is a lover of reading. The distinction is due to the object versus the activity. #FunFact #ReadingIsMySuperPower #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: Mariana Serdynska/Shutterstock via Portland Monthly.

Check out some related posts:

Read a Q&A with Marjan Kamali, author of "The Lion Women of Tehran"

https://lexobserver.org/2024/08/14/qa-with-marjan-kamali-author-of-the-lion-women-of-tehran/

Read a review of "The Lion Women of Tehran"

https://www.newarab.com/features/saffron-love-and-sisterhood-lion-women-tehran

Read "The Leadership Lessons Hidden in Medical Dramas"

https://www.indianahosa.org/single-post/the-leadership-lessons-hidden-in-medical-dramas

Read "Paris in Fiction: Romantic, Gritty, and Timeless"

https://www.gilliamwritersgroup.com/blog/paris-in-fiction-romantic-gritty-and-timeless

Read Highlights of My #FallBacktoReadingSeries2025 (December 21, 2025):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2025/12/highlights-of-fallbacktoreadingseries20.html

Read Highlights of My #FallBacktoReadingSeries2023 (January 31, 2024):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/01/highlights-of-my-fallbacktoreadingseries.html

Sunday, September 6, 2026

Let's Celebrate National Read a Book Day!

National Read a Book Day is observed annually on September 6th and serves as an incentive to grab a book (or open a book on an e-reader) and read. I often share book recommendations and reviews here on my blog, however, today is especially important for bibliophiles.

According to NationalTodayCalendar, "Whether you prefer to escape into the world of fiction or learn something new, celebrate with books. Visit the library or the local bookstore. Pick up a new book or read an old favorite. Explore the past in history books and memoirs or dive into poetry. Read aloud to a child or give them a book to read on their own. Share the stories you're reading using #NationalReadABookDay to post on social media."

Last year on National Read a Book Day, I shared a review of "The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau" by one of my favorite authors, Kristin Harmel. Since I've read many of her books, it should not be a surprise that I recently read her newest book, MEET ME IN PARIS, so I'll share that book today.

Unlike most of Harmel's books, MEET ME IN PARIS is a contemporary novel rather than historical fiction. The story revolves around a group of Americans whose lives connect during some spring days in Paris. Music, art, health, and family are all aspects of the story (including my favorite museum, the Musée d'Orsay), however, the most important character of the story was the city of Paris!

Here were some memorable quotes from the book:

"That's the thing about chapters...they're only a part of your story."

"That's what life was, a constant opportunity for reinvention, for change, for transformation."

"When we're children, we think the moments will be endless. But in the end, they slip through our fingers before we know how much they mean."

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

How will you celebrate World Letter Writing Day?

When was the last time you received a handwritten letter? When was the last time you wrote a handwritten letter? According to NationalDayCalendar, "In this digital age of text and email, it's almost unheard of to sit down and compose a letter." Since today is World Letter Writing Day, perhaps, it's a good day to write a handwritten letter to someone?

Richard Simpkin, an Australian author, artist, and photographer created "World Letter Writing Day" in 2014. In the late 1990s, he wrote letters to people he considered to be Australian legends and was excited when he received letters in return. In 2005, Simpkin released his book "100 Australian Legends: The People Who Shaped a Nation." His excitement over the letters that made the project possible resulted in the creation of a day dedicated to letter writing.

According to Awareness Days, "World Letter Writing Day is an annual celebration of the handwritten letter and the personal connection it creates. It invites everyone, regardless of age or writing ability, to compose a letter to family, friends, teachers, mentors, or anyone they value. The day is deliberately low-pressure: a letter does not need to be long or eloquent, it simply needs to be genuine."

Recently, letter writing has been newsworthy due to the success of a contemporary work of fiction, "The Correspondent" by Virginia Evans, that won the 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction. The book is composed of letters to friends, family, and real-life authors — and the book's story is told entirely through these letters.

According to Julia Gillard, the 27th Prime Minister of Australia, "A remarkable novel with an exemplary combination of originality, excellence, and accessibility. It is no mean feat to write a life in letters, but Evans makes this feel effortless, asking the reader to consider the choices we make, whilst elevating an ordinary life in the most heartfelt of ways. The sheer skill required to render an emotionally resonant and engaging work in this format is spectacular."

There's a term for this type of fiction and it's relevant today. According to Wikipedia, "An epistolary novel is a novel written as a series of letters between the fictional characters of a narrative. The term is often extended to cover novels that intersperse other kinds of fictional document with the letters, most commonly diary entries and newspaper clippings, and sometimes considered to include novels composed of documents even if they do not include letters at all. More recently, epistolaries may include electronic documents such as recordings and radio, blog posts, and emails. The word epistolary is derived from Latin from the Greek word epistole meaning a letter. This type of fiction is known as epistolary fiction."

So, after reading and enjoying "The Correspondent," I ventured further into the world of epistolary fiction and read and also enjoyed the following:

(1) The Red Address Book by Sofia Lundberg: An address book serves as the focus of the novel.

(2) Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg: A ninety-two-year-old writes a letter to the woman who grew up next door, describing the items she is leaving her in her will.

(3) 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff: In a series of letters between a freelance writer in New York City and a used-book dealer in London at 84, Charing Cross Road, they have a charming friendship across the miles (but not in person) based on their shared love of books.

(4) The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows: According to Amazon, "As London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she's never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb. As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends — and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society — born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island — boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all."

(5) Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple: When Bee's mother, Bernadette, disappears, Bee compiles email messages, official documents, and secret correspondence to find her mother.

Here are some ways to celebrate today:

(1) Write a letter to a loved one — they'll be happily surprised to receive it.

(2) Teach a child how to write a thank-you note — it's a lost art.

(3) Teach a child the value of having a pen pal. Read the book, "Dear Dragon: A Pen Pal Tale" by Josh Funk with illustrations by Rodolfo Montalvo. According to the book's description, "George and Blaise are pen pals, and they write letters to each other about everything: their pets, birthdays, favorite sports, and science fair projects. There's just one thing that the two friends don't know: George is a human, while Blaise is a dragon!"

(4) Support local stationery stores by purchasing engraved stationery, fountain pens, or other writing supplies.

(5) Write a letter to a member of the military. Nonprofits such as Project Heart, Operation Gratitude, Soldiers' Angels, and A Million Thanks/America 250 offer letter-writing campaigns.

(6) Join a global pen pal or postcard project like Postcrossing, which has 805,890 members in 207 countries.

And here are some related holidays:

(1) National Ballpoint Pen Day (June 10): Honoring the everyday tool that makes writing easy.

(2) National Writing Day (June 24): Encouraging people to write for fun and self-expression.

(3) Everyone Writes Day (October 21): An annual event dedicated to the joy of writing.

So, are you going to write a letter today?

Sunday, August 9, 2026

Five Books to Celebrate National Book Lovers Day!

If you know today is a very special day, then you're a bibliophile like me because today is NATIONAL BOOK LOVERS DAY!

Last year on this date, I shared 22 passages from books I read during 2025, and three years ago on this date, I shared my five favorite books of all time. Today, I'm going to share the five best books I read last year to celebrate National Book Lovers Day.

According to NationalToday.com, "Books are the purest form of escapism. They can take you to any time, place, or culture. In honor of National Book Lovers Day, August 9, we put away our smartphones, pull out a good book, and simply read. (Of course, an audiobook will suffice.) From clay tablets to eBooks, literature has played a crucial role in preserving cultures, educating the masses, and storytelling. Thanks to Johannes Gutenberg's 15th-century printing press, anyone, not just royalty, monks, or landed gentry, could read and own books. But, alas, there was no overnight shipping. Today, join a book club or re-read a favorite novel because National Book Lovers Day rocks!"

Drum roll please...here are the five best books I read last year.

THE LIBRARY OF LOST DOLLHOUSES by Elise Hooper. It's easy to see why I chose this book: I have a passion for reading, libraries, San Francisco, architecture, the Art Institute of Chicago's Thorne Rooms, dollhouses, miniatures, history, and to quote the author, "the importance of illuminating overlooked women."

According to the book's flap, "Tildy Barrows, Head Curator of a beautiful archival library in San Francisco, takes an unexpected turn when she, first, learns the library is on the verge of bankruptcy and, second, discovers two exquisite never-before-seen dollhouses. After finding clues hidden within these remarkable miniatures, Tildy sets out to decipher the secret history of the dollhouses, aiming to salvage her cherished library in the process. Her journey introduces her to a world of ambitious and gifted women in Belle Epoque Paris, a group of scarred World War I veterans in the English countryside, and Walt Disney's bustling Burbank studio in the 1950's. Spanning the course of a century, this book tells the captivating story of secrets and love that embrace the importance of illuminating overlooked women."

Author Elise Hooper explained, "As I delved deeper and deeper into the history of dollhouses, I noticed that miniatures tend to grow in popularity during difficult times. For example, at the end of World War I, Queen Mary commissioned a grand dollhouse from England's leading artisans as a way of lifting the nation's spirits. After the dollhouse was finished, over a million and half people showed up to see it exhibited. In the United States, the Art Institute of Chicago's well-known Thorne Rooms and Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle were created and exhibited during the Great Depression to raise money for charitable causes. And then in 2020, while people were stuck in their homes during the pandemic, another flourishing of modern miniatures took hold once again and captured people's imaginations on social media. I love this proof of how art plays an important and positive role in our lives."

My favorite quote from this book was: "Reading is magic. Think of the imagination and sense of adventure that readers employ every time they crack open a book."

THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah. Published in February 2024 (but I read it in 2025), this historical work of fiction tells the story of a young woman from San Diego who served as a nurse in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Her brother did not survive the war, but she did. Her father had been so embarrassed about her going to war that he lied and told people she went to Italy instead. When she came home from the war, she suffered from PTSD, and no one at the Veterans Administration believed that she had suffered - and continued to suffer from her trauma - and yet she experienced as much trauma as the men who saw battle.

The book was incredibly well-written, the story was so well researched, and upon finishing it, the characters remained with me for a long time. And after finishing the book, I conducted my own research about the impact of American women who served in Vietnam and learned that there is a Vietnam Women's Memorial in Washington, D.C. Glenna Goodacre, the sculptor of the Vietnam Women's Memorial, explained, "My desire to create a lasting tribute to the American women serving in Vietnam is founded upon my deep respect for each of them, and my heartfelt prayer for their healing and hope. I have been humbled by the enormity of such a task yet incredibly honored by the overwhelming gratitude of the veterans. The emphasis of this tribute is centered on their emotions: their compassion, their anxiety, their fatigue, and above all, their dedication."

Author Kristin Hannah has said, "One of the things I love about historical fiction is its ability to illuminate the modern world. Now, more than ever, we need to find a way to come together and have civil, informed conversations."

My favorite quote from this book was: "Thank God for girlfriends. In this crazy, chaotic, divided world that was run by men, you could count on the women."

THE BORROWED LIFE OF FREDERICK FIFE by Anna Johnston. According to author Johnston, "I’ve always been fascinated by cases of mistaken identity and the phenomenon of doppelgangers. I began exploring the idea of one man being able to redeem another man’s life, even after death, and the plot grew quickly from there."

According to the book's description, "Frederick Fife was born with an extra helping of kindness in his heart. If he borrowed your car, he’d return it washed with a full tank of gas. The problem is, at age eighty-two, there’s nobody left in Fred’s life to borrow from, and he's broke and on the brink of eviction. But Fred’s luck changes when he's mistaken for Bernard Greer, a missing resident at the local nursing home, and takes his place. Now Fred has warm meals in his belly and a roof over his head — as long as his look-alike Bernard never turns up. Another character, Denise Simms is stuck breathing the same disappointing air again and again. A middle-aged mom and caregiver at Bernard's facility, her crumbling marriage and daughter's health concerns are suffocating her joy for life. Wounded by her two-faced husband, she vows never to let a man deceive her again. As Fred walks in Bernard’s shoes, he leaves a trail of kindness behind him, fueling Denise's suspicions about his true identity."

My favorite quote from this book was: "Love is about picking someone up and never, ever putting them down again, no matter how heavy things become."

THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE by Jo Piazza. As a fan of other books by Piazza, it's easy to see why I chose this book. In fact, in her book that I read in 2024, CHARLOTTE WALSH LIKES TO WIN, the protagonist, Charlotte Walsh, ran for Senate from the state of Pennsylvania, but the book ended with no clear ending. Instead, there was an author's note at the end, and that note made the book memorable:

"I bet you have a lot of questions after getting to the final page of this book. Namely, does Charlotte win? Does she lose? Does she stay with Max? Does she opt to do it all on her own? The truth is, I've written six different endings to this book...In these politically charged times, everything is taken as a statement. A definitive ending to this book would have been seen as one statement if she won and another if she lost...I wanted to talk about what it means to be an ambitious woman and what it costs us...I wanted to show how difficult it still is for a woman to run for office even though we all know we need more of us in government."

And now, back to THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE, a book about romance, a murder mystery, history, and Sicily...according to the book's description, "Sara Marsala barely knows who she is anymore after the failure of her business and marriage. On top of that, her beloved great-aunt Rosie passes away, leaving Sara bereft with grief. But Aunt Rosie’s death also opens an escape from her life and a window into the past by way of a plane ticket to Sicily, a deed to a possibly valuable plot of land, and a bombshell family secret. Rosie believes Sara’s great-grandmother Serafina, the family matriarch who was left behind while her husband worked in America, didn’t die of illness as family lore has it . . . she was murdered."

My favorite quote from this book centered around this theme: "The importance of women writing their own histories and legacies."

GROWING HOME by Beth Ferry with art by The Fan Brothers was recognized as Barnes & Noble's 2025 Children's Book of the Year. Reading children's books as an adult can be considered "brain candy" because it fosters imagination and provides joy and escapism with beautifully crafted stories and illustrations.

According to the book's description, "A motley crew of talkative plants, a curious spider, and a grumpy goldfish use their newfound magical abilities to defend their family from a greedy human. Ivy is the beloved houseplant of young Jillian Tupper of Number 3 Ramshorn Drive, much to the constant dismay of Toasty the goldfish, who is technically the family pet — swimming in his special place of honor, the antique octagonal fish tank — and should be the most loved. It seems that’s how the cookie crumbles in the curious Tupper household, but soon a sequence of thrilling and magical events challenges that way of life forever. First, there’s the arrival of Arthur, a knowledgeable spider with a broken leg and a curious mind, hidden in an old typewriter. Then Jillian throws everyone for a loop when she brings home dear, sweet Ollie, a school houseplant who just wants to be friends and sing. When Toasty splashes the plants with his tank water out of frustration, the friends learn that they can do magical things — like lift heavy objects and turn things invisible! It turns out Toasty’s fishtank isn’t just for fish; it was made by a curious inventor who gave it special powers that, in the wrong hands, could disrupt everything forever. And a curious man with purple shoes just so happens to want that tank at any cost. Can Ivy, Toasty, Arthur, and Ollie grow to be friends in time to work together to save their beloved Tupper family from utter ruin?"

My favorite quote from this book was: "Have you talked to any of your plants lately? Admired their green leaves or their pretty flowers? Told them they are beautiful? No? Get on that, reader! Then go pet your dog, cat, snake, or guinea pig. Talk to your goldfish! Sing to your parakeet. Animals are people too! Never forget that!"

Doesn't that story sound like fun? It certainly was!

What will YOU read to celebrate National Book Lovers Day? I hope this post gave you some ideas! Happy reading!

Thursday, July 30, 2026

Let's Celebrate Paperback Books Today!

Are you a bibliophile, a lover or collector of books? If yes, then today is special, because back in 1935, reading was changed forever. On this date in 1935, Penguin published the world's first paperback books in England to provide affordable access to books.

The history of paperbacks dates back to the 17th century when Germany and France published stories and papers in paperback-like format. However, the concept really took off once publisher Allen Lane began commercializing the idea in the 20th century.

According to a Smithsonian Magazine article from 2010 entitled, "How the Paperback Novel Changed Popular Literature," author Anne Trubek wrote, "In 1935, Allen Lane, chairman of British publishing house Bodley Head, spent a weekend in the country with Agatha Christie. Bodley Head, like many other publishers, was faring poorly during the Depression, and Lane worried how to keep the business afloat. While he was at the Exeter station waiting for his train back to London, he browsed shops looking for something to read. He struck out. All he could find were trendy magazines. And then he had a "Eureka!" moment: What if quality books were available at places like train stations and sold for reasonable prices — the price of a pack of cigarettes, say?" Lane returned to Bodley Head and proposed a new imprint to do just that. Bodley Head did not want to finance his endeavor, so Lane used his own capital. He called his new publishing house Penguin."

According to company legend, Lane's secretary suggested "Penguin" as a "dignified, but flippant" name for the new company. Edward Young, a 21-year-old office junior, was immediately dispatched to the London Zoo to sketch the bird in every possible pose for the rest of the day. Several iterations followed over the years, and today, the black-and-white penguin on a bright orange background symbolizes intellectual freedom, accessibility, and openness to knowledge.

The article further explained, "Lane then acquired the rights to ten reprints of serious literary titles and went knocking on non-bookstore doors. When Woolworth's placed an order for 63,500 copies, Lane realized he had a viable financial model. His paperbacks were cheap. They cost two and a half pence, the same as ten cigarettes. Volume was key to profitability; Penguin had to sell 17,000 copies of each book to break even. The first ten Penguin titles, including "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" by Agatha Christie, "A Farewell to Arms" by Ernest Hemingway and "The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club" by Dorothy Sayers, were wildly successful, and after just one year in existence, Penguin had sold over three million copies."

From a marketing perspective, Penguin's graphic design played a large part in the company's success. Unlike other publishers, whose covers emphasized the title and author of a book, Penguin emphasized the brand. Book covers contained simple, clean fonts, color-coding (orange for fiction, dark blue for biography) and a cute, recognizable bird.

And in March 2026, Fast Company reported, "The brand just unveiled a delightful series of hand-drawn illustrations as a brand refresh, named the "Playful Penguins," which show the penguin jumping, strutting, dancing, and doing a whole lot of reading. The illustrations will show up everywhere across the Penguin Random House's global markets, from seasonal campaigns to social initiatives and point-of-sale displays. They're designed to bring some added joy and movement to the brand as it approaches its centennial (in 2035)."

MORE FACTS ABOUT PAPERBACKS:

(1) In 1937, Penguin expanded, adding a non-fiction imprint called Pelican.

(2) During World War II, Penguins, which were small enough to be stowed in the pocket of a uniform, were carried by soldiers.

(3) In 1940, Lane launched an imprint for youngsters, Puffin Picture Books.

(4) The United States adopted the Penguin model in 1938 with the creation of Pocket Books. The first Pocket Book was "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck and was sold in Macy's. Today, Macy's offers an extensive selection of paperback books both online and in select stores in partnership with Barnes & Noble.

(5) In 1979, the sales of paperback books outpaced hardcover books; and in 1996, sales of mass-market paperback books reached over $1 billion, but then sales began to fall.

(6) In 1966, British singing group The Beatles recorded and released a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney called "Paperback Writer." The single went to number one in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, West Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway. The first lines of the song were:

"Paperback writer, paperback writer.
Dear Sir or Madam will you read my book,
It took me years to write will you take a look,
Based on a novel by a man named Lear,
And I need a job,
So I want to be a paperback writer,
Paperback writer."

According to Mixam, "Paperbacks have flexible, soft covers made from slightly thicker paper or cardstock than the inner pages. Since paperbacks don't use the rigid boards found in hardcovers, this flexibility allows them to bend slightly without damaging the book's structure. The cover's flexibility also contributes to cost effectiveness. The paperback format suits books intended for wide distribution or casual consumption. They're a standard format for novels where portability and affordability are essential. Textbooks also benefit from this format, especially if they're updated frequently, and cost efficiency and ease of replacement are important. Paperbacks can help you reach more readers at a lower cost, making them an excellent choice for large-scale printing projects."

By contrast, according to Mixam, "Hardcover books consist of sturdier, more durable materials than paperbacks. Their defining feature is their rigid cover, typically made from cardboard or paperboard wrapped around printed paper. This rigid cover gives hardcovers their renowned longevity, allowing them to withstand the test of time and heavy use. Some hardcover books come with a dust jacket. This removable outer cover protects the book and offers additional space for design elements, author information, and promotional content. A dust jacket adds another layer of protection to the book's cover and enhances its visual appeal. Hardcovers suit books meant to last a long time or hold special significance. Similarly, books that will be cherished - such as collectable editions, art books, or gift items - are well-suited to the hardcover format. Hardcover books also appeal to limited edition runs or photography books, where the book's presentation is as important as its content."

The Smithsonian Magazine reported in mid-February 2026, "At the end of 2025, ReaderLink, one of the largest paperback distributors decided to stop supporting the format, which has been making reading accessible to the masses since the 1930s. It is the end of an era for the paperback books that reached generations of readers with their affordable prices, convenient size, and reliable ubiquity...The mass market format has been credited for helping launch the careers of Kurt Vonnegut and Stephen King...But e-books cut into the paperback books' margins, and sales declined."

According to Anne Paulson, store manager and bookseller at Cherry Street Books in Alexandra, Minnesota, said that the decline of the paperback doesn't surprise her but does make her sad, "It may take new books out of people's hands who could maybe not otherwise afford a new book. It's just one more nail in the coffin of removing reading and literacy from our radar."

Today, digital (e-book) readers and audio books have joined hardcover and paperback books as reading options. According to SFBookReviews, "The ability to purchase, download, and read a book almost instantly is a difficult one to resist. In addition, the capability to literally carry your library of 1000's of books in your hand or even pocket is quite incredible. As the distribution of the first printing presses led to a reading revolution for the masses, the distribution of the e-book has the potential to help educate those in third world countries and provide access for a huge range of literature...However, the whole tactile and sensory experience that the paper format offers is one that is with us to stay, and it's really up to us as the consumer as to just what ratio of electronic to traditional format will ultimately work."

How do you prefer to read your books?

Monday, October 26, 2026

SHARE THIS: Successful leaders don't act alone — they surround themselves with smart people they can trust. ~Amanda Hahn-Peters #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #TheCrown #ReadingInspires #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: If you give a person a book, you give him the world. ~@KristinHarmel #ReadingOpensMinds #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: A bibliophile is a lover of books, while a lectiophile is a lover of reading. The distinction is due to the object versus the activity. #FunFact #ReadingIsMySuperPower #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Here were some stand-out concepts from the book:

SHARE THIS: When we uncompete, we thrive. Each and every one of us. ~Ruchika T. Malhotra in UNCOMPETE #bookreview #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else. ~Toni Morrison shared by Ruchika T. Malhotra in UNCOMPETE #bookreview #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Monday, October 19, 2026

SHARE THIS: I don't think the reader should be indulged as a consumer, because he isn't one...My goal is to disappoint the usual expectations and inspire new ones. ~Elena Ferrante (with thanks to Melanie Bell) #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #ReadingInspires #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: If you give a person a book, you give him the world. ~@KristinHarmel #ReadingOpensMinds #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: A bibliophile is a lover of books, while a lectiophile is a lover of reading. The distinction is due to the object versus the activity. #FunFact #ReadingIsMySuperPower #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Monday, October 12, 2026

SHARE THIS: My favorite genre is geopolitical thrillers featuring international politics, military strategy, espionage, and more. ~Allan Pratt #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #ReadingInspires #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: If you give a person a book, you give him the world. ~@KristinHarmel #ReadingOpensMinds #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: A bibliophile is a lover of books, while a lectiophile is a lover of reading. The distinction is due to the object versus the activity. #FunFact #ReadingIsMySuperPower #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Monday, October 5, 2026

SHARE THIS: I've found so many books to be powerful, impactful, and life-changing. ~@josephlalonde #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: If you give a person a book, you give him the world. ~@KristinHarmel #ReadingOpensMinds #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: A bibliophile is a lover of books, while a lectiophile is a lover of reading. The distinction is due to the object versus the activity. #FunFact #ReadingIsMySuperPower #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Sunday, October 4, 2026

SHARE THIS: If you give a person a book, you give him the world. ~Kristin Harmel #TheParisDaughter #BannedBooksWeek #DebbieLaskeysBlog

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Monday, September 28, 2026

SHARE THIS: I would love to dine with Shakespeare. ~@ErikaAndersen #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #ReadingInspires #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: If you give a person a book, you give him the world. ~@KristinHarmel #ReadingOpensMinds #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: A bibliophile is a lover of books, while a lectiophile is a lover of reading. The distinction is due to the object versus the activity. #FunFact #ReadingIsMySuperPower #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

SHARE THIS: If you give a person a book, you give him the world. ~@KristinHarmel #HistoricalFiction #ReadingOpensMinds #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: A bibliophile is a lover of books, while a lectiophile is a lover of reading. The distinction is due to the object versus the activity. #FunFact #ReadingIsMySuperPower #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Sunday, September 6, 2026

SHARE THIS: That's the thing about chapters...they're only a part of your story. ~Kristin Harmel #MeetMeInParis #NationalReadABookDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: If you give a person a book, you give him the world. ~Kristin Harmel #TheParisDaughter #NationalReadABookDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

So, after reading and enjoying "The Correspondent," I ventured further into the world of epistolary fiction and read and also enjoyed the following:

Here are some ways to celebrate today:

And here are some related holidays:

SHARE THIS: The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter — it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning. ~Mark Twain #WorldLetterWritingDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Sunday, August 9, 2026

SHARE THIS: If you give a person a book, you give him the world. ~Kristin Harmel #TheParisDaughter #NationalBookLoversDay #reading #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: I cannot remember the books I have read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson #DebbieLaskeysBlog #reading #NationalBookLoversDay

Share this: What's your fave book of all time? Mine is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. #DebbieLaskeysBlog #reading #NationalBookLoversDay

Thursday, July 30, 2026

MORE FACTS ABOUT PAPERBACKS:

SHARE THIS: Paperback books were designed to provide affordable access to books. #PaperbackBookDay #ReadingIsMySuperPower #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: A bibliophile is a lover of books, while a lectiophile is a lover of reading. The distinction is due to the object versus the activity. #FunFact #PaperbackBookDay #ReadingIsMySuperPower #DebbieLaskeysBlog