Megan Garrison

Martha Moody, a prominent fiction writer in the Dayton area, was kind enough to talk about her recent novel in depth over dinner. Sometimes Mine, which is now in paperback, is about Genie – a middle aged woman that finds love with a man that is anything but available. This touching love story is more about learning to open your heart rather than the simple fairy tale of most love stories on the shelves. Sometimes Mine is a story of love, loss, and this rollercoaster called life. While Moody is proud of her recent novel, she opened up about a new novel she’s been working on that she hopes will allow her to break into the young adult fiction genre.

“I have two novels that I have finished. One of them is more of a dystopian fiction novel. It’s set in Dayton in the future, during the years 2047-2048 during a war,” said Moody about one of her new projects, “I’ve been working on it since around 1998!”

Moody has a lot to look forward to with her two new novels going in for editing and her four sons pursuing their careers and educations, but she finds time for a program that takes students to Israel to learn more about the culture.

“I now volunteer in an Arab village and we teach English to children there in the summer. And last year six students went over and stayed with host families. It’s in the Galilee,” said Moody excitedly about the opportunities she’s experienced.

Before dinner is over she points to a large packet that she has next to her and tells me that she has some editing on her other novel to do before the speaking event she’s attending that evening.

“My other novel is a multi-generation family saga about two families joined by marriages over 30 odd years,” said Moody about her work that is soon to hit the shelves.

Martha Moody is considered one of the most popular authors in Dayton, and there’s no wonder why with her insightful novels and beautifully written tales of friendship, family, and love. Make sure to check the shelves for more to come from this great author!

 

Melissa Fay Greene’s new novel has just hit shelves. The novel, No Biking in the House Without a Helmet, is something of a memoir, though Greene would hate to admit that because of her previous academia experience. But we don’t fault her at all for her use of the memoir simply because of the heartfelt and beautiful description of her family’s incredible story.

During the annual Dayton Jewish Cultural Arts and Books Festival, Greene came to speak at Books & Co., about her new novel. While being charismatic and charming Greene read excerpt from the novel and told her own person stories about raising four of her own children and adopting five more.

Greene’s novel is about her family’s experience of adoption with one child from Bulgaria and four more from Ethiopia. The rocky start of adopting their first child didn’t dissuade them from opening their family three more times as they adopted two more children separately and then two brothers at the same time.

While there are some hilarious moments in the book that make you laugh until you cry, the true story is the love and acceptance that was shown by all members of the Greene household. The Greene family, with all its lovable add-ins, is the true definition of a loving home.

Not only was Greene wonderful to listen to but the novel is a definite must read.

Read a book review on the novel No Biking in the House Without a Helmet at NPR.org

 

Katrina Kittle’s first tween novel, Reasons to Be Happy, is a touching look into the life of 8th grader Hannah, a young girl trying to find her identity while attending middle school in Beverly Hills. The novel itself is much like Katrina Kittle; endearing, sweet, and has many valuable lessons to teach. Reasons to Be Happy is a story grown from an idea that began in Kittle’s previous novel The Blessings of Animals where Hannah was featured as the daughter. Kittle, however felt that Hannah’s character needed her own story; the two novels are not connected though.

Kittle’s inspiration for her new novel comes from her time as a middle school teacher, where she was pained to see young girls going through such emotional turmoil. The novel sheds light on an issue that is affecting more and more girls at younger ages. Kittle’s main hope is that her novel will help young girls be able to skip an identity crisis and continue to high school with more self-confidence.

“I would teach these young girls and watch as they seemed to become less bold versions of themselves. It was heartbreaking to me because I felt like they didn’t need to go through something like this at their age. I hope that this novel helps young girls,” said Kittle.

Kittle herself is an amazing individual. Besides the fact that for one year she spent her time as a gypsy, which means she traveled from home to home just living and writing.

“I think I lived in 18 different homes in the length of one year. My favorite was Brooklyn. I wrote so much while I was in Brooklyn,” said Kittle.

She also has been quite successful as a novelist. Her previous novels have all been for an adult audience which is why she’s especially excited about Reasons to Be Happy because it’s for young girls.

“I hope to write more young adult fiction. I already have one idea I’m working on,” said Kittle.

Kittle is very grateful for the life she has and celebrates every day the fact that she can be a full time writer. Among the many reasons she has to be happy are her niece and nephew, her strange cat Joey, and spending time tending her elaborate garden. A new venture Kittle is proud to say she is a part of is Puddingstone Project, a dance and music theatre production. Kittle is the scriptwriter for the production with Kevin Anderson writing music and Beth Wright doing the choreography.

“It’s just a wonderful experience. We had our first reading just the other day. And I already feel like I have to get rid of a character. Which makes me sad but they just don’t fit,” said Kittle with a sad look but she immediately was smiling again as she talked more about the project.

Reasons to Be Happy releases October 4 from Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and the debut reading and signing will be October 13, at 7PM at Books & Co. at the Greene. Enjoy a good book and talk to Katrina Kittle about the reasons you have to be happy.