Lily Collins would not be surprised to hear that her roles in movies like “Mirror, Mirror,” “The Mortal Instruments,” and “Stuck in Love,” have cemented her in my mind as perpetually 18. The actress, who turns 27 today, addresses her young face and the pros and cons of her perpetual youthfulness as just one topic in a collection of essays published last week, “Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me.” Continue reading
History is full of women who, in spite of many challenges and roadblocks, pursued a life of courage, determination, and passion. They impacted science, the arts, politics, sports, and every other area of life. Some even risked their lives in order to free the oppressed and lift up the downtrodden. As we celebrate Women’s History Month this far-from-comprehensive list will help you learn about a few of them and be inspired by their stories. Continue reading
My partner and I have something we like to do together at evenings and weekends. You can do it anywhere, but we prefer the sofa or the bed. It’s traditional, it costs virtually nothing, and it brings us both a lot of pleasure. Yep, we read to each other. Continue reading
2017 is likely to be another roller coaster year as we navigate a new political landscape. But as we move forward, let’s celebrate all the good that has yet to happen, including another year of great books. The first third of the year promises some great new books that I have had the pleasure to read in advance of their US publication and highly recommend.
My personal preference for mystery and YA is definitely evident in this list, so you’re in luck if you like unreliable narrators and young characters tackling new paths. Continue reading
MI-5 agent. Psychologist and investigator. Private detective. Author and amateur sleuth. Sherlock Holmes’s apprentice-in-crime. All intelligent. All fearless. All women.
You know a series is excellent when it hooks you with the first book and you cannot stop until you have read them all. The five series listed below, all written by women, are that and so much more. Each lead character is so well developed that they become your friends and you miss them when you reach the end of the series. Do not start book one unless you are ready to take a journey that will leave you wanting more. Continue reading
At Thirty on Tap, we are all about arbitrary holidays that celebrate the imagination, so we’re pretty psyched about the fact that December 8 is Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day!
Books have forever taken us to different lands. So if you’re looking to play fast and loose with the time/space continuum sans Delorean, here are some excellent choices for your literary excursions. Continue reading
If you’re anything like me the post-election world we live in is one that has not only instigated a feeling of wanting to create actual change, but has required it.
When I want to raise my voice louder but don’t know where to begin, or rather how to make sure that in my insistence to be heard that my message is clear, coherent, and one that I can be proud of, I want to hear from women who have already done an amazing job. I also want to learn what I don’t know. Continue reading
Daylight Savings has ended, and our evenings are getting longer; it’s the perfect time to burrow under a blanket and build up a beautiful new TBR (to be read) pile.
November in particular has some great new books dropping, almost like the publishers knew that we’re settling in for some bookish hibernation. Continue reading
Last year, I participated in National November Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Despite being incredibly difficult, it was by far one of the highlights of my year. I learned a lot about myself, about writing, and about what it takes to be a successful author.
And even though I’m not participating in NaNoWriMo again this year, I’d highly recommend the experience to someone else, because it taught me so many invaluable lessons that I still use today. Continue reading
According to a 2011 poll, 81% of Americans aspire to write a novel one day.
That means that people of all walks of life, all career paths, and ages, regardless of their lack of any “traditional training” have a desire to write a book. Storytelling is part of our evolution as humans. From era to era and culture to culture, human beings want to share their pasts and dream of their futures. Continue reading
