How to use this Page

Yesterday, in response to a query from Ilie Ruby, I posted a few lines from a novel in progress and then invited all my Facebook writer friends to do the same. I wanted to shatter, for that one day at least, the loneliness that can stem from writing. I wanted to celebrate those who had published and those who will soon publish—to make it clear that we are all of the same yearning community, no barriers between us.

The response was enormous. Friends told friends told friends, and Facebook became a map of beginnings, a crest of awe, a wild fire net of encouragement and surprise.

Late in the day, my husband and I headed down to the city to take place in another act of essential community—the memorial service for Gerald M. Cope, the theatrical and compassionate leader of the architecture firm (Cope Linder Associates) where I worked as a new graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and where I met my husband before he left (within a handful of weeks) for graduate work at Yale. We had made enduring friendships at this place. Gerry, and his son Ian (who now leads the firm) would come to our wedding. My husband would return to work at the firm for many, many years more. Yesterday, at the Union League, we saw these old friends again for the first time in a decade, more.

Those who spoke at the memorial service—Gerry's children, his brother, his friend, his wife—brought Gerry back to tangible life, reanimating this glorious man who was committed to engendering joy. Gerry understood, one person said, that it wasn't what you said that would be remembered, or what you did. It was how you would make others feel. Gerry Cope had a way of making us all feel charming and charmingly important. He united us, and yesterday we were again all friends once more.

Display Comments Add a Comment

Yes, it's March, one of my favorite months of the year. It brings the best month-long sports event of the year, March Madness, the college basketball tournament. For a whole glorious month, there are games, games, and more games. The tension mounts as schools win and lose, getting ever closer to the championship. There is almost always one major upset. There is almost always some Cinderella team who goes much farther than expected. The road to the Final Four is always exciting and the championship game keeps me up late every year. Plus, living in Charlotte, NC, we get to see the great ACC (Atlantic coast Conference) tournament. Great teams live in this conference--Carolina, Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia, Boston College, etc.

So, this month, we thought we'd hold a March Madness of Reading. The rules are simple--the two boys who send in the most comments talking about books will win prizes. First Place will be an autographed T-shirt from the UNCC 49'ers Mens' Basketball team! Second place will be an autographed UNCC 49'rs Men's Basketball poster! Sound good? It could be yours if you send us the most book comments by March 31.We will announce the winners on April 1. Come to Imaginon to claim your prize. (If you live outside the Charlotte area, we will find a way to get the prize to you)

There's one other rule--at least one of the books you talk about must be about sports. It could be any sport and it could be a chapter book, biography, or nonfiction. And in case of a tie, we will look more favorably on the one who has sent more reviews about sports books. OK??? Get writing!! We can't wait to hear from you!

And I'll lead by example. Here are three books I've liked and some others we've written about before.

Free Throw by Jake Maddox. Jason was the center and star player last year, but Derek became an inch taller since then. Now he's the center and Jason doesn't like it. What's worse, the games depend on Derek's free throw shooting. Jason doesn't think Derek can make them. Maybe Derek doesn't thinks so, either. Will he save the games or ruin them? You've got to read this short but fast-paced and exciting book to find out.


Paintball Blast by Jake Maddox. Max Hauser knows the perfect lookout point in the paintball field. From the correct angle, no one can mark him. But one of the new kids does! Max knows he must be cheating--but how? Another fast-paced and exciting short book with a bit of a mystery thrown in. Both books have intersting things about their sports at the end of the books.

Add a Comment