Tag: reading

Sunday's Scrips: A Monthly Newsletter

Sunday’s Scrips: February 2026

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Whatcha Up To?:

  • Join me online today and every Friday this month for writing workshops! (More Below).
  • Timed writing prompt available now! (More Below).
  • Join me for Flashlights & Firelight Online Book Club February 18, 2026 to discuss The Testing of Luther Albright by MacKenzie Bezos (Scott)! (More Below).

Online Winter Writing Workshops

My local library has been wanting me to do more writing workshops, but it’s hard to schedule, because our library is (thankfully) extremely full of programming already. We’ve agreed an online workshop might work best, especially in the harder month of February when people are starting to get cabin fever. There will be four sessions, all free and all online via Zoom, and anyone can attend. Find them on my Events Page, Facebook, or register to attend via Zoom and get automatic reminders:

February Timed Writing Prompt Available Now!

Want a chance to have your work featured on my website, social media, Patreon and Substack accounts? Become a supporter and you’ll have access to my monthly timed writing prompt. Send me your unedited, timed writing response for your chance to be featured! Find the latest prompt on Patreon or Substack.

Flashlights & Firelight Online Book Club

Join us on Zoom February 18, 2026 at 6pm MT to discuss The Testing of Luther Albright by MacKenzie Bezos (Scott).

Monthly Book Talks!

Love to read but never know what to pick up? Check out my monthly videos for my local Thompson Falls Public Library here. Remember to Subscribe for free so you never miss one. Book talks: like book club, but shorter.

Readings

Did you know I occasionally remember to record readings of my published pieces. You can check out the latest one here. Be sure to Subscribe so you don’t miss the next one!

Please forward this to those you think may enjoy it. As always, thanks for joining me. I appreciate you’re here.

NOTE: You can email me directly at sunday (at) sundaydutro (dot) com

Sunday's Scrips: A Monthly Newsletter

Sunday’s Scrips: December 2025

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Whatcha Up To?:

  • Happiest of Happy Holidays family and friends! I appreciate you so much and I’m so glad you’re here.
  • Join me online this February for writing workshops! (More Below).
  • Join us for Flashlights & Firelight Online Book Club December 17, 2025 to discuss The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman! (More Below).

Online Winter Writing Workshops

My local library has been wanting me to do more writing workshops, but it’s hard to schedule, because our library is (thankfully) extremely full of programming already. We’ve agreed an online workshop might work best, especially in the harder month of February when people are starting to get cabin fever. There will be four sessions, all free and all online via Zoom, and anyone can attend. You can register to attend and have Zoom automatically remind you by checking out my Events Page or finding the events on Facebook.

December Timed Writing Prompt Available Now!

Want a chance to have your work featured on my website, social media, Patreon and Substack accounts? Become a supporter and you’ll have access to my monthly timed writing prompt. Send me your unedited, timed writing response for your chance to be featured! Find the November prompt on Patreon or Substack.

Flashlights & Firelight Online Book Club

Join us on Zoom December 17, 2025 at 6pm MT to discuss The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman.

Monthly Book Talks!

Love to read but never know what to pick up? Check out my monthly videos for my local Thompson Falls Public Library here. Remember to Subscribe for free so you never miss one. Book talks: like book club, but shorter.

Readings

Did you know I occasionally remember to record readings of my published pieces. You can check out the latest one here. Be sure to Subscribe so you don’t miss the next one!

Please forward this to those you think may enjoy it. As always, thanks for joining me. I appreciate you’re here.

NOTE: You can email me directly at sunday (at) sundaydutro (dot) com

Sunday's Scrips: A Monthly Newsletter

Sunday’s Scrips: October 2025

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Whatcha Up To?:

  • This weekend is the Authors of the Flathead Writing Conference! (More Below).
  • Free online writing workshops coming this winter! (More Below).
  • Join us for Flashlights & Firelight Online Book Club October 15, 2025 to discuss The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (More Below).

Authors of the Flathead Writing Conference

The first writer’s conference I ever attended, The Authors of the Flathead hold a special place in my heart. Their conference was where I was first introduced to Chris La Tray, and I couldn’t be more grateful. This weekend, I’ll be learning from authors like Shelley Read, Debbie Burke, and Robert Petrone. You don’t need a degree or a published book to attend, and I’d love to see you there!

Online Winter Writing Workshops

My local library has been wanting me to do more writing workshops, but it’s hard to schedule, because our library is (thankfully) extremely full of programming already. We’ve agreed an online workshop might work best, especially in the harder month of February when people are starting to get cabin fever. There will be four sessions, all free and all online via Zoom, and anyone can attend. You can register to attend and have Zoom automatically remind you by checking out my Events Page or finding the events on Facebook.

October Timed Writing Prompt Available Now!

Want a chance to have your work featured on my website, social media, Patreon and Substack accounts? Become a supporter and you’ll have access to my monthly timed writing prompt. Send me your unedited, timed writing response for your chance to be featured! Find the September prompt on Patreon or Substack.

Flashlights & Firelight Online Book Club

Join us on Zoom October 15, 2025 at 6pm MT to discuss The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Monthly Book Talks!

Love to read but never know what to pick up? Check out my monthly videos for my local Thompson Falls Public Library here. Remember to Subscribe for free so you never miss one. Book talks: like book club, but shorter.

Readings

Did you know I occasionally remember to record readings of my published pieces. You can check out the latest one here. Be sure to Subscribe so you don’t miss the next one!

Please forward this to those you think may enjoy it. As always, thanks for joining me. I appreciate you’re here.

NOTE: You can email me directly at sunday (at) sundaydutro (dot) com

Sunday's Scrips: A Monthly Newsletter

Sunday’s Scrips: September 2025

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Whatcha Up To?:

  • Free online writing workshops coming this winter! (More Below).
  • Do you ever get obsessed with a particular writer? (More Below).
  • Join us for Flashlights & Firelight Online Book Club September 17, 2025 to discuss How to Read a Book by Monica Wood (More Below).

Online Winter Writing Workshops

My local library has been wanting me to do more writing workshops, but it’s hard to schedule, because our library is (thankfully) extremely full of programming already. We’ve agreed an online workshop might work best, especially in the harder month of February when people are starting to get cabin fever. There will be four sessions, all free and all online via Zoom, and anyone can attend. You can register to attend and have Zoom automatically remind you by checking out my Events Page or finding the events on Facebook.

Author Obsession

Last month I was tearing through Matt Haig books as quickly as possible. This month, I’m on to Alain de Botton. I first heard about Botton from Jane Friedman, a kind and brilliant woman who knows everything there is to know about publishing. She mentioned in one of her talks that she will always immediately buy anything by Alain de Botton, without even reading the dust jacket, and so began my deep dive. I’ve been thoroughly impressed by his book for kids, Happy Healthy Minds, which I’ve been reading with my littles and wish I’d had when I was young.

September Timed Writing Prompt Available Now!

Want a chance to have your work featured on my website, social media, Patreon and Substack accounts? Become a supporter and you’ll have access to my monthly timed writing prompt. Send me your unedited, timed writing response for your chance to be featured! Find the September prompt on Patreon or Substack.

Flashlights & Firelight Online Book Club

Join us on Zoom September 17, 2025 at 6pm MT to discuss How to Read a Book by Monica Wood.

Monthly Book Talks!

Love to read but never know what to pick up? Check out my monthly videos for my local Thompson Falls Public Library here. Remember to Subscribe for free so you never miss one. Book talks: like book club, but shorter.

Readings

Did you know I occasionally remember to record readings of my published pieces. You can check out the latest one here. Be sure to Subscribe so you don’t miss the next one!

Please forward this to those you think may enjoy it. As always, thanks for joining me. I appreciate you’re here.

NOTE: You can email me directly at sunday (at) sundaydutro (dot) com

Sunday's Scrips: A Monthly Newsletter

Sunday’s Scrips: August 2025

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Whatcha Up To?:

  • A writing retreat in Homer, Alaska? Yes, please! (More Below).
  • Join us for Flashlights & Firelight Online Book Club August 20, 2025 to discuss Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood (More Below).

Storyknife Writer’s Retreat

Storyknife is a woman’s writing retreat in Homer, Alaska where they feed you and leave you alone to write. It sounds like The Salty Quill which I thoroughly enjoyed in Maine (I was unbelievably productive at that retreat). Before I’d done too much research, I applied. Only afterwards did I find out how distinguished it is. So, while I’m not holding my breath, there’s always a possibility. Applications for Storyknife are open through August 31, 2025 if you’d also like to apply. Please do! Who knows, maybe we’ll end up there together!

August Timed Writing Prompt Available Now!

Want a chance to have your work featured on my website, social media, Patreon and Substack accounts? Become a supporter and you’ll have access to my monthly timed writing prompt. Send me your unedited, timed writing response for your chance to be featured! Find the August prompt on Patreon or Substack.

Flashlights & Firelight Online Book Club

Join us on Zoom August 20, 2025 at 6pm MT to discuss Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood.

Monthly Book Talks!

Love to read but never know what to pick up? Check out my monthly videos for my local Thompson Falls Public Library here. Remember to Subscribe for free so you never miss one. Book talks: like book club, but shorter.

Readings

Did you know I occasionally remember to record readings of my published pieces. You can check out the latest one here. Be sure to Subscribe so you don’t miss the next one!

Please forward this to those you think may enjoy it. As always, thanks for joining me. I appreciate you’re here.

NOTE: You can email me directly at sunday (at) sundaydutro (dot) com

Sunday's Scrips: A Monthly Newsletter

Sunday’s Scrips: July 2025

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Whatcha Up To?:

  • So.Many.Rejections! (More Below).
  • Wanna write for Five Minutes? (More Below).
  • Join us for Flashlights & Firelight Online Book Club July 18, 2025 to discuss The Broken Girls by Simone St. James (More Below).

Like Rejections?

Do you know I post my rejections every month? Obviously the names of the innocent are removed, but it can be interesting to read other peoples rejections. To help learn what’s a form letter, what’s a form +, etc. You can read them for free every month on Patreon or Substack.

June Timed Writing Prompt Winner

“The Plane”

By Michael Walker

It was only a short hop flight from Augusta to Columbia, South Carolina, but it was enough to scare me; I didn’t realize it was going to scare the shit out of me. I’m a terrible flyer. I don’t want to throw up—not terrible like that—but I’m positive that every flight is going to be my last. The thing is, I have a fabulous imagination, and I concoct numerous air-borne catastrophes, some of which happen at the same time. My vision of hell is a continuously crashing airplane on fire, filled with spiders.

Not this flight. We took off, and didn’t crash at the end of the runway, so that was good. We climbed and we were getting closer to God which was somewhat of mixed bag.

Michael Walker is a playwright turning novelist. Currently deconstructing a tome about four women meeting, into three novellas (as a collection) and the fourth woman’s story as a novel, tying in and wrapping up the three novellas.

July Timed Writing Prompt Available Now!

Want a chance to have your work featured on my website, social media, and Patreon accounts? Become a supporter and you’ll have access to my monthly timed writing prompt. Send me your unedited, timed writing response for your chance to be featured! Find the May prompt on Patreon or Substack.

Flashlights & Firelight Online Book Club

Join us on Zoom July 18, 2025 at 6pm MT to discuss The Broken Girls by Simone St. James.

Monthly Book Talks!

Love to read but never know what to pick up? Check out my monthly videos for my local Thompson Falls Public Library here. Remember to Subscribe for free so you never miss one. Book talks: like book club, but shorter.

Readings

Did you know I occasionally remember to record readings of my published pieces. You can check out the latest one here. Be sure to Subscribe so you don’t miss the next one!

Please forward this to those you think may enjoy it. As always, thanks for joining me. I appreciate you’re here.

NOTE: You can email me directly at sunday (at) sundaydutro (dot) com

35th Annual Book Awards Shortlists

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Becoming Little Shell has been selected as one of five books shortlisted for the 2025 Reading the West Awards in the Memoir/Biography category. If you’re wondering what this is, here’s the lowdown:

More than 180 books were submitted for consideration in the 35th Annual Reading the West Book Awards. Independent booksellers across fourteen states read and reviewed all the books to choose their favorites. Now we’re asking you to help select the best of the best! Scroll through or click on the categories to see the shortlist titles. Cast your ballot by May 31, 2025. Winners will be announced June 12, 2025.

Here is some info on who is behind all of this in the first place:

Reading the West was conceived to celebrate the diversity, courage, tenacity, expertise, and indie spirit of the bookstores in the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association. Our goal is to bring bookstores, books, and readers together, to promote the best of our regional authors and stories, and to feature the passionate recommendations of our booksellers.

I have mixed feelings about awards and, especially, ones that demand writers wave their hands and holler, “Vote for me!” Which is exactly what I am doing here. Awards help sales, and sales are still what makes more books possible.² Not just for me, but for other writers too. So please consider voting; I voted for myself to see how much of a hassle it is and it really wasn’t. So I sure would appreciate if you took a few moments to cast a ballot in Becoming Little Shell’s direction! HERE IS THE LINK. I’ll probably mention it a time or two between now and the deadline at the end of the month but I’ll try not to be obnoxious about it.

The above is shared directly from Chris’ Substack which you can find here.

Sunday's Scrips: A Monthly Newsletter

Sunday’s Scrips: April 2025

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Whatcha Up To?:

  • GetLit! is next week! (More Below).
  • My first part-time reporter article! (More Below).
  • Join us for Flashlights & Firelight Online Book Club 04/16/25 to discuss How to Stop Time.

GetLit! Festival

The GetLit! Festival is next weekend in Spokane, WA (a hop, skip, and jump from my home). I went last year and got to take a class with the amazing Carmen Maria Machado. This year, I’ll get to take a class with the awesome Maggie Smith! I cannot wait! Like, that chick outside of Mervyn’s with her face smooshed to the glass and her hands pulsing as she says, “open! open! open!” That’s me, but with the Festival.

Call Me Lois Lane

When you never intended to be a reporter but your local county has it going on, you sometimes get roped into covering an event you were already planning on attending – HA! I got to cover my first event for The Sanders County Ledger and you can read it here. A fun event for a great cause, I’m happy to support it in any way I can. And I’ve since been given a couple more assignments!

April Timed Writing Prompt Available Now!

Want a chance to have your work featured on my website, social media, and Patreon accounts? Become a supporter and you’ll have access to my monthly timed writing prompt. Send me your unedited, timed writing response for your chance to be featured! Find the April prompt here.

Flashlights & Firelight Online Book Club

Join us on Zoom April 16, 2025 at 6pm MT to discuss How to Stop Time by Matt Haig.

Monthly Book Talks!

Love to read but never know what to pick up? Check out my monthly videos for my local Thompson Falls Public Library here. Remember to Subscribe for free so you never miss one. Book talks: like book club, but shorter.

Readings

Did you know I occasionally remember to record readings of my published pieces. You can check out the latest one here. Be sure to Subscribe so you don’t miss the next one!

Please forward this to those you think may enjoy it. As always, thanks for joining me. I appreciate you’re here.

NOTE: Replies to this email go to a Patreon email server and not to me. You can email me directly at sunday (at) sundaydutro (dot) com

Sunday's Scrips: A Monthly Newsletter

Sunday’s Scrips: March 2025

sundaydutroLeave a comment

Whatcha Up To?:

  • I won something in the Storm Cellar Flash Contest! (More Below).
  • Did you know I was once a woman of the night? (More Below).
  • Join us for Flashlights & Firelight Online Book Club 03/19/25 to discuss The Seed Keeper.

I WON!

What did I win? I don’t know! When will I find out? Search me! But the point is, I won! Woo hoo! Storm Cellar touts itself as the “literary journal of safety and danger;” I love that. Their flash contest was about “great and unexpected power.” I submitted three pieces, and have no idea which is a winner or of what, but damn, it feels good to be a flash star LOL Find out more about the contest here.

Woman of the Night

Do you read HerStry? I heart them, and they’ll be publishing a flash essay of mine in April that’s all about being a floozie (Julian Melodrama rocks!).

March Timed Writing Prompt Available Now!

Want a chance to have your work featured on my website, social media, and Patreon accounts? Become a supporter and you’ll have access to my monthly timed writing prompt. Send me your unedited, timed writing response for your chance to be featured! Find the March prompt here.

Flashlights & Firelight Online Book Club

Join us on Zoom March 19, 2025 at 6pm MT to discuss The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson

Monthly Book Talks!

Love to read but never know what to pick up? Check out my monthly videos for my local Thompson Falls Public Library here. Remember to Subscribe for free so you never miss one. Book talks: like book club, but shorter.

Readings

Did you know I occasionally remember to record readings of my published pieces. You can check out the latest one here. Be sure to Subscribe so you don’t miss the next one!

Please forward this to those you think may enjoy it. As always, thanks for joining me. I appreciate you’re here.