1. “It’s an All-Star Lineup!” “The 2022 Washington Writers Conference is thrilled to welcome you back in person on May 13-14! In addition to our one-on-one agent-pitch sessions, we’ll have an exciting array of panels covering everything from the business of writing to specialized craft workshops. Just who will be there? We’re glad you asked!” NOTE: The conference is nearly sold out. If you’re planning to attend, REGISTER NOW!


2. Daniel de Visé’s review of Prince and the Parade & Sign O’ The Times Era Studio Sessions: 1985 and 1986 by Duane Tudahl (Rowman & Littlefield). “Tudahl reveals a man who spent nearly every waking hour writing, recording, or performing his music. Prince awoke with a song in his head, and he never left the studio until he had arranged and recorded it, typically playing every instrument and singing every part himself. A session might stretch for 10 hours, or 20, or 30. Prince stopped only to snack on Doritos and Toblerone, and he expected musicians and producers to match his pace.”


3. K.L. Romo’s review of The Exiles: A Novel by Christina Baker Kline (Custom House). “The Exiles poignantly explores the issues of social identity, fate, loyalty, and survival during a time in history when women were ‘less than,’ and Anglo society believed itself entitled to decimate indigenous tribes living on confiscated land. From the squalid straw floors and suffering of Newgate, to a ship’s dark and foul hold, to a penal colony in Hobart Town, readers follow these brave women on their journey of survival through inexplicable sorrow, hardship, and loss. Although the novel chronicles fictional journeys a century past, the author’s commentary on social justice applies today. A masterpiece of historical reckoning, this heartrending story will stay with readers long after they turn the last page.”


4. Susi Wyss’ review of Gravel Heart: A Novel by Abdulrazak Gurnah (Bloomsbury USA). “Whether he set out intentionally to write a version of Measure for Measure in modern-day Zanzibar, or whether the parallels only became evident once Gurnah was well into the process of writing his book, Gravel Heart is much more than the story of a boy trying to uncover his family’s secret. Ultimately, it’s a story about trying find one’s place in the world — and that’s something we can all to relate to.”


5. Fatima Taha’s review of A House without Windows: A Novel by Nadia Hashimi (William Morrow). This book isn’t a murder mystery; it’s a political commentary on Afghanistan’s culture and legal system. In that aspect, this novel accomplishes its goal and should not be overlooked as mere fiction; it’s far more powerful than just a story of one convicted woman. Hashimi’s work urges readers to be like Yusuf, to fight even when we know that the changes we affect may only be ripples in a pond. A Dari song is repeated over and over: ‘Tonight, you will listen to the sorrows of my soul…though tomorrow, you will forget all that has been told.’ This, perhaps, is this novel’s greatest endeavor: When you finish this book, do not forget what you’ve read. Do something.”    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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