Betsy Ashton

If Not Now

I'm likely to catch hell for this post, but I don't care. I've written passionately about rape, bullying, drug violence. I don't think I've felt the anger I felt yesterday when 21 people, mostly children, were slaughtered in Uvlade, TX. Children who were days away...

Who Can You Believe?

That's the primary question Clifford Garstang asks in his latest novel, OLIVER'S TRAVELS. I'm a long-time fan of his work. By far, this is his best work yet. I know him to be a solid writer with a strong grasp of craft, but the complexity of this novel blew me away....

Staying True To My Roots

No, I don't mean the color of my hair. It's silver-white by nature. What I mean is I can't and won't walk away from the roots of what make me me. I discovered the world when I went away to college. Even with the Vietnam war lucking in the darkness of my senior year of...

A Review of Anthony Doerr’s CLOUD CUCKOO LAND

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony DoerrMy rating: 5 of 5 starsWhen my book club decided to read Doerr's latest, I was skeptical. One, the book is a monster. 600+ pages. Two, I couldn't see why anyone rated it as high as they did. It was so disjointed. Then, I read the...
If Not Now

If Not Now

I'm likely to catch hell for this post, but I don't care. I've written passionately about rape, bullying, drug...