If you’re a thoughtful reader who appreciates meaningful encounters, I have some really good news.

I have just launched the Thoughtful Readers Gatherings™, a new series of author conversations to connect my growing audience of thoughtful readers and writers with good books and nourishing conversations. The format and unique approach to pre-order perks focus on:

Helping featured authors sell books and connect with thoughtful readers
Offering my audience of readers and writers opportunities to have meaningful encounters with good books written by lovely people
Supporting all of the good parts of the publishing and retail book industries

I’m honored to invest in writers by pre-ordering or ordering a minimum number of the featured book from Ingram (the wholesale book distributor I purchase from as an independent bookseller), and commit to not returning any of those copies. I keep a copy of every featured book in my Retreat Room and on the evergreen list for my Thoughtful Books Etc. pop-up bookshops and other events.

Everyone wins.

I announced the online Thoughtful Readers Gatherings (and more things for 2024!) during my online Retreat Room Launch last Friday.

Look at This Lineup!
I'm thrilled to announce Thoughtful Readers Gatherings with Cole Arthur Riley, Amy Long (TSAB Represent!), Crystal Wilkinson, Erik Fuhrer, Kaveh Akbar, Jose Hernandez Diaz, Anna Gazmarian, Catherine Ricketts, and more!

2024 Thoughtful Readers Gatherings™ (More Gatherings Coming Soon!)

Cole Arthur Riley & Black Liturgies
Zoom Event Date: Sunday, January 21, 2024 from 5-5:45 p.m. CT
Amy Long & Codependence
The TSAB Series Presented with Taylor Swift as Books
Zoom Event Date: January 28, 2024 from 5-6 p.m. CT
Maggie Smith & My Thoughts Have Wings
Zoom Event Date: February 12, 2024 from 7-8 p.m. CT
Crystal Wilkinson & Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts
Zoom Event Date: February 18, 2024 from 5-6 p.m. CT
Erik Fuhrer & Gellar Studies
Zoom Event Date: February 25, 2024 from 5-6 p.m. CT
Kaveh Akbar & Martyr!
Zoom Event Date: Sunday, March 3, 2024 from 5-6 p.m. CT
Jose Hernandez Diaz & Bad Mexican, Bad American
Presented with Magic City Poetry Festival
Zoom Event Date: Sunday, April 7, 2024 from 5-6 p.m. CT
Anna Gazmarian & Devout
Zoom Event Date: Sunday, April 21, 2024 from 5-6 p.m. CT
Catherine Ricketts & The Mother Artist
Zoom Event Date: May 5, 2024 from 5-6 p.m. CT

More fantastic gatherings will be announced soon. We’re still working out the dates and details!

Here’s What Happens During Every Online Thoughtful Readers Gathering

Each online Thoughtful Readers Gathering will be 45 minutes to an hour and take place on Zoom. Here's the schedule:

--15 minute conversation to focus on the guest author's reading and writing life.

--30 minute conversation about the book with an 8-minute reading, a 10-minute conversation with me (questions provided ahead of time), and 5-10 minutes of Q&A

Here’s What’s Included in Each Paid Registration
—One Book by the Featured Author. Cost is retail book price plus sales tax.
—Access to a Writing and Reading Life Conversation with Featured Author
—Access to a Reading and Book Conversation with Featured Author
—Access to the Zoom Recording for Two Weeks
—Follow-up Email with Additional Resources for Exploration and Nourishment

All Free Options Include Everything but the Book
—Access to a Writing and Reading Life Conversation with Featured Author
—Access to a Reading and Book Conversation with Featured Author
—Access to the Zoom Recording for Two Weeks
—Follow-up Email with Additional Resources for Exploration and Nourishment

Registration is required for all online Thoughtful Readers Gatherings. All online Thoughtful Readers Gatherings take place on Zoom.

But wait. There’s more.

Thoughtful Readers Gatherings: The TSAB Series
I’m thrilled to be partnering with Amy Long and Taylor Swift as Books for the TSAB Series on the last Sunday of every month for 2024. During the TSAB Series, we will also have a brief conversation about the featured book’s cover and TSAB match. The TSAB Series events may be closer to a full hour to give us time to hear more about the book covers and Taylor matches.

For the TSAB series in particular, I want to emphasize that I am not pushy at all about issues connected to faith and spirituality. I want the TSAB community to know I'm a progressive Christian, and a lot of my spiritual direction clients come from other (or zero!) faith traditions. Many people aren't even sure what they believe, and Amy identifies as a "godless heathen!” (Her words. And that’s meant to make you chuckle. Did you chuckle?)

My primary goal for this series--and all of my work--is to help people notice the ways they belong to themselves, others, and the world. I consider this exploration of belongings a sort of soulful noticing that’s common to all humans regardless of one’s faith tradition or lack thereof.

Thoughtful Readers Gatherings: Magic City Poetry Festival
I’m also super excited to partner with Alabama State Poet Laureate Ashley M. Jones and the Magic City Poetry Festival again this year with the April 7, 2024 Thoughtful Readers Gathering featuring Jose Hernandez Diaz and his new poetry book Bad Mexican, Bad American. (I’m sponsoring MCPF in a couple of other ways, too, so stay tuned for more on that!)

Want to Support Authors and an Independent Bookshop and Encourage Thoughtful Engagement with Books?
As a writer and an author who struggles with all kinds of things publishing related, I can’t tell you how much hope these Thoughtful Readers Gatherings™ are already giving me (and we haven’t even had one yet!)

I want the Thoughtful Readers Gatherings to be a generous offering of good books and nourishing conversations that you can participate in while knowing you are supporting some of your favorite writers (and some new-to-you writers!) by pre-ordering or purchasing their newest book through my recently-launched independent bookshop. You’ll get access to wonderful and nourishing conversations with the featured authors and additional resources for further exploration. You can learn more and register here.

Thanks so much for supporting thoughtful books for thoughtful readers!