Sharry Miller

Quiet Power

Before spring of my eighth-grade year, I was about the shyest person you could possibly imagine. Just the idea of talking to a boy made me blush. During the 45 minute bus ride to and from school, I sat in the third seat behind the bus driver, knees propped up on the seat in front of me, and read book after book, often needing a flashlight to see. It's no great surprise that I wore... Read more →

No More Shame!

It’s not often I run across a book that I want to just shove into everyone’s hands and say, “Here. Read this. She has important things to say that will make you rethink yourself.” Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly, however, is that book. I’m not normally a big fan of self-help books – no one can possibly know the right path for everyone else to follow. Social science/psychology books are likewise of little interest to me,... Read more →

A Little Self-Indulgence

Every once in a while, you just need to spoil yourself. The reasons for that need can vary widely. Yesterday, I had a work day from Hell. It seemed like every time I turned around there was more bad news, or we were collectively complaining about the bad news we'd already received. Morale was not high. By lunchtime, I'd already decided that instead of going to Spinning class after work, my psyche desperately needed time... Read more →

Young Adult Psychology According to Me

It was inevitable given her parentage: my daughter, Rowan, is a reader. An avid reader. She spends the vast majority of her spare time either reading (and rereading again and again) books or reading fan fiction and Pinterest posts about those books. I often wonder if the words that come out of her are her own or if she's just quoting the internet. She talks about the books she reads so much - relating plots,... Read more →

Me Alternatives

I drank the bottle of lotion in three gulps, but if there was any alcohol in it, I couldn't tell. I took a long, hot shower and reveled in being clean for the first time in two weeks, but then I had to put back on the same stinky, vomit-stained clothes I'd been wearing. Words reverberate through my head: crack, heroin, hunger, theft, homeless, hopeless, despair. I pull the headphones out of my ears and... Read more →

Stop Drifting, Start Rowing - Book Review

Women's Adventure Magazine was kind enough to post another of my book reviews today. I hope you'll hop over to their site to see what I had to say about Stop Drifting, Start Rowing by Roz Savage. Here's a little teaser from my review of this very good book. Roz Savage sat down at her dining-room table in London one day and wrote her own obituary. Actually, she wrote two – the one she wanted... Read more →

Book Review - Two Are Better

I have a new book review up at Women's Adventure Magazine! It's for the wonderfully photo-filled book Two are Better – Midlife Newlyweds Bicycle Coast to Coast by Tim and Debbie Bishop. Please check out the review and the book. I think you'll like them both. Related articles Exploring the Himalaya Mountains in India Women's Adventure Book Review Read more →

Streets of Afghanistan

Bringing Art to Afghanistan I first encountered the work of Shannon Galpin when I supported her Kickstarter campaign for Afghan Cycles, a video documentary about the Afghan National Women’s Cycling Team. When I received a review copy of Streets of Afghanistan, I was delighted to learn that she has had other efforts designed to support women and girls. Streets of Afghanistan is a beautiful book. The hardback version has a silky smooth cover that is... Read more →

Festina Lente

I love the random synchronicities that sometime occur in life. I just finished reading Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan (I highly recommend it), in which the main character finds out about a secret society which has been trying to decode Aldus Manutius' codex vitae (book of life) for over 500 years. The society's members believe that the book will give them the secret to eternal life. The society has a income-earning arm called... Read more →

Favorite Books of 2013

Woo hoo! I just recorded and reviewed on Goodreads the last two books I read, and officially reached 85 for the year. I'd randomly set a "goal" of 60 books for the year; I clearly kicked that in the butt. I have no idea why that would be something to be proud of, but it feels like an accomplishment of some sort. I won't bore you by including my entire reading list (if you want... Read more →