Tag Archives: literature

Dinner With a Dead Author (and One Live One)

Posted on August 13, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

If WordPress is providing a time machine, the guest list gets complicated fast. Poe, King, Twain, Hemingway, Paul, and C.S. Lewis all make the cut—but one of them would probably turn dinner into a college education. Continue reading →

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The Bible, Mockingbird, and the Books That Keep Finding Me

Posted on July 13, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The Bible is the honest answer. But teaching has a way of making you return to certain books again and again, until they become part of your life. Continue reading →

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The One Book I Still Miss Teaching Every Year

Posted on May 16, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I thought Flowers for Algernon would be an interesting science-fiction story. I didn’t expect it to become one of the books I most looked forward to teaching — or one I would miss so much after I had to stop. Continue reading →

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The Whale Was Not the Problem: When Classic Books Become Endurance Tests

Posted on May 14, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Some classic books have undeniable themes, powerful messages, and lasting importance. That does not always make them enjoyable to read. Sometimes the whale is not the problem. Sometimes the problem is everything around the whale. Continue reading →

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Some Books Tell Their Story Once. Others Keep Talking.

Posted on April 8, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Most novels lose some of their pull once I know what’s coming. But a few books — because of depth, meaning, or sheer craft — still reveal something new every time I return to them. Continue reading →

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If I Had to Step Into Someone Else’s Story

Posted on April 7, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

It’s easy to choose a fictional character based on the exciting parts of the story. The harder part is remembering you also inherit the loneliness, danger, and pain that made that character who they are. Continue reading →

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Art That Speaks My Language

Posted on October 7, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Art comes in many forms. Some use paint, others use words, and some use sound. From Renoir and Monet to Poe, Twain, and the sounds of Toto and Steely Dan, art at its best moves us and stays with us long after the moment has passed. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: Poetry in the Glass

Posted on August 24, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Sometimes my thoughts drift toward the glass. Not just what’s in it, but what it means. Bourbon, for me, has always been more than a drink. It’s memory, it’s craft, it’s connection. And the more I think about it, the … Continue reading →

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A Life in Layers: Who I Am, One Piece at a Time

Posted on July 28, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

The question is, “How would you describe yourself to someone?” It’s a big one—with more than a few layers. I believe the most important things about us are the roles we play in the lives of others. First and foremost, … Continue reading →

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A Career in Communication, Ministry and Education

Posted on May 29, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

I’ve had a diverse career path, largely centered around communication, education, and ministry. My professional journey began in high school, working in the newsroom of my Dad’s newspaper, the Northwest Florida Daily News. I also gained experience as sports editor … Continue reading →

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