Chelsea Cain’s Mockingbird

Not Just Dudes in Tights: Chelsea Cain’s Mockingbird

The good news about Chelsea Cain’s Mockingbird, which had an eight-issue run from 2016-2017, drawn by Kate Niemczyk and colored by Rachelle Rosenberg (an all-woman team! You love to see it) is that off the bat it’s funny, action-packed, explicitly feminist, and it won’t take you long to get through the eight issues.  The bad… Read more »

October

Book Nook — October Edition

Truly, where has the year gone? How is it October? I am not ready for the weather to turn cold. I am a summer gal, through and through. To me, cold weather means seasonal depression, so give me that summer sunshine. Alas, nobody asked me about the changing of the seasons, so here we are… Read more »

modern girl detectives

Cozy to Cold-Blooded: Modern Girl Detectives

In my last column, I talked about classic girl detectives. This time, the modern girl detectives get their chance.  The girl detectives from the late 20th-early 21st century comprise a much more diverse group. But they share with each other and their predecessors the qualities of intelligence, bravery, and grit.  Some of you might notice… Read more »

Rhys Bowen

Interview with Rhys Bowen

Rhys Bowen has been one of my favorite mystery authors for many years now, starting with my binging of her Molly Murphy mystery series and continuing with the Royal Spyness series. Georgiana (Georgie) Rannoch starts out as a royal who is nowhere near the throne and very short of funds. It’s not easy for any… Read more »

LGBTQ+ history

Why LGBTQ+ Fiction Writers Need to Read LGBTQ+ History

Why Should LGBTQ+ Writers Read LGBTQ+ History? There are so many benefits to reading non-fiction to inform your fiction writing. Not only is history edifying, allowing us to ensure that we’re crafting stories that are accurate and plausible, but reading non-fiction is also a great way to expose ourselves to new ideas. If you want… Read more »

September

The Book Nook — September Edition

It’s already September! The new school year may be starting, but I am still clinging to the last vestiges of summer. Last month was a great reading month for me, despite a beach vacation where I didn’t actually get much reading done. That’s all right though. I had a great time and can’t wait to… Read more »

Title Image: The Wicked + The Divine

Not Just Dudes in Tights: The Wicked + The Divine

For my first two columns, I wrote about young adult comics, partially because young people need fun, feminist stuff to read. But what about us adults? What about sex, drugs, and rock n roll? Well, do I have the comic for you: The Wicked + The Divine. This is the comic I recommend the most,… Read more »

Title Image: Cozy to Cold-Blooded: Classic Girl Detectives

Cozy to Cold-Blooded: Classic Girl Detectives

Ever since researching classic girl detectives for a paper in 2008, I wanted to read the adventures I had only read about. For this column, I originally chose the topic of children’s mysteries. I realized that needed to be narrowed a bit. Then I remembered the girl detectives. Now was my chance to read more! … Read more »

Title Image: The Book Nook - July Edition

The Book Nook — July Edition

It’s July and we’re hitting the dog days of summer here in rural Oklahoma. Nothing is moving out there, not even the wind. (I might be exaggerating slightly) Still, you’d think if it was that hot outside, it would be perfect for some indoor reading.  Not exactly. I’ve struggled to concentrate for whatever reason. I’ve… Read more »