I had the privilege of interviewing Gloria Furman, author of Glimpses of Grace and Treasuring Christ When Your Hands are Full (among others), for the Deeply Rooted blog! While writing a review of Glimpses of Grace and preparing to interview her, I really got to bond with Gloria Furman’s books—and that’s an experience I recommend. Her answers to the interview questions are just as lovely and life-giving as her books.
You can read the interview here.
When you’re assigned a book review for the book that you’re currently reading, you know you’re the right girl for the job. Or you know that the book is the right book for the job. Or that—never mind. What I’m trying to say is that I had the privilege of reviewing Gloria Furman’s book, Glimpses of Grace, for the summer issue of Deeply Rooted. (Of lesser importance is the fact that I got to use the word “rhinoceri” in the review.)
You can order the new issue here. And you can preview it for free here!
Deeply Rooted Magazine
Issue 6: Light (Summer 2015)
Glimpses of Grace
Gloria Furman (2013)
As I write, it is 8:46 pm, and someone’s child is having a meltdown outside. Earlier today, it was my child wailing in the front yard (first one, then another, and eventually all three—for three entirely different reasons), so it was a good day for the mailman to hand me a box from Deeply Rooted.
Of course, I was delighted to get the magazine itself, but the first thing I did was—and this is predictable, if not terribly modest—flip to page 106, where I found this:
I labored over this essay. It changed shape again and again, as what I thought was a story about a neat gift idea morphed into a braided essay about my daughter’s stay in the NICU, my good friend Jessie, and a gift from her that came right when it was needed. I loved working on this essay, in part because I love telling stories and in part because, this time, I had a particular story to tell, one that snuck up on me as I was writing and yanked the reins out of my hands.
I wrote most of it while in my pajamas, between five and seven in the morning. Many cups of Earl Grey tea went cold while I wrote; a bunch of mornings dawned. But eventually, I finished the essay and sent it in to the editors, who combed down a few flyaway phrases before sending it on to the artists.
Do you see that? Do you see how beautiful those illustrations are?
I love this magazine.
What else can I say about Deeply Rooted that I haven’t already said on this blog? It’s well-made, well-written, and beautiful to behold. If you like this blog, you will probably love it. This issue—the first anniversary issue—addresses theology proper, apologetics, and the fleetingness of life. It contains a verse-by-verse break down of Psalm 1, as well as a moving essay by Jen Wilkin (you know how I feel about her) about broken homes and geraniums.
Also, some of you have asked in the past if Deeply Rooted offers a subscription service and the answer for the longest time was no, but starting with this new issue, you will be able to subscribe to the magazine at 10% less than full price. (Yay!) So, if you’d like to order this brand new Spring issue, you have two options: pre-order the Spring issue, or subscribe to receive it and all forthcoming issues.
Deeply Rooted Magazine
Issue 5: Life (Spring 2015)
I have an aversion to reading birth stories on the internet. It’s not that I don’t care about birth stories—quite the opposite, in fact. I love hearing them told in person, when I can watch a new mother gesture with her hands as she tries to wrestle those first moments into words. I love laughing with her over the things people said, the things she said, during labor, and over how far away it all seems now, as though she has crossed a great chasm and we’re standing there together, looking back at the bridge that brought her to safety.
Birth stories are personal stories, and not just because they have to do with bodily functions: their power lies not in the litany of details—minutes, centimeters, hours—but in the fact that each story is truly unique to the woman who lived it. No one else can share your story with you—not fully, anyway. And while the rest of us can enjoy your story and be moved by it, we eventually have to back away and leave the experience with you, where it is meant to stay. Telling these stories on the internet, then, feels to me like shouting from a platform what ought to be treasured among close friends.
Yes, I have an aversion to reading birth stories on the internet. And so it is fitting (and just this side of hypocritical) that my first full essay for Deeply Rooted opens on a scene from the night of Phoebe’s birth. It seemed right, as I was writing, to include that moment, and so I did. That took me down a peg.
From there the essay moves into a consideration of the birth of Christ—what we know happened that night in the stable, what might have happened, and what it might have meant to Mary. But the essay isn’t a birth story: it’s mostly about Mary. And it’s in the newest issue of Deeply Rooted. (You can purchase a copy here.)
Deeply Rooted Magazine
Issue 04, Winter: Root
The new issue of Deeply Rooted is here! And inside it, you’ll find a little something special:
If you remember how much I admire JJ Heller, then you can guess how thrilled I was to have the opportunity to interview her for Deeply Rooted, but in case you’ve forgotten, know this: I did at least one happy dance when I got the assignment. And as much fun as the article was to work on, it’s just a tiny piece of the overall loveliness of this autumn issue, which tackles subjects like grief, gratitude, the exclusivity of Christ, and how we as busy moms can serve those outside our families. Also, there’s a recipe for a kale and sausage casserole. I made it for dinner on Saturday, and the casserole was delicious.
You can order your copy of the magazine here. (And you can read about why I write about Deeply Rooted on my blog for kids’ books here.)
Deeply Rooted Magazine
Issue 3: Branch (Fall 2014)
