Beth Dotson Brown

The beauty of giving myself permission to write a wild first draft that has more flaws than keepers is that it's taking me in directions I didn't imagine.New possibilities surfaced for the story this morning. It's a gift to rediscover joy in my writing! Here's my desk today.

Substack Made Simple Online Training Session Join us on January 22, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. for, "Substack Made Simple," led by author and Substacker extraordinaire, Jana Gillham. In this online session, you will learn how to use Substack to build and...

After a beautiful Christmas vacation I'm back at my desk today. I want to be sure to share this opportunity to learn more about Substack. Register at: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Looks like you'll get some beauties!

Supplies! So true. The camaraderie seems to be irreplaceable. It doesn't happen in the same way during virtual meetings.

As I listen to the rain, I'm thankful for a job that I can do from home, on most days. However, I've been thinking about the parts of office culture I miss, like the random conversations that lead to learning and collaboration. If you've worked in an office, what do you miss about office culture?

If you need encouragement today, take a lesson from this lone stalk of corn growing along a US highway. It has persisted and grown for weeks and it finally has an ear. In the midst of anything, you can persist.

If you need to pull away from the heat, or work, or the world for a few minutes, read this month's Goodness of the Garden for a trip to the garden of seasonal fruit. I'm featuring a column by my friend, Emily Toadvine. www.bethdotsonbrown.net/the-goodness...

As a gardener, I understand how much work goes into a bag of blueberries. I'm sending a big thanks to my friend Emily who gifted me with these. In July, I'll feature a piece by Emily in my blog, The Goodness of the Garden. You can subscribe through my web page or by messaging me your email address.

What's on your reading list this summer? ☀️ I just finished The Christie Affair (highly recommend!) so the other two are up next. I'd love to see your TBR pile!

One of my favorite vegetables!

I can't remember who said something to me last week about the beauty of the cicada wings. I had noticed it, too (along with those wicked red eyes which aren't so beautiful to me). On my morning walk, I saw one at my feet and had to get a photo. It still had dew drops on it.

It's been a terribly gray and wet spring in Kentucky. My antidote? Plant flowers that add beauty and perspective even on the grayest of days. A good book will do the same.

How an AI-generated summer reading list got published in major newspapers Newspapers around the country, including the Chicago Sun-Times and at least one edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer, published a syndicated book list featuring made-up books by famous authors.

Have you heard about the fake books listed in the Chicago Sun-Times' recommendations for summer reading? This is one of the dangers of AI and of losing media that is funded well enough to pay good reporters. Check out this coverage from NPR to gain more understanding. www.npr.org/2025/05/20/n...

Yesterday was a writer's dream--reading my work for a crowd of relaxed, receptive listeners on the porch and grounds of historic Penn's Store in Gravel Switch, KY. The weather was beautiful and the creativity was everywhere. I return to my writing inspired.

My recent blog post explores this magical season of promise in the garden. www.bethdotsonbrown.net/the-goodness...

When I traveled to Alaska last week, I needed a good book to read on the plane ride. Everything We Thought Was True by Lisa Montanaro totally absorbed me. I definitely recommend this unique story.

I've been planting lots of wildflowers and herbs. I'm hoping to see lots of those good pollinators.

When I walk around my yard and there's a breeze, the scent of these beauties surrounds me. What a gift!

Bob White is the first bird sound I learned as a child. It is fun.

I have a book called dandelion medicine that I'm about to read.

The energy at The Plaid Elephant bookstore was fantastic on Saturday. Children burst through the doors excited to see what was new. Their parents followed, some of them looking for an adult novel like mine. Big thanks to Kate Snyder of The Plaid Elephant for the experience.

I was honored yesterday to receive an award for a short story I entered into the Bluegrass Writers Coalition Kentucky Visions contest. It was quite special to participate in the ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda with a small group of very fine Kentucky writers.

I look forward to Meet the Authors Day at the Plaid Elephant bookstore in Danville, KY on Saturday. It's such a fun store!

I think learning and writing about characters is one of the most fun parts of writing.

Writing is in the revision. Sounds like you're ready for that step.

What roles have libraries played in your life? Every time I've moved, the library has been one of the first places I visit. They are such a great asset for learning and dreaming. This poster from a past National Library Week expresses how I feel about reading.

Thanks to Sandra L. Young for the short, fun interview with Bookish Road Trip on Facebook. It's a challenge to answer three questions in three minutes!

AS King writes important books. I'm so sorry to hear all of this. This is when community is so important.

My book blog tour has ended. Thanks to the bloggers who participated. Here's a comment from reading.late.into.the.night: The book celebrates women and their relationships. Friendship, mothers, daughters, family and neighbors. And it offers hope in the face of adversity. It’s an uplifting read.

Tell AI Companies They Do Not Have the Right to Use Your Work I just sent a letter telling AI companies they do not not have the right to use my work. Use the Authors Guild's letter template to send your own.

I found out today that Meta used my novel in their AI training. It's happening to most published authors. Please support copyright laws and the rights of creators and urge AI companies to stop using the work of writers and other artists without express permission and licensing.