Exploring the idea that turned into Levi’s debut novel and why he thinks the book resonates with so many people Allen Levi’s debut novel, Theo of Golden ,  currently sits at the top of the list of most popular paperbacks. Levi, an attorney, judge, singer/songwriter and author, penned the novel in his 60s and self-published it with the help of his niece at almost 70 years old.  A story about the power of generosity, Theo of Golden  is the story of a mysterious, elderly man who

Cookbook Chronicles is an on-going series at The Bookery. Over the course of the next year, we’re exploring The Pioneer Woman’s (Ree Drummond) latest cookbook, The Essential Recipes , cooking one recipe a month and sharing our thoughts.  I'm a sucker for pasta recipes, so when I saw the Million Dollar Spaghetti recipe in Ree's latest cookbook, I knew it was one I had to try. I've heard of Million Dollar Spaghetti, but most of the recipe's by that name involve a thick layer of

When was the last time you sat down and wrote a letter? Not a text or an email, a letter. Sent a card recently or jotted off a note of encouragement to a friend? If you're like me, it may be a little difficult to remember the last time you actually put pen to paper, then dropped that missive in the mail. But as I was preparing for our upcoming Bookery Book Club episode on our March book club selection, Virginia Evans' The Correspondent , I ran across a TedX Talk from Peyton C

I try a lot of recipes. Here are a few of my recent favorites.  I’m one of those weird people who likes to read cookbooks like a novel. Sometimes, right before I go to sleep, I scroll through the NYT cooking app, looking for must-try recipes.  For me, cooking is a way of life, a creative outlet and a fun, relaxing way to end a hard work day. So, I cook a lot — and here are a few of the recipes I’m making on repeat these days.  One-Pot Chicken and Rice with Carmelized Lemons I

A crowd-pleasing recipe that’s so easy you’ll love to make it! Ever found a recipe that’s a true crowd-pleaser but so simple and easy that you can barely take credit for it? This is that recipe!  Maybe that sounds overly confident, but every time I’ve taken this appetizer (or snack supper/girl dinner) to a party, I’ve only come home with crumbs. But really, there’s nothing to it! All you have to do is brown some sausage, layer the ingredients on the puff pastry, roll up, slic

Resist the urge to skim and give God's Word your full attention Truth be told, sometimes I read Scripture like I’m reading an assigned book for school — reading as quickly as I can, trying to cover as much ground as possible while trying to note important details and ideas so I can pass the test.  The problem with that? Scripture isn’t a textbook we’re reading to pass a test. It’s a story that God has unfolded through each book, revealing his character, his purpose and his pl

Meditating on Proverbs 3:1–6 This spring at The Bookery, we’re exploring a simple but searching theme: lean in . To lean in is to focus. To commit fully. To stop living half-heartedly in our faith. It’s an invitation to draw closer to Christ, to let our relationship with Him shape the whole of our lives — not just the parts that feel easy, visible or convenient. As we begin this season of leaning in, we’re starting with a familiar passage: Proverbs 3:1–6  (NLT): My child, nev

This spring, our invitation is to lean in and fully commit Ever been so totally captivated by a conversation that you find yourself leaning in, hanging on every word?  Been so captivated by the work of a ministry or nonprofit that you carved time out of your busy life to volunteer, give or help find a solution?  Been so invested in a project that you couldn’t stop until it was finished, so you lean in, focused and poured every part of yourself into the work? To lean in is to

Learn more about Meissner’s writing process, approach to research and where the idea came for her McCarthy-era novel Susan Meissner’s The Map to Paradise — just released in paperback — is a story about the bond between three women as they navigate the challenges of the late 1950s. The plot centers around blacklisted starlet Melanie Cole, her housekeeper, Eva, and their agoraphobic next-door-neighbor Elwood, who Melanie sometimes chats with through open windows.  When Eva and

The Bookery Podcast is back for Season 2, launching March 5! Ready for even more of The Bookery? The Bookery Podcast will kick off on March 5 with episodes and conversations centered around the Bible, books and baking. From short Scripture meditation episodes that encourage us to ponder God's Word to sharing our favorite recipes and books, there's plenty of fun planned for the podcast this season. Season 2 will include four episodes a month, mixing in shorter Scripture Medit

Cookbook Chronicles is an on-going series at The Bookery. Over the course of the next year, we’re exploring The Pioneer Woman’s (Ree Drummond) latest cookbook, The Essential Recipes , cooking one recipe a month and sharing our thoughts.  For a while, I pretty much gave up on making the perfect waffle at home. I like my waffles tender on the inside, but perfectly crisp on the outside — and every time I attempted to make them at home, the waffles turned out limp and lackluster.

A church potluck favorite, featuring broccoli, bacon and creamy dressing I personally love broccoli salad. I know broccoli can be polarizing — you either like it or you don’t and few people are ambivalent about this cruciferous vegetable. But for me, this salad was a favorite side dish at church potlucks when I was growing up.  This version features raisins (another polarizing ingredient!), sunflower seeds, onion and crispy fried and crumbled bacon. It takes a few steps and a

Biblical forgiveness is an intentional choice to let go of malice. If we were listing out God’s characteristics, I think most of us would find “forgiving” somewhere on the list. In fact, in Exodus 34:6-7, it’s a characteristic God claims for himself.  As believers, we know that it is because of God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness, made clear in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, that we can be saved and live in daily relationship with our Creator.  But, in our world, w

Four cookbooks (or books about cooking) we’re looking forward to in 2026 I love cookbooks, and I come by it honestly. My mom has a big collection of cookbooks, and when we go to antique shops together, we often find ourselves thumbing through cookbooks looking for old community or church cookbooks (where you’re sure to find some great recipes from excellent home cooks).  A lot of amazing cookbooks and books about cooking are coming out in the next few months, but here are a f

Looking for new recipes to liven up your dinner table? We’ve got five you should give a try! Figuring out what to make for dinner can be the hardest decision of the day sometimes. So, to help make the daily shuffle a little easier, we’re exploring a few new dinner ideas to add in to your weekly rotation.  Italian Chicken Gnocchi Soup As we begin the slow transition from winter to spring, there’s nothing better for dinner than a hearty bowl of soup. This recipe from Tieghan Ge

What’s the big deal about Wuthering Heights? Exploring the back story of Emily Bronte’s classic gothic novel Not long ago, while sitting in a darkened theater waiting for the movie to begin, I saw the trailer for the upcoming film adaptation of Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie and hitting theaters on February 13.  I remember turning to my friend and whispering, “Oh, it’s Wuthering Heights. . . I’m not sure this movie will be anything like the book.”  There’s been a l

Five new lunch recipes to amp up your lunches this winter Ready to liven up your lunchtime menus? If you’re anything like me, you’re always on the lookout for healthy lunch options that are easy to whip up on a busy work-from-home day or transport well for those days in the office. Let’s explore a few new lunch ideas, starting with these.  Mediterranean Chicken and Quinoa Bowl Mealime, a meal-planning app, is an old favorite for me, but this recipe has become a staple in my l

An easy fruit salad that’s a pretty addition to any table In my family, Christmas morning usually involves a brunch/late breakfast — and no matter what time we’re eating, fruit salad is usually on the table.  Honestly, though, even before my little branch of the family started doing Christmas morning brunches, we often gathered at my Aunt Carol’s house on or around Christmas to celebrate with my mom’s side of the family. And no matter when we were eating, fruit salad generall

We’re highlighting a few of our favorite pie recipes  Pies are definitely worth celebrating, so today, we’re highlighting a few of our favorite pie recipes. So, if you’re looking for a new recipe or a tried-and-true favorite, we’ve got a few suggestions for you!  Chocolate Chip Pie This pie is like a warm chocolate chip cookie in a crust. What’s not to like? It’s also super simple to make, especially if you use a store-bought pie shell. You simple mix together the ingredients

Three audiobooks to add to your playlist Listening to a book is a different experience than physically reading one, but sometimes audiobooks add to the experience, giving you encounter the characters and narrative in a different way than you would if you were just reading it on the page. If you’re looking for a few literary listens to liven up your digital library, here are a few we’d encourage you to give a listen!  The Correspondent Virginia Evans With 10 weeks on top of th