“A Book Is a Sneeze"

When E.B. White (who readers of this blog will know is one of my favorites) was asked why he wrote the classic, Charlotte's Web, he answered, “I haven’t told why I wrote the book, but I haven't told you why I sneeze, either. A book is a sneeze.”

I don’t plan to follow this metaphor any further—it’s already fairly gross. But you get the idea—you can no more let a book sit unwritten if the story is in you than you can suppress a sneeze. Writing a book is not just something to do—it’s something that must be done. 

I’ve spent most of my time in this blog thus far talking about books that others have created. But recently I was asked which books I have worked on over my career (I’m an editor, you know) that I’m most proud of, and the question caught me off guard. 

I rarely talk about the books I’m proud of. It’s an editor thing, I think—we labor in the background, we make other people’s words shine, and we don’t take a lot of credit for it. The occasional mention in an author’s acknowledgments is like a beam of light from the heavens—“You like me, you really like me!”

So it got me thinking about books I have worked on that I am proud of. And it turns out, there are many! And you know what you should do, dear readers? Read them, of course! These writers gave their all to these titles. It was my privilege to help them shape things up, or to create those things out of air, depending. I consider it an honor to help someone tell their story. And if I do nothing else in this life (although there is a lot more I’d like to do), I have done this. These books exist and they can help others. That is not nothing, as I like to say.

So, a list (by no means exhaustive!):

Gathering Shards, by Murray Bodo (Memoir) This book is by poet Murray Bodo. He also happens to be a priest. But when people ask me, “Who’s he?” poet is the first word that comes to mind.  A beautiful writer. Reading his words is like sitting down with your favorite person for a quiet chat.

As Sure As Tomorrow Comes, by Danielle & Christopher Jones  (Memoir) Danielle and Christopher Jones have been through hell and back again, more than once. This is their story. They never quit, they never lose hope. We could all use some of that inspiration in our lives.

Wendell Berry and the Given Life, by Ragan Sutterfield (Nonfiction) Wendell Berry is one of my favorite writers of all time. Farmer. Kentuckian. Genius. It was an honor to work on a book about him!

The Crossings, by Barry Kienzle (Novel) Barry Kienzle is the new E.B. White, as far as I’m concerned. There is a chapter in this book called “The Good Old Summertime” that is an instant classic.

Refuge of the Heart, by Ruth Logan Herne (Novel) “Ruthy,” as everyone calls her, is a master at writing about love. Who couldn’t use more of that in their world?

Art 101, from Adams Media (Nonfiction) This book was just a blast to work on. I am very passionate about art and art history, and Adams puts together great overviews like this one.

If you read any one of these books, and appreciate them, get something from them, then I am happy to have been the Charlotte to someone else’s Wilbur.

As ever, happy reading!