Happy to report that I’ve survived a week of solo parenting, including a stretch where not one but both of our vehicles were in the shop. The afterschool activities—cheer, theater, working out at the Y, piano, oboe, doctor’s appointments, more cheer, and also more cheer—just about did me in. Thanks to friends (and friends with greyhounds) who helped me out a couple of times!
Every kid made it where they needed to be, and mostly on time, but I did fall hopelessly behind in emails. I will quite possibly never recover. Before the weekend arrives, though, I wanted to share a few things with you all.
First off, tomorrow is the first-ever ArtPrize book festival! The graphic says 11am, but it really gets started at noon. Featured authors include Christopher Cosmos (historical fiction) Elizabeth Cosmos (picture book) Sonia Hartl (romance) Caitlin Horrocks (fiction) W. Todd Kaneko (Poetry) Christopher Kemp (psychology) Tim Kleyn (Picture book) Cathy LaPointe Blundy (Poetry) A.R. Moxon (scifi) Oindrila Mukherjee (fiction) Lindsay Smith Zrull (YA), and myself! Come find us at 2 Fulton W.
**Updated with sone fun local media coverage: https://www.fox17online.com/morning-mix/artprize-and-schuler-books-are-teaming-up-to-host-a-bookfair-on-saturday
In other news, I wanted to share here an update on what I’ll be up to next year, along with an invitation to fellow academics. I’ll be heading back to Notre Dame! Thanks to Mike Rea, Laura Callahan, and the Center for Philosophy of Religion, I’ll be working with a group of scholars on topics related to religion and democracy. See their website for more details if you’re interested in applying. Huge thanks to Calvin for being so supportive of this plan, and yes, I fully intend to return to Calvin at the end of the year! (I’ll be commuting—the Du Mez family will be carrying on in GR.)
Speaking of Notre Dame, a reminder that Notre Dame’s Seminar in American Religion on October 7 is free and open to the public. The subject of the day is Lerone Martin’s fabulous book on Christian nationalism and the FBI. I’ll be responding, as will Darren Dochuk. If you haven’t been to a Cushwa event before, it’s a great place to talk religious history and meet religious historians, religion journalists, and leading scholars in the field. And, Notre Dame’s campus is stunning in the fall.
A couple additional updates: We now have an event location for the November 2 Still Processing event. I’ll be interviewed by Josh Vis on the topic of Christian nationalism at Warehouse 6 in Holland, at 7pm. Free and open to the public, but space is limited, so you might want to get there a little early.
November’s a busy month: I’ll also be speaking at the People’s Church of East Lansing on November 12, both at the 10:45 morning service and that afternoon from 1-3pm.
And, we now have a time and location for our San Antonio event: Aimee Byrd, Mike Bird, Beth Allison Barr, and I will be doing a public Q&A (3-4pm) and book signing (4-5pm) at Travis Park Church on Saturday, November 18. (It is a 13-minute walk from the AAR convention center.) Thanks to Zondervan for sponsoring this event!
I think that’s all!
KDM
I enjoyed The Gospel of J. Edgar Hoover. I'm glad you will be engaging with Darren Dochuk. He grew up a block from my home in Edmonton, Alberta (though a couple of decades later). I hope Grand Rapids and South Bend aren't too far apart. This will be an exciting year for you.