The Hidden by Kathryn Mackel (Westbow, 2006) is the story of psychologist Susan Stone who returns to her home, a Colorado horse ranch, when her father falls ill. Soon her bossy competence is rubbing everyone the wrong way, including her father, with whom her relationship was always problematical. Escaping a wrenching emotional scene, Susan races across the highlands on a spirited stallion and is thrown into a deep chasm, where she discovers an odd, androgynous young man and brings him back to the house. Is her young charge an angel? A demon? The sheriff, an old lover of Susan's, checks in: there has been a murder. And then there is a series of them, all bizarre, all perhaps linked to the strange young man (from Booklist).

Kathy's successful experiences as a Hollywood screenwriter makes this read a page turner, filled with images that both provoke awe and trembling. This edition of Christian fiction doesn't apologize for the faith journeys of its characters, and includes them in a natural, yet somewhat predictable, way.

Kathy's love for story romances her readers.

By the Light of the Moon by Dean Koontz (2003) was recommended to me by one of my students at St. Petersburg College. It was one of the resources she used when researching the disability of autism for a project I assigned. This suspenseful thriller takes the reader on a fast paced journey with two adult brothers (one with autism), Dylan and Shep,towards an evolution thrust upon them by a mad scientist. They are accompanied by a comedienne named Jill (who reminds me of Kathy Griffin) who has also been injected with a serum that produces bizzare effects. The character growth in this novel is heart warmingly monumental and the plot justifiably fast paced. Koontz left room for a sequel at the end, and I can't wait for the eventual next installment. He produced one of the most authentic character portrayals of autism that I've ever seen. This character is not the lovable Ray, Dustin Hoffman portrayed in Rain Man, but he comes close.

Even if you have no interest in autism, this is a great read. Koontz fans will be caught up in a world that offers one surprise after another.

Teacher Man is Frank McCourt's (Angela's Ashes and 'Tis) newest release. This memoir is strikenly different than his previous offerings. His style is more reflective and less narrative. There are so many acceptable formats for narrative non fiction and this one seems to offer one more. McCourt taught in the New York City Public School system as well as at the university level for more than 30 years. His initial reluctance reminded me of the story in Mr. Holland's Opus. This book spoke to me on many personal levels: I am from New York City, having been born and raised in Staten Island (one of the five boroughs) where McCourt began his teaching career at McKee Technical-Vocational school (where my own father went to school to become a licensed plumber and join the family business).

As a teacher myself I can feel his agony at apathetic students and the feeling that no matter what you do, you're not making a difference. The desire to make a difference is strong in teachers, whether they chose the career or the career chose them. His passion to make his subject come alive and to get his students to think outside the box inspired me just as Robin Williams' teacher portrayal in Dead Poet's Society.

McCourt learned "on the fly" how to teach well and he admits that is how he learned how to write well too. That encourages me as I begin work on my own first novel and pour over every book on writing fiction I can get my hands on. The mystery of the "art" of writing, like the art of teaching, attracts me and somehow elevates it to a more spiritual pursuit.

Even though this book is not the traditional tale with a strong plot, there is a character arc that would do well if translated onto the silver screen. It's been a while since there's been a good movie about teaching - I wouldn't be surprised if this one is the next one.

If you could tell us about a teacher who made a difference in your life, who would it be and why?

Bella Tuscany by Frances Mayes is the follow up to her best selling memoir, Under the Tuscan Sun (1997). Mayes invites us to live with her seasonally in Cortona, Italy in and around her beloved home, Bramasole. This book focuses more on the gardens created by Mayes and her husband as well as their travels to many other villages from Venice to Rome in search of house wines, plantings, ironwork, and linens needed to furnish their Italian homestead. The relationships initially formed and revealed to us from Under the Tuscan Sun are further explored in this book. The pace of life here is delicious and delivers a much sought after sense of peace that every American I know seems to search for and yet never find. I loved Under the Tuscan Sun more than this installment of living in Italy because it spoke to the romantic side of me.

It is a dream my husband, Chip, and I share to someday spend part of the year living there. Years ago when we went to Florence, Italy and stayed at the Grand Hotel Minerva that we discovered a surprising sense of "home" that we didn't feel anywhere else. What gives you that difficult to even describe sense of "Yes, this is it. This is where I belong."?