Kathleen Fox

Kathleen Fox is a wanderer, happiest when her van is packed, her dogs are snoring in the passenger seat, and the road ahead promises at least three good stories and one questionable decision. An explorer of back roads, small towns, and the wonderfully weird corners of the world, Fox grounds her fictional work in underrepresented rural voices and unexpected moments that only “van life” brings.

When she’s not chasing horizons or trading puns with her husband, Fox calls the coast of South Carolina home. She is the author of two children’s books, and Evie Walters Takes the Wheelis her first novel.

Recently I asked the author about what she was reading. Fox's reply:

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth. The voice alone is worth the read. So is precocious seven-year-old Persephone, who will steal your heart much like she does that of the main character, 81-year-old Elsie—aka Mabel.

Full disclosure: I didn’t love Mabel at first. She’s unfiltered and snarky, but after a few chapters, I’d follow her anywhere. The book is clever, funny, and full of heart, and I’m thrilled that we’re finally seeing some kick-ass older characters rule the pages of fiction.

***

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. This was my first fantasy read—a dare, actually, from a fantasy reader. I’d read a fantasy novel if he read a women’s fiction novel. Fair trade.

The Name of the Wind intimidated me at first with its 661 pages, but holy smokes! I quickly got sucked into its wonderful world. And who knew fantasy could be so darn funny? I stayed up a few nights turning pages just to see what happened next. The characters were fresh and interesting, and the world-building was wildly imaginative. I can see why this genre is so popular.

And yes, I’ve already ordered the next book in Rothfuss’s series.

***

Hold the Field by Jody Sloane. I met Sloane, a stand-up comedian, while on a cross-country adventure in our camper van. Her nonfiction book is all about reading a room, staying present in it, and not disappearing or getting swept up by other personalities and agendas.

I wish this book had been around twenty years ago. It’s an insightful read—I highlighted or marked up most of it. Sloane peppers the book with comic relief and personal stories from her interesting life, helping readers grasp some pretty important concepts.

I spent a while with this book and found myself learning far more than I expected to about myself.

Visit Kathleen Fox's website.

--Marshal Zeringue