The story of a school that refused to die, in a city that almost did.

Great ideas from one tough school

On writing, reporting, creating, and grafting apple trees. Some hints and suggestions for the writing life.

Recently, I was interviewed by Daniel Ford for The Writer’s Bone podcast, a place for conversations about books, writing and the love of words. We talked about why, and how, I wrote “On This Ground.” Take a listen. Go to writersbone.com and look for the March 13, 2026 episode.

On Thursday, Feb. 26, I’ll be at the Newark Public Library for a conversation with the inimitable Father Edwin Leahy and Mark Comesanas, executive director of My Brothers Keeper Network Newark. We'll explore the many ways the city of Newark has shaped Newark Abbey and St. Benedict's, and the ways the monks' resilience and loyalty have rubbed off on Newark. If you can't get to Newark, register to join by Zoom ( HTTPS://BIT.LY/NJPACNHS226 . The program will later be posted on