Happy MLK Day! Every year, Martin Luther King Jr. is celebrated on the third Monday in January. Growing up, I knew the basics of MLK. I also knew it was a day I got off from school. But as I grew older in age and wisdom I have come to really appreciate Dr. King and all he did for our country. I’ve … Read More
Blake & Beckner 100 Book Club Challenge
We are excited to announce the Blake & Beckner 100 Book Club Challenge! We are challenging ourselves to meet with 100 Book Clubs that choose to read Remember Us to discuss and answer any questions. Layne and I (Lindsay) will make ourselves available to you, our reading audience. If possible, we are happy to come in person! Layne lives in … Read More
Pen Names and Other Games
I’ve been asked again and again why I’m writing under a pen name – Layne James. And the answer is simply thus: I want to. I’ve always known I’d write in some sort of official capacity and for as long as I’ve known that, I’ve known I’d choose a pseudonym. Perhaps it’s because so many authors I love have already … Read More
Goal Accomplished 2018
When I first met the Beckner half, nearly 10 years ago, she told me she had a goal of reading 52 books in a year – a book for each week of the year. I remember thinking how lofty of a goal that sounded and made it a point to someday accomplish it. I’ve always been a reader, from a … Read More
Books Read 2018
As you may remember, I (Layne) have a goal of reading 52 books a year. I’ve been attempting this since I graduated university, but it isn’t as easy to find time to read in adult life and most years I would only read around 38 books. It’s not like when I was a kid when I easily read more like … Read More
An Advent of Books
So the punchline is: some of our friends collaborated to compile an “Advent of Books” for our Bèbè this year. What?! Yes, you read that correctly, they coordinated, conspired, and compiled a collection of books so he can open one every day between December 1 and Christmas Eve. Opening a book every single day? Yes, please. He’s basically living my … Read More
Books Read//First Half of 2018
For those of you who don’t know, my goal is to read 52 books a year. I rarely accomplish this, but still I adore having goals. Between grad school, working full-time, and trying to get our book launched (publication date is January 22, 2019 – mark your calendars!), reading has often taken a back burner in life this year. That … Read More
Under the Influence
In photography there is a thing known has “finding your voice.“ It means finding your own unique photo style, the way you want to tell stories to the world with your camera. Many times photographers simply imitate someone else’s style and photography. (In fact, most photographers I see today look like a dozen other photographers out there.) Finding your own voice … Read More
The Heart’s Invisible Furies I Book Review
The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne has been getting rave reviews everywhere I’ve seen it posted, so I was stoked to finally get my hands on a copy. (Thank you, library.) The whole time I was reading this book (all 850 pages of it), I was thinking, “Wow, I can’t wait to review this!” It opens with a bang: … Read More
Rooted
We asked our followers on Instagram if anyone was interested in being a guest blogger on Blake & Beckner. Cassandra submitted her poem, Rooted, and we had to share this young talent with you all. Cass is 17-years-old and loves to read and write. She started her blog as a form of self expression and a way to talk about anything … Read More