Author Shelley Adina and Adina Senft

The Sweetest Song: Out today!

posted on August 25, 2021

The sweetest song comes from a forgiving heart. —Whinburg Township Amish proverb The summer Simon Yoder broke her heart was the summer Cora Swarey lost her ability to hear the music in Colorado’s high country. She thought God had brought them together, but when Simon dropped her to pursue an Englisch woman, she wondered how she’d ever…

The Sweetest Song: 2nd excerpt

posted on August 21, 2021

Cont’d from August 14 post Well, she would not let him do that to her again. The past was firmly in the past, and forgiven if not forgotten, and he was nothing to her now. The kitchen helpers departed during the last hymn to make their final preparations for the food to come out. After…

The Sweetest Song: Excerpt

posted on August 14, 2021

Chapter One Willow Creek, Whinburg Township, Pennsylvania Late December A wedding was a lot like Christmas, Cora Swarey had always thought. Both involved giving, and family, and a lot of good food. But while the focus of Christmas was on the little baby who would change the world, the focus of a wedding was on…

Viva voce: done!

posted on August 7, 2021

I’m thrilled and delighted to share with you all that I defended my dissertation, Holy City, on July 26 and have achieved my PhD in Creative Writing! I “passed with minor corrections,” which everyone gets in the Creative Writing program. It simply means I’ll get a revision letter, make the changes they suggest, and turn it in. Once…

Viva Voce: Dry run

posted on July 13, 2021

What we would call the dissertation/thesis defense in the States is called a “viva voce” in the UK, where I’m earning my PhD in Creative Writing. My viva is scheduled for July 26, but this morning, my supervisor and I had a dry run, where he asked me the kinds of questions the examiners might…