Fired Up

Maureen and I know a really cool guy by the name of Ted Wojtasik. Ted is a writer, and I have to say, he's pretty awesome. His first book, No Strange Fire, was published in 1996, and it is a fascinating read, combining elements of a true incident (barn burnings in Amish country) with the storytelling devices of a crime novelist and a coming-of-age tale. It is also wonderfully accurate: Ted spent some time living in an Amish community to research their culture, and his effort paid off; the details are so vibrant that it doesn't take too much imagination to see the characters and places in your mind's eye.

I'm lucky enough to have an autographed copy of No Strange Fire. And hanging around Ted has been very inspiring for me throughout the years. But even for those of you who have never encountered him or his work, I still recommend this book, especially if you enjoy a good, well-constructed tale.

Buy through Powell's Books for $14.99.

Picture: Powell's Books.

-Cate-