Beyond the Flap

Julia Dinsmore: Poetically Bridging Class Divides
Beyond the Flap

Julia Dinsmore: Poetically Bridging Class Divides

by Naomi Krueger

The causes of poverty are as complex as they are diverse and simultaneously personal and systemic. Many books have been written about people in poverty, but not many have been written by people in poverty. Poet, singer, and educator Julia Dinsmore, still working to overcome poverty’s challenges, hopes to transform others’ view of people experiencing poverty, through her personal story and her book, My Name is Child of God . . . Not “Those People.” […]

Jill Biden: The Power of a Story
Beyond the Flap

Jill Biden: The Power of a Story

by Terri Barnes

Jill Biden believes in the difference books make. Her mother and grandmother taught her to love books and library visits. As a girl, she often read late into the night, and now Biden encourages her students to be readers and writers. In addition to serving as the US’s Second Lady, Biden is the author of a children’s book, community college English teacher, military mom, and military family advocate who recognizes the power of a story to enrich the lives of children. […]

Gary Mazzone: Matchmaking Books & Bulk Buyers
Beyond the Flap

Gary Mazzone: Matchmaking Books & Bulk Buyers

by Karen Pavlicin-Fragnito

There was a point a few months ago when Gary Mazzone couldn’t see his fireplace. A stack of books, mostly advance reader copies (ARCs) from hopeful publishers, filled his living room. It is a recurring theme, but the literary clutter doesn’t last long. For the past two years, Gary has made it his mission to build and create partnerships within his community by helping organizations buy meaningful books in bulk. […]