Beyond the Flap
by Karen Pavlicin-Fragnito
Third-generation military wife Terri Barnes writes transparent, personal, and emotionally universal messages that have made her weekly Stars and Stripes column, Spouse Calls, the newspaper’s longest-running military life column. The relevance of her writing to both military and civilian readers led to her first book, and Terri is both humbled and excited by the effect her book is having in diverse communities to stir conversation and increase understanding of military life. […]
Community Connection
by Karen Pavlicin-Fragnito
In our January issue, we brought you the backstory of how a children’s book author prompted a new day in court for a group of civil rights activists known as the Friendship Nine, half a century after they served jail time for attempting to sit at a whites-only lunch counter in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Due to the overwhelming response from our readers, this month we bring you coverage of the historical events that followed. […]
Shared Experience
by Karen Pavlicin-Fragnito
Reading Shakespeare in prisons is not new, but doing so in solitary confinement, with those considered to be the most dangerous and hardened inmates, was unheard of—until Laura Bates gave it a try. Laura’s book Shakespeare Saved My Life shares the success of her Supermax program and the transformation of convicted killer Larry Newton. Though he’ll spend his life in prison with no chance of parole, Larry says he’s free. Laura’s book has prompted other prisons to set up similar programs. […]