Happy Anniversary to Me!
Beyond the Bookshelf is One Year Old!
Exploring Life and Literature.
Dear friends,
For years, I participated in different social media groups related to reading and belonged to several websites focused on books and book reviews. None of them filled the need I had for a deeper relationship with reading and other readers. Last fall,
posted a note on his Instagram account that he was moving his reading groups to a new platform, one that allowed for long-form essays and closer engagement with readers. I decided to check out what he was doing and realized very quickly this style of engagement with readers closely aligned with my interests.My dream was to write about books. Reading is an integral part of my life and has always been so. I believe the books we read impact and influence our lives. I also believe our unique life circumstances often lead us to choose specific books. These intermingled threads of serendipity and fate mold and shape our minds and thoughts. As readers and thinkers, it behooves us to curate with care those things we read while allowing for the joyous happenstance of chance to bring the occasional surprise into our repertoire. Our lives are intimately woven together with the literature we read, and as we explore both life and literature, we discover themes and threads that create an overarching picture binding us together in this special vocation of humanity.
This year of magical writing (to steal a small idea from Joan Didion) was much more impactful than I could have imagined. I am continually amazed by the community of readers and writers I have come to know and love. As we celebrate the first anniversary of sending my writing out into the world, I want to say thank you for letting me share a small part of your week as we explore beyond the bookshelf together.
Why do I write
Writing is the medium that allows me to express my thoughts most accurately. It enables me to work out the complex web of ideas and emotions that would otherwise find no outlet. Writing creates a permanence to my thoughts and establishes a bond between myself and my reader. As a deeply introverted individual who often struggles to make personal connections, writing is an avenue to relationships and community I might not otherwise find.
Reading helps me work through emotional issues and challenging periods in my life. Writing about literature allows me to explore those challenges and the depths of my humanity. I have often seen myself in characters and related to them in ways that were difficult with the people around me. The beautiful and frankly unexpected thing about writing is the door it opened in my soul. Publishing these weekly essays is cathartic. Writing allows me to take my love for reading and writing into a new realm and share it with others. As someone passionate about lifelong learning, writing these essays broadens my understanding of the literary world, opening my mind to the myriad ways literature directly influences our lives. I now feel that I am part of something bigger and more important than myself.
Community
As much as I love reading and writing, the community is why I continue publishing weekly. I could easily read and write in the silence of my home, but I couldn’t find a connection with others in that way. Understanding the ties that bind us all together and exploring our shared humanity is a primary goal in my literary pursuits.
This publication has grown through your love and support. Finding a community of readers and writers who shared my love for life and literature has been the greatest blessing. Writing isn’t easy, especially when the topics are personal and difficult. The community keeps me motivated. If something I write can help even one person realize they are not alone in whatever struggle they might have, then it is all worth it.
I would like to take a moment to say Thank You to a few individuals who have really made a difference in this journey.
is the brilliant author and teacher who led me to this platform when he moved his work here. He has a similar passion for slowly and deeply reading great literary works. I encourage you to check out his publication, Footnotes and Tangents.
(aka Barrie) has been a friend, confidante, and encourager since I first started writing. His support has been invaluable. While his superpower is encouragement, he is also a pretty great writer. Check out his publication, Just Write, Right, for some excellent original work.
and I met early on in our writing adventure and bonded over a mutual love for literature. We have supported and encouraged each other as we have grown along the way. Having people who believe in what you are doing and encourage you through growth is a true gift. Tiffany writes her own delightful publication, Notes from the Town Hermit, and also manages the Asian Writers Collective which highlights the literary contributions of Asian writers.
Many other talented writers have encouraged and supported me during this first year; far too many people to name. This is an amazing community of creative minds.
Seth Burton and Cheryl D’Andrea are my two True Believers. These two individuals have subscribed to my work at the highest tier, which provides tremendous encouragement to me. I met both of these wonderful humans while serving in the Navy. They are phenomenal leaders and I am grateful for their support.
A huge shoutout and thank you to the 36 other people who have so graciously given their support through a paid subscription. It is an enormous boost to my confidence and morale to know you believe in my work enough to spend not only your time but your hard-earned resources. Thank you.
My parents, Mike and Therese, instilled in me a love of reading and writing from an early age. They have believed in and supported me my entire life. Everything good in me comes from them. Thank you, Mom and Dad. I love you.
Thank you to my wife, Jannett, and children, David and Anamaria, for supporting me from the start of this passion project. They will attest to the long hours I spend working on my reading, research, and writing.
To each of my 1,500+ subscribers, Thank You! You have invested something in me, whether it is your time, money, or both. I am grateful for all of it.
So, what’s coming up for year two?
In the months ahead, we have some exciting content coming your way:
November—I can’t wait to share all about coffee! I will review the book Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How it Transformed Our World by Mark Pendergrast. We will also take a look at how coffee and literature are so closely intertwined. The Steinbeck Review #10 will wrap up the month.
December and January are focused on lifelong learning. I will share my thoughts on this topic, including the development of my own curriculum for self-education, how we can develop a personal literary canon, and why it is crucial to never stop learning. I also have several guest authors who will share their perspectives on this topic.
Heading into 2025, I have so much in store for the coming year, but some of the highlights include learning about the magic of short stories through Jorge Luis Borges's writing, a critical look at the disease of cancer through the Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Emperor of All Maladies, and exploring the vital role of libraries in civilization.
Finally, I am officially announcing the Deep Reads Book Club! This past year, I shared my personal deep read of the complete works of John Steinbeck. In 2025, we will take on the classic works of Homer—The Iliad and The Odyssey. This will be a separate weekly newsletter that will come out on Fridays. In a few weeks, I will have more information on this in a dedicated note. I am excited about this project and hope you will join me in reading these works together.
Publication Schedule
I have already transitioned to some of this schedule, but below is what you can expect going forward.
Publication Schedule
Beyond the Bookshelf (every Tuesday morning at 0500 Central Time)
Week 1—An informational essay on our monthly theme which may sometimes include a book review or profile of an author.
Week 2—A more personal essay on our monthly theme and how it relates to my life—may also include random musings or walks with Lola (my dog).
Week 3—A guest post from someone in our community on the monthly theme and how it relates to their life. If you want to be a part of this, please reach out—you don’t need to be a professional writer.
Week 4—My monthly Commonplace collection, where I curate links, quotes, books, music, TV, movies, and random things that I think you might find interesting.
Week 5—If we are lucky enough to get five weeks in the month, then you will get a bonus essay of some random sort on week four.
Deep Reads Book Club (every Friday morning at 0500 Central Time)
Starting January 3rd, each week will bring a discussion on the current book club read. For 2025 we will be reading Homer and will start with The Iliad. A detailed reading schedule will be published so you can follow along if desired.
Supporting my work
I am tremendously grateful for my readers and the community we are building here. The first and best way to support my work is to share it with others! Do you know someone who loves reading and might enjoy this publication? Please share this article or any of my previous articles with them.
Paid Philosophy—I have thought about this a lot over the past year as I tried to discern my personal approach to it. In the end, I decided that I don’t like paywalls, and I don’t want them to be a part of my publication. Everything I write is and will continue to be open to everyone. I realize there are a lot of demands on our financial resources, and everyone’s situation is different. I don’t want there to be a barrier to access.
Having said that, it is every writer’s dream to make a living writing. If you have the financial means, love what I do, and desire to support me with a paid subscription, that is truly appreciated.
During the first year, I handed out a number of Comps. These were gifted subscriptions to family and friends because I thought I would eventually add a paywall. I don’t intend to do any more Comps simply because everything is available for free.
Membership Options
Free Subscriber—You can sign up to receive the weekly essays with no financial obligation. I am grateful to have you along for the journey.
Paid Subscriptions—If you have the financial means and the desire to do so, you can support this publication with a paid subscription. I have created a few different tiers, so you have options to pay what you desire. Use any of the links below to subscribe at the rate you prefer.
Substack Writers, Military/Veterans, and First Responders—I have a special offer available if you would like to support my writing. As a veteran and a writer these groups hold a special place in my heart. Feel free to use the link below.
True Believers—These are the people who see my vision for this publication and have the means and desire to support that in a philanthropic way. True Believers have more access to reach out to me personally when they wish. They also receive a copy of my Book of the Year selection, a handwritten note, and personalized book recommendations upon request.
Subscriber chat
I have created a new feature recently which is a chat channel. I will periodically post discussion topics here for anyone interested.
Feedback
Finally, I would love to hear from you in the poll below or in the comments regarding the things you enjoy reading here. What resonates the most with you of all the different types of articles I publish? Thanks for your feedback and for being a part of this amazing community.
What a year it has been. Again, thank you to each and every one of you who has subscribed to this publication and supported me through your reading, sharing, comments, or a paid subscription.
Congratulations! I too began on Substack writing weekly essays exactly one year ago. It’s been incredibly rewarding to hold myself to a regular practice. I’ve just finished reading “there are rivers in the sky, “by Elif Shafak and I’m now ready to do a deep dive into all things Gilgamesh. So I completely understand your desire to focus on the Iliad . It will be so fun.
I am touched, beyond measure, with the kindness of the recognition in your words. Thank you, Matt. It was a joy to connect on a call and it has been a privilege to follow your journey. Your writing is excellent, of course, but your spirit of curiosity is astonishing. You weave in generosity in the way you share and so it is no surprise at all to see and feel community gathering around you. As someone who has also emerged from long years of Service where the community is already in place and we slide effortlessly into collections of folk cut from the same cloth, I recognise the (healthy) transition to be made, when we start to explore uplifting worlds where folk are united by other things - a love of words, great writers, art, and values we haven’t expressed fully in our ‘world of work’ lives. It takes courage to plunge into those new worlds and to make a mark; humbly, without fanfare, but through consistency, openness and meaningful comment. I admire what you are doing, and I love that you have created a vehicle for the next stage of life. Bravo. Delighted to be walking the road with you. Barrie