First, John and I have blogs up on GodSpy, follow-ups to the pope’s visit to the United States: Mine is After the Pope: Time to Hit the Books? John’s is on the front page as I write this: Gazing Upwards: The Pope’s Homily at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

And thanks to Kathleen Lundquist for the heads-up on an ongoing and vibrant conversation taking place over on Inside Catholic, the Crisis magazine website. The original blog is by Todd Aglioloro and entitled, “Whatever Happened to Popular Catholic Fiction?” There are numerous comments, including a couple by me.

Tags: Catholic fiction, Debra Murphy, Godspy, John Murphy

Speaking of blogging on the pope’s visit to the U.S.–see our news below about our John on Godspy.com

–out good friend Lisa Hendey of CatholicMom.com is scheduled to appear Saturday on CNN to discuss the topic of Catholic blogging on the pope’s visit. The time (barring breaking news, Lisa added in her e-mail, like earthquakes in the Midwest!) is 11:30 a.m. EST, 8:30 a.m. Pacific.

Lisa also asks for prayers…Godspeed, Lisa!

Idylls Press illustrator and book designer John Murphy has copped the enviable job of flying to Washington D.C. and New York this week to blog for GodSpy on Pope Benedict’s visit to America. John’s first post, America: Encounter the Pope can be read here. His latest posts will appear on the GodSpy front page.

Tags: Godspy, John Murphy, Pope Benedict XVI

Here’s a fun speculation from a Jewish blogger: the idea that JRR Tolkien was inspired by the Purim story related in the Book of Esther for the main plot of The Lord of the Rings.

No question, JRRT knew his Bible very well. (Or, as the writing teachers like to say, “Steal, but only from the best!”)

IT’S UP! LISTEN TO A FABULOUS AUDIOBOOK READING BY SYLVIA DORHAM OF MAUREEN MCQUERRY’S WOLFPROOF, NOW ON CATHOLIC RADIO INTERNATIONAL.

Great news for Idylls Press readers and audio/bibliophiles: Maureen McQuerry’s Narnia-esque fantasy, Wolfproof, has begun to air on Catholic Radio International. New chapters will appear on CRI’s Cover to Cover program every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings, so check back regularly to listen to the next segment!