talking with Kate Hopper about teaching, and a HANDLING gift.

This was me, years ago, teaching children at Chanticleer Garden. They'd come from all over the city and from around the near suburbs. It was our first day. We were working with panoramas. I was already in love—with the kids and with teaching.

Kate Hopper, who has been a dear presence in my life for many years, is a beautiful writer (you'll be reading about her brand-new memoir, Ready for Air, here on October 8), a teacher (she has an entire book her own teaching, Use Your Words), and a mother. We long for the day when we can sit with a bottle of wine and talk in person. For now, we have this conversation, posted today on Kate's magnificent blog, "Motherhood & Words." Kate and I talk about the teacherly life. She asks me questions no one has asked me. And she writes an introduction that made me cry.

Finally, courtesy of Gotham, there is an opportunity to win a free copy of Handling the Truth for those living in the lower 48 states.

Here, then. It all happens here.