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Hello readers & friends! I'm Caitlin, a writer of all sorts of things, but mostly middle grade fiction. As a kid, I dreamed about becoming a detective, a doctor, a wizard, a ballerina, a spy, & on & on & on. So naturally, I settled on becoming a writer where I get to be all those things and more.

Connect with me on Instagram where I talk about life, recommend books, give peeks into my classroom (I'm a high school English teacher by day), and post way too many stories of my literary pets, and if you want more insight to my writing and book recommendations, subscribe to Lost In Story, my newsletter.

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Come follow me @caitlin_lore where I talk about books, life, and share lots of photos of my doxies!

For the last few months, I’ve felt as if I’ve lost my song. • I took a sabbatical from the worship team at church because I’m struggling to lift my song in praise. Literally. Out in the congregation, I find myself mouthing words because I can’t find my voice. • But last Sunday, as I sang about the resurrected life, with both hands lifted & tears streaming down my face, I realized that my tears are my song. • I’ve always been a cryer when it comes to worship. There’s a sensitivity I have to the spirit when I’m in the midst of song to my King, & I’ve been that way since I was a kid. • Part of it might be my HSPness—but I think more of it is that I just feel so deeply connected to the Holy Spirit when I’m worshipping. • But this season, these last several months, I’ve felt stuck in a Friday. We’ve deemed today Good Friday, yet for Christ it was anything but. • He was beaten & mocked. Bloody & Battered. Hung on a cross for sins He didn’t commit. • Today, I find myself lingering in this season of Friday-ness. My soul feeling broken & beat down. Worn & weary from grief. • Grieving my mother-in-law. Grieving our infertility. Grieving lost dreams & unanswered prayers. Grieving a space of feeling unseen & isolated. • • But despite my grief & seemingly lost song, I know, deep down, that this Friday-ness won’t last long. Or so my tears tell me. • Because we see the ashes of defeat, but it’s from those ashes that He rose. • The victory of a resurrected life for us. • My tears aren’t singing grief but the aliveness of my soul in His victory. I, too, am being resurrected. Sunday is coming. • “Your name, Your name is victory All praise, will rise to Christ our King // By Your spirit I will rise From the ashes of defeat The resurrected King, is resurrecting me In Your name I come alive To declare Your victory The resurrected King, is resurrecting me” • -“Resurrecting”, Elevation Worship • • #lifewithcait #thisresurrectedlife #goodfriday #mynextrightthing #cultivatewhatmatters
It’s #nationalpetday so I just had to share these fur balls. • How they drive me crazy. How I love them. • • #gatsbythegreatdoxie #darthdaisythedoxielord #literarypets #dachshund #dachshundsofinstagram #doxie #doxiesofinstagram #minidachshund
NYC day 2 con’t || #latergram • Never in my wildest dream could I have imagined this night. • A week or so before we left, I discovered my favorite painting of all time was at the MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) after thinking it was off in Europe or something. I knew I had to see it, just to experience it. • Then, we discovered Friday nights at the MOMA were free so it seemed like fate. We were meant to see this painting on this retreat of inspiration. • I knew I’d be emotional, but I had no idea I would start crying the minute I came around the wall and saw The Starry Night with my own eyes. We have a history—this painting and I. • Despite the throng of people, I stood on the edge, taking in the Van Gogh, & overcome with its beauty, let the tears flow freely. • The docent standing guard waved me over & asked if it was my first time seeing it. I smiled, & nodded, wiping away my tears. He was moved by my emotions, he said, and was going to give me a series of questions. If answered correctly, I could get as close as humanly possible to the painting for a picture. • It didn’t register, but I said okay. • He asked all sorts of questions about Van Gogh & the painting, & after the original four, kept going because he was just feeling my joy. Together with @karly_alexandra & @jennahermle12, we answered enough correctly so I could get my photo. I walked to the center to get it all in my camera frame & snapped it, but when I turned around he said “give it to your friends.” Finally, it registered when he walkied security to TURN OFF THE ALARMS ON THE VAN GOGH so I could stand by it for a photo—something that’s just not typically done. • Then, of course, I accidentally touched it with my shoulder & he was all “careful that’s a 713 million dollar painting.” • I won’t forget this. In fact, it’s actually going to be a scene in my newest novel. • Except—my character might steal it. • “I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of stars makes me dream.” -Van Gogh • • #lifewithcait #notesfromawritersdesk #writingtravelswithcait #writingretreat #literarytrip #nyc #newyorkcity #writingcommunity #writer #amwriting #vangogh #moma #thestarrynight
NYC day 2 || #latergram • My second day in the city brought the whole reason for our adventure in the first place: Tolkien: Maker of Middle Earth. • Though, of course the day started with coffee at a fun little joint, & then a nice walk to The Morgan Library where we immersed ourselves in Tolkien’s world. • Though I wasn’t able to take pictures inside the exhibit, it will stay with me for the rest of my life. I had no idea how much of an artist he was, & most of the time I couldn’t believe I was standing in front of such amazing original drawings & manuscripts. • And the maps!! *swoon* This exhibit was a Tolkien/fantasy lover’s dream, & most likely a once in a lifetime experience that I’m so glad I had the chance to see. Someday I’ll travel to Oxford... • As a writer, his own work & research & drawings were an inspiration to my own writing, & I feel renewed to jump back into my own little fantasy world. • We didn’t think anything would top this exhibit, but nonetheless, set out on another walking adventure which led us to Books of Wonder, a fantabulous children’s bookstore where I hope someday, my own book may reside, and the Housing Works cafe and bookstore so we could debrief. • Day 2 drew me more into the city and my imagination, but it also had one more surprise in store... • • #lifewithcait #notesfromawritersdesk #writingtravelswithcait #writingretreat #literarytrip #nyc #newyorkcity #writingcommunity #writer #amwriting #tolkien #tolkiencollection
NYC day 1 || #latergram • I finally feel like I’ve debriefed from my writing getaway, & I’m already feeling nostalgic so let’s just return, shall we? • My first morning in the city brought a delicious gluten free breakfast at the cutest coffee shop, The Grey Dog, on Mulberry St. After a super early morning due to my flight debacle, it was so welcomed. • Afterwards, we traipsed around Manhattan and made our way to The Strand bookstore because it wouldn’t have been a literary trip otherwise. The funny part is—over 18 miles of books wound their way around the shelves but not a single copy of the book I wanted to buy! • We headed through Grand Central Terminal, pausing to converse in The Whispering Gallery, before we made it to The Reading Room of the New York Public Library. • We settled for a bit, & I found my new novel coming alive as I wrote in a space near & dear to my character’s heart. • We closed the night with new friends, good burgers (& yuca fries which I rarely find here in the Midwest), & a plan for the rest of the week. • • #lifewithcait #notesfromawritersdesk #writingtravelswithcait #writingretreat #literarytrip #nyc #newyorkcity #writingcommunity #writer #amwriting
I spent the last four days in NYC & I’m still reveling in it, wondering how soon I can go back. • If you followed my stories, you know what a crazy few inspirational days it was...and now that I’m back, I’m decompressing, readjusting, & simply breathing again. Which feels like something I haven’t done in awhile. • I had no idea how much I would need this writing trip with my girls @karly_alexandra & @jennahermle12 when we tossed around the idea several months ago. But God did. • I was listening to The Next Right Thing podcast this morning, catching up, when @emilypfreeman said “God will not let you miss your own future.” • So many days I tear myself down thinking I’m not doing life (and by life I mean all. the. things.) right. Missing out. Making the wrong choices. Failing. • This thought pattern has reared up my anxiety in a scary way & since mid-January, I’ve just felt worn down. Physically. Mentally. Spiritually. Emotionally. Soulfully. • But the last few days, I kept my eyelids up to see what I could see, & God showed me. • He renewed my sense of wonder. Inspired me for my new novel. Showed me how to understand myself a little bit more. And gave me back my joy. • But most of all, He took a weight off my chest that I didn’t realize I was carrying because I went to Him weary & burdened, and in the hustle & bustle of a city that never sleeps, He gave me rest. • I can’t say this next season of Spring will be perfect, but I know it will be alive & bursting because He’s not going to let me miss my future. • “And that is a story that no one can beat, // When I say that I saw it on Mulberry Street.” • • #lifewithcait #notesfromawritersdesk #nextrightthing #newyorkcity #nyc #mulberrystreet #hopeful #drseuss #drseussquotes
Some afternoons call for a pick-me-up. Here’s to the almost, almost weekend. • Also, my new desk buddy is giving me all the joy these days. • #lifewithcait #teacherlife #teachersofinstagram #caitsteachinglife #pickett #fantasticbeasts #potterhead #whovian
*Would you consider supporting literacy and donating a book (or two) to our classroom library? We're always looking for patrons!

*Would you consider supporting literacy and donating a book (or two) to our classroom library? We're always looking for patrons!