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A World of Ideas
Explore a world of ideas through insightful articles, engaging interviews, and thought-provoking reflections. We dive into the power of story, the impact of faith on creativity, and the many ways literature shapes our understanding of the world. Join the conversation!
New and Noteworthy Books from Festival Voices
Today, we're delighted to share a list of new and noteworthy books written by our upcoming Festival speakers. These words continue to shape the conversation about what it means to live and create with faith, imagination, and courage.
The Black Church Food Security Network
Today, we're delighted to feature an episode of the Refugia Podcast, hosted by CCFW Faculty Fellow, Debra Rienstra. This conversation highlight's Debra’s ongoing work with Refugia—her project exploring how people of faith can create and sustain life-giving spaces amid crisis. We encourage you to listen to the episode and explore her broader work here.
Miss Trunchbull’s Chocolate Cake
Inspired by the unforgettable chocolate cake scene from Matilda, CCFW Student Fellow Natasha Jayaputra revisits childhood nostalgia through baking. What begins as a memory of Bruce’s infamous punishment turns into a celebration of homemade joy, as she shares a decadent triple chocolate cake recipe—complete with a rich whipped ganache worthy of Miss Trunchbull’s approval.
From the Director’s Desk
In our latest blog post, CCFW director Jennifer Holberg shares a peek at hers—from Jane Austen (in her 250th year!) to new works by Jen Hatmaker, Katherine Rundell, R.F. Kuang, and more. Plus, a few mysteries, cookbooks, and shows waiting in the wings once baseball season winds down.
The 2024 Festival of Faith and Writing: Reflections of a First-Time Student Committee Member
This week on the blog: From rainy walks across campus to chance encounters with favorite authors, CCFW Student Fellow Chantale Van Tassel reflects on the joy of being on the Student Committee during the 2024 Festival of Faith & Writing. The highlight? Meeting Anthony Doerr (𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘞𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘚𝘦𝘦) and experiencing a full-circle moment for a lifelong reader.
A Bonus Liturgy
This week on the CCFW blog: What happens when poetry becomes part of a Sunday ritual? Faculty Fellow Jane Zwart reflects on Devin Gael Kelly’s 𝘖𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘗𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘴 newsletter, Charles Simic’s luminous verse, and the kind of attention that resists doomscrolling and invites us deeper into empathy, wonder, and connection.
Mr. Collins’ Excellent Boiled Potatoes: A Pride & Prejudice Recipe
In honor of the Pride and Prejudice (2005) film’s 20th anniversary, what better way to celebrate than with a classic, hearty, period-accurate dish? If the way to a man’s heart is indeed through his stomach, these herb-boiled potatoes are guaranteed to woo over family, friends, and your dad’s awkward distant cousin who’s the heir presumptive to your estate.
From the Director’s Desk
This week on the blog, CCFW Director Jennifer Holberg reflects on the start of a busy fall on campus—teaching, writing, meetings, and, of course, preparing for the 2026 Festival. Amidst “so much to be done,” she reminds us to pause, savor life’s simple joys, and be grateful for the everyday bounty.
Refugia Sighting
CCFW faculty fellow, Debra Rienstra, shares how Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Minneapolis is leading the way in faith-based climate action. From ditching Styrofoam to installing geothermal and solar, their community-driven efforts reflect deep commitment to justice, beauty, and sustainability. Discover how this congregation is joyfully transforming faith into climate leadership.
Can This Email Possibly Find You Well?
This week’s blog post come from CCFW faculty fellow, Craig Mattson. This witty, relatable post dives into the absurdly persistent nature of modern communication—and what it says about us. If your inbox feels more like a trap than a tool, this one's for you.
Festival 2026: Recommended Reading
To enrich your Festival experience, we’ve curated a vibrant collection of works by our 2026 speakers. From enchanting stories to reflective essays and soul-stirring poems, these selections invite you into deeper thought, wonder, and discovery—perfect companions for the journey of curious and thoughtful readers.
This World is Made for Joy
Today on the blog, we share an episode of, Prufrock’s House of Poetry, a podcast dedicated to interviews with poets from all over the world. Hosted by Alex Frankl, this month’s episode features poet and CCFW co-director, Jane Zwart.
Our Own Superheroes
In honor of National Library Week last month, CCFW co-director, Jennifer Holberg, reflects on how the library anchored her young life - and how librarians played a critical role in nurturing her nerdy, exuberant self with such wisdom and kindness.
Introducing: Our Brand-New Website
After months of work with our design team (shout-out to the wonderful Mix Creative Group!), we’re beyond thrilled to launch our redesigned website. With all that it offers to enhance how we can share the CCFW’s news and resources with you, we’re especially excited at the ability to go a little deeper with a blog.
Recent Releases by Festival Authors
We’re always so delighted to hear about new books from past Festival of Faith & Writing speakers. And we love sharing these new titles with our community. Congratulations to these authors for their recent releases.
The Wild Robot
Chris Sanders, who is known for directing Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon, does an exceptional job of bringing this simple yet profound story to life. The core theme of the film is clear: love transcends systems, and kindness is more important than merely following the rules.
A Living Artifact: Symphony for the City of the Dead by MT Anderson
MT Anderson traces the life and career of Dmitri Shostakovich together with the era of the Soviet Union and the Second World War with astonishing and gripping detail. Though it’s a biography, Anderson paints these historical figures who once lived and walked the earth so brightly it reads like historical fiction.