A collection of more than 90 essays, Writing Home represents more than 10 years of Royal Oak resident Cindy La Ferle's career - and much of what she's learned about life.
    An unexpected columnist, La Ferle seems right at home in a world defined by a few hundred words, one that depends almost entirely on voice and insight to draw and keep a reader's attention. Her writing flows with a gentle and conversational tone, one that shares her life lessons with great respect for her readers.
    Subject headings from Child Care and Kitchen Duty, to Work Ethics and Keeping Up Appearances reflect what is most ordinary about life outside the big city; La Ferle writes with clarity about making friends with a neighborhood squirrel and opening her house and yard to son Nate's brood of friends over his 13-year school career.
    Writing Home coaxes the extraordinary from these elements of an ordinary life with subtle humor and quiet insights. The book's form lends itself to an early morning at the breakfast table, a cup of coffee and a few minutes to remember that the best lessons in life are the simplest and the best stories are those closest to home.
    This is a book you can feel good about buying not only for yourself; proceeds benefit organizations in Oakland County that help the homeless.
    For information, visit La Ferle's web site.