When you’ve lived in the same place your whole life, your past and your present become intertwined
SOMEHOW SAINTS
SOMEHOW SAINTS MEDIA INQUIRIES
To arrange for an interview with or appearance by Mary Lea, please contact her directly here.
You can also download the digital press kit for Somehow Saints (press release, Mary Lea's photo, and the book cover) by clicking here.
We could all use the patience of a saint these days, and Carroll is ready with some role models. This follow-up to Saint Everywhere (2019) profiles both saints already canonized in the Catholic Church and those on the road to official sainthood, paired with side profiles on Carroll's "somehow saints." Carroll's breezy writing and warm voice make her a pleasure to spend time with, and the episodic nature of this sequel makes it easy to set down and come back to. Concepts like Catholicism's "Holy Doors" are well explained, welcoming uninitiated readers. Rather than sharing a series of stodgy biographies, she pairs her saint profiles with a casual style of travel writing that encourages readers to learn more about not only the saints, but also their locales. Chapters begin with inviting illustrations from Joe Rohde, an executive designer for Disney. An excellent pick for readers seeking inspiration, humor, and a fun way to armchair travel.
— Alice Burton
Mary Lea in conversation with KCET’s Val Zavala
PRAISE
“Faith is a journey, and as Mary Lea Carroll shows in her delightful, insightful book, that journey can be both external and internal all at once.”
— Rick Hamlin, executive editor of Guideposts and author of Pray for Me
"What would it mean to live with the faith of a saint—either on a grand scale or in our own modest lives? With the effortless, heartfelt wit of Annie Lamott, Mary Lea Carroll whisks us along on a series of lively, serendipitous pilgrimages that leave us laughing, amazed, and ready to set off on our own miraculous adventures."
— Perdita Finn, co-author of The Way of the Rose: The Forgotten Earth Wisdom of the Rosary
"Saint Everywhere is a gem of a book—delightful storytelling, factually fascinating, and spiritually uplifting. The right book for this moment in time when so many are on their own journey looking for the good in the everyday. I'm a fan of the lady saints, and now I'm a fan of Mary Lea Carroll. Saint Everywhere is a comfort and an inspiration."
— Lian Dolan, Satellite Sister and author of Elizabeth the First Wife, Helen of Pasadena, and You're the Best
"Charming, funny, informative, moving and spiritually profound, this little book delights the soul."
— Michelle Huneven, author of Blame (a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award), Jamesland, and Round Rock
"Writing in an utterly unaffected tone and bringing a resonant universality to her musings, she invites readers to come along, whether she is being impressed by the bold business sense of Mother Cabrini, moving through the sacred space that holds the cloak of Our Lady of Guadalupe, or meeting the mystical at Medjugorje. Different religions notwithstanding, most readers will be all in for this journey—learning, enjoying, and pondering in equal measure."
Booklist, May 2019
SAINT EVERYWHERE MEDIA INQUIRIES
To arrange for an interview with or appearance by Mary Lea, please contact her directly here.
You can also download the Saint Everywhere digital press kit (press release, Mary Lea's photo, and the book cover) by clicking here.
Illustration by Joe Rohde