Meet Linda Stoll, Pastoral Counselor & Mental Health Coach
A literary meet-'n'-greet in 10 pictures or less
Welcome back, friends!
If you love to read books on spiritual formation and discipleship, then I can’t wait for you to meet Linda Stoll.
Linda is a pastoral counselor and mental health coach—and she loves to read. (She even stewards a Little Free Library for her community.)
I always enjoy her deep yet serene writing, which include monthly book reviews.
Now, I’ll let Linda take it away!
All About Linda
I live with my husband of 48 years in a little town tucked between Cape Cod’s everchanging bay and the deep blue sea.
A passionate blogging aficionado since 2008, I am devoted to nurturing my lively online community. Retired from private counseling practice, I now pen the PORCH weekend newsletter + occasional essays + the monthly BOOKBAG at my Substack home, Grace & Space.
I co-lead my church’s Stephen Ministry, and you might find me packing produce at the food pantry, jumping into a bit of off-the-cuff ministry coaching, dreaming up an innovative small group series, or counseling women in international ministry. I specialize in asking the hard questions with compassion, a whole lot of grace, and a smile.
My six grandchildren, ages 14 to 20, are my life and joy. Cheering them on from afar and banging on heaven’s door for their needs are my most important work. My littlest grandchild lives in Heaven with Jesus.
The genres I read most are historical fiction, memoir, and spiritual formation.
My auto-buy authors? Kate Bowler, John Grisham, Emily P. Freeman, Patti Callahan Henry, Susan Meissner, Shauna Niequist, Barbara Brown Taylor.
Books that Linda read and loved
Invitation to Solitude & Silence by Ruth Haley Barton
The Listening Life: Embracing Attentiveness in a World of Distraction by Adam McHugh (My favorite book ever)
Introverts in the Church by Adam McHugh
Here’s my Desert Island Bookshelf if you want a few more recommendations.
Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford (Read my review.)
House Rules by Myquillyn Smith (Read my review.)
The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams (Read my review.)
Here’s how you can connect with Linda
I hope you enjoyed getting to know
.She shows up regularly at Grace & Space right here on Substack. Subscribe and stay connected to her spiritual reflections, beautiful seaside photography, and the bookbag!
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Thank you, Linda, for chatting books today!
And thank you for being here, readers.
Catch you next time,
Michelle
Michelle, thanks! This was so much fun. I was surprised to learn more about what makes me tick than I expected in the process of answering your simple yet thoughtful questions.
How wonderful that you've kept a "Books Read" list going for more than 30 years! It must be great fun to look back and enjoy the memories conjured by each one. 'Loved getting better acquainted with you, Linda, as you shared! Not surprised your favorite color is sea glass!