Toni Morrison, on writing:

 

Writing is really a way of thinking – not just feeling but thinking about things that are disparate, unresolved, mysterious, problematic or just sweet. 
– Toni Morrison.

Recommended reading - In Sunlight or In Shadow: Stories Inspired by the Paintings of Edward Hopper (2016)

 

In Sunlight or In Shadow: Stories Inspired by the Paintings of Edward Hopper

Edited by Lawrence Block.

ISBN: 9781681772455

Description:

A truly unprecedented literary achievement by author and editor Lawrence Block – a newly commissioned anthology of seventeen superbly crafted stories inspired by the paintings of Edward Hopper.

"Edward Hopper is surely the greatest American narrative painter. His work bears special resonance for writers and readers, and yet his paintings never tell a story so much as they invite viewers to find for themselves the untold stories within."

So says Lawrence Block, who has invited seventeen outstanding writers to join him in an unprecedented anthology of brand-new stories: In Sunlight or In Shadow. The results are remarkable and range across all genres, wedding literary excellence to storytelling savvy.

Contributors include Stephen King, Joyce Carol Oates, Robert Olen Butler, Michael Connelly, Megan Abbott, Craig Ferguson, Nicholas Christopher, Jill D. Block, Joe R. Lansdale, Justin Scott, Kris Nelscott, Warren Moore, Jonathan Santlofer, Jeffery Deaver, Lee Child, and Lawrence Block himself. Even Gail Levin, Hopper’s biographer and compiler of his catalogue raisonée, appears with her own first work of fiction, providing a true account of art theft on a grand scale and told in the voice of the country preacher who perpetrated the crime.

In a beautifully produced anthology as befits such a collection of acclaimed authors, each story is illustrated with a quality full-color reproduction of the painting that inspired it.

Born on this day – Tomaso Albinoni:

 

Tomaso Albinoni

Composer

June 8, 1671 – January 17, 1751

Credits:

Movie and television soundtrack music scores:

A un (1980); Abel Escoto: Fragmentos de Vida e Obra (2009); Adagio cantabile (1990); Adazhio (2000); After Blue (2021); Alpha House (2014); American Crime Story (2018); American Masters (2009); An Americanmind (1991); Anatomy (2000); Andante ma non trompo (1996); Andrea Celeste (1979); Anger (1963); Arte barroco (1968); Atesli Dilber (1979); Baby Genius (2002); Ballet Adagio (1972); Banda sonora (2008); Berega (2012); Bible! (1974); Bob the Butler (2005); Bons baisers d’Europe (2019); Boys Over Flowers (1996–1997); Bruce Lee: The Man and the Legend (1973); Butterflies (1978–1983); Casanova (2005); Celeste (1991); Ceviz (2020); Chloe and Theo (2015); Coda in G Minor (2008); Company Party (1972); Corruption (1983); Cosmos (1980); Defenceless: A Blood Symphony (2004); Des hommes et des montagnes (1953); Días de combate (1982); Dogs Don’t Wear Pants (2019); Dr. Chopper: Inside the Lair - The Making of Dr. Chopper (2005); EastEnders (2005); Elle (2016); Endeavour (2014); Esperança (2002–2003); Europa (2007); Eurovision Song Contest Rotterdam 2021 (2021); Everyone Is Older Than I Am (2012); Farewell to Enrico Berlinguer (1984); Flashdance (1983); Forgive Me Father (2001); Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus (2006); Gallipoli (1981); Granny’s Funeral (2012); Henrique Espírito Santo - Até Amanhã, Henrique! (2017); Hilda (2008); Interlude (1968); Kathy’s Graduation Present (1975); Kerkyra (1973); La minute nécessaire de Monsieur Cyclopède (1982–1983); Legend of the Galactic Heroes (1991–1997); Life for Sale (2011); Los simuladores (2002); Manchester by the Sea (2016); Mariages! (2004); Mauvaise foi (2006); Monkey Dust (2005); Murder in Texas (1981); My Boyfriend (2017); My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999); Nautil-Us (2007); Nel nome del male (2009); Night Train to Venice (1993); One Tree Hill (2005); Operación triunfo (2002); Peter Rabbit (2018); Pictures of Finland: Wonderland Suomi (2005); Red Sun (1970); Ring 0: Birthday (2000); Rollerball (1975); Rolling to You (2018); Scenes from a Marriage (1973); Screenwipe (2008); Show Me Love (1998); Six Feet Under (2001–2004); Sleeping with Strangers (1994); Spalding V. Kincaid (2005); Standby (2008); Star Search (2003); Succession (2018); Sundays and Cybèle (1962); Tal vez mañana... (1979); Telo bez duse (1996); The Doors (1991); The Doors: Dance on Fire (1985); The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser (1974); The Eyes of Orson Welles (2018); The First Time, I Ever... (1975); The Inbetweeners 2 (2014); The Kôsuke Kindaichi Series 13: The Village of the Eight Tomb (1991); The Old Fox (1996); The Secret (1979); The Secret Life of Plants (1978); The Silence of Others (2018); The Surprise (2015); The Trial (1962); Thoughts and Feelings (2021); Tigres de papel (1977); Tracey (2018); Truman (2015); Uncle Yanco (1967); Velvet (2016); Velvet Buzzsaw (2019); Void (2018); Welcome to Sarajevo (1997); World War One at Home (2014).

Born on this day – Ernest B. Schoedsack:

Ernest B. Schoedsack

Director

Cinematographer

Producer

June 8, 1893 – December 23, 1979

Credits:

A Dark Room Secret (1917); A Love Case (1917); Beach of Dreams (1921); Blind Adventure (1933); Captain Salisbury's Ra-Mu (1929); Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness (1927); Charlot, Charlot! (1919); Dr. Cyclops (1940); Eagle Squadron (1942); Gow in Gow (1931); Gow the Head Hunter (1928); Grass: A Nation's Battle for Life (1925); Greed (1924); Her Fame and Shame (1917); Her Marble Heart (1916); Her Painted Hero (1915); Her Torpedoed Love (1917); His Widow's Might (1917); Hollywood Stuntmakers (1999); Hollywood the Golden Years: The RKO Story (1987); I'm King Kong!: The Exploits of Merian C. Cooper (2005); King Kong (1933 / 2005); Léonard de Vinci: La manière moderne / Le documentaire culturel (2024); Long Lost Father (1934); Mighty Joe Young (1949 / 1998); Nosferatu vs. Father Pipecock & Sister Funk (2014); Outlaws of the Orient (1937); Rango (1931); Son of Kong (1933); The Four Feathers (1929); The Last Days of Pompeii (1935); The Lives of a Bengal Lancer (1935); The Lost Empire (1929); The Monkey's Paw (1933); The Most Dangerous Game (1932); This Is Cinerama (1952); Trouble in Morocco (1937).

Born on this day – Luigi Comencini:

Luigi Comencini

Director

June 8, 1916 – April 6, 2007

Credits:

3 notti d'amore (1964); A Boy from Calabria (1987); A cavallo della tigre (1961); A fondo (1981); Antenne 2 Midi (1979); Bambini in città (1946); Basta che non si sappia in giro!.. (1976); Bebo's Girl (1964); Behind Closed Shutters (1951); Bread, Love and Dreams (1953); Buon Natale... Buon anno (1989); Cercasi Gesù (1982); Ciné Passion (1983); Ciné regards (1978–1981); Cuore (1984); Daniele Cortis (1947); Delitto d'amore (1974); Dieci registi italiani, dieci racconti italiani (1982); Documenti su Giuseppe Pinelli (1970); Étoiles et toiles (1983); Everybody Go Home! (1960); Four Ways Out (1951); Frisky (1954); Futura (2021); Giacomo Casanova: Childhood and Adolescence (1969); Gina Lollobrigida Forever (2016); Guaglio (1948); Heidi (1952); History (1986); I bambini e noi (1970); Il commissario (1962); Il compagno Don Camillo (1965); Il museo dei sogni (1950); Italian Secret Service (1968); La bella di Roma (1955); La Bohème (1988); La bugiarda (1965); La finestra sul Luna Park (1957); La mia signora (1964); La novelletta (1937); La primadonna (1943); La tratta delle bianche (1952); La valigia dei sogni (1953); L'amore in Italia (1978); Le sorprese dell'amore (1959); Les ateliers du rêve: les grands studios de cinéma dans le monde (1985); Les rendez-vous du dimanche (1978–1979); L'imperatore di Capri (1949); L'invité de FR3 (1979); L'ospedale del delitto (1950); Marcellino (1991); Mariti in città (1957); Misunderstood (1966); Mogli pericolose (1958); Pour le cinéma (1974–1975); Sacrée soirée (1989); Senza malizia (2021); Signore e signori, buonanotte (1976); Soir 3 (1979); Spécial cinéma (1980); Strange Occasion (1976); The Adventures of Pinocchio (1972); The Cat (1977); The Dolls (1965); The French as Seen by... (1988); The Mill on the Po (1949); The Scopone Game (1972); The Sign of Venus (1955); The Sunday Woman (1975); Till Marriage Do Us Part (1974); Traffic Jam (1979); Traffic Jam (1979); Und das am Montagmorgen (1959); Unknown Woman (1969); Voltati Eugenio (1980).

Born on this day – Alexis Smith:

 

Alexis Smith

Actress

Singer

June 8, 1921 – June 9, 1993

Credits:

A Death in California (1985); A Life in Words and Music (2007); ABC Late Night (1974); Adventures in Paradise (1959); Affectionately Yours (1941); Alice in Movieland (1940); Always Together (1947); American Masters (1990 / 2008); Any Number Can Play (1949); Beau James (1957); Bicentennial Minutes (1976); Blow-Ups of 1946 (1947); Broadway Plays Washington on Kennedy Center Tonight (1982); Busby Berkeley (1974); Camera Angles (1948); Casey's Shadow (1978); Cave of Outlaws (1951); Cheers (1990); Conflict (1945); Dallas (1984–1990); Dive Bomber (1941); Dive Bomber: Keep 'Em in the Air (2005); Dress Gray (1986); Flight from Destiny (1941); Gentleman Jim (1942); Great Performances (1985); Gypsy (1965); Here Comes Happiness (1941); Here Comes the Groom (1951); Hollywood Canteen (1944); Hothouse (1988); Hour Magazine (1980); Inéditos (1991); Intriga de otros mundos (1974); Jack Benny: Comedy in Bloom (1992); Kraft Theatre / The United States Steel Hour (1959); Lady with Red Hair (1940); Let's Sing a Song from the Movies (1948); Lola (1990); Lux Video Theatre (1956–1957); Marcus Welby, M.D. (1971); Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Holiday Affair (1988); Michael Shayne (1960); Montana (1950); Night and Day (1946); Night of 100 Stars (1982); Nightside (1973); Of Human Bondage (1946); Okay for Sound (1946); Once Is Not Enough (1975); One Last Fling (1949); One More Tomorrow (1946); Over Easy (1980); Passage from Hong Kong (1941); Person to Person (1960); Rhapsody in Blue (1945); Robert Montgomery Presents (1956); Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1972); Salute to Sir Lew - The Master Showman (1975); San Antonio (1945); Schlitz Playhouse (1958); She Couldn't Say No (1940); Singapore Woman (1941); So You Want to Be in Pictures (1947); Some of the Best: Twenty-Five Years of Motion Picture Leadership (1949); South of St. Louis (1949); Split Second (1953); Stage 7 (1955); Stallion Road (1947); Steel Against the Sky (1941); Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943); The 20th Century-Fox Hour (1956); The 26th Annual Tony Awards (1972); The 27th Annual Tony Awards (1973); The 29th Annual Tony Awards (1975); The 2th Annual American Cinema Awards (1985); The 33rd Annual Tony Awards (1979); The 5th Annual American Cinema Awards (1988); The 66th Annual Academy Awards (1994); The Adventures of Mark Twain (1944); The Age of Innocence (1993); The Annual National Sports Awards (1974); The Bob Hope Special (1972); The Constant Nymph (1943); The David Frost Show (1971); The Decision of Christopher Blake (1948); The Defenders (1965); The Dick Cavett Show (1971–1972); The Doughgirls (1944); The Eternal Sea (1955); The Governor & J.J. (1969–1970); The Great Mr. Nobody (1941); The Holywood Reporter Salutes Radie Harris (1985); The Horn Blows at Midnight (1945); The Joseph Cotten Show: On Trial (1956); The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1976); The Lives of Benjamin Franklin (1974); The Love Boat (1982–1985); The Making of 'Casey's Shadow' (1978); The Merv Griffin Show (1972–1980); The Mike Douglas Show (1969–1975); The Price Is Right (1964); The Republic Pictures Story (1991); The Sleeping Tiger (1954); The Smiling Ghost (1941); The Special 88th Birthday Celebration to George Murphy (1990); The Star and the Story (1955); The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (1957); The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1971–1973); The Trout (1982); The Turning Point (1952); The Two Mrs. Carrolls (1947); The Woman in White (1948); The Young Philadelphians (1959); This Happy Feeling (1958); This Is Your Life (1972); Three Sons o' Guns (1941); To Tell the Truth (1964–1965); Today (1978); Tough Guys (1986); Undercover Girl (1950); Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond (1990); Warner Bros. Celebration of Tradition, June 2, 1990 (1990); Whiplash (1948); Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny (1982); Wyoming Mail (1950); Your Choice for the Film Awards (1976).

Born on this day – Sheila Ryan:

Sheila Ryan

Actress

June 8, 1921 – November 4, 1975