There is a let down after the initial excitement of releasing a new book. Perhaps it’s not spending those hours drinking tea at my dining room table, editing, writing, imagining. Or maybe it is recognizing (again) that most people still don’t know about my book. And conceding that the bulk of readers never will.

Even then, gratefully, life intervenes. An unplanned coffee shop chat with a friend steered me back to the truths about why I write. I steer myself back to that truth: to the near miracle of discovering, for me, the power of sharing my stories so late in life. I return to acknowledge how grateful AND fortunate I am to be published. I recall what a gift it is to learn from readers about how my book(s) touches them, even if it’ll never be a bestseller. Was it not a gift at a friend’s retirement party yesterday to hear the phrase “good enough” repeated multiple times in the context of the good work she has done in her career. Yep, remember that Dede.

I regularly recognize the serendipitous moments that touch my life. Even with the grief, fear and sorrow that surrounds us. I believe when we move through life too fast, or are too stressed out or sad, it’s easy to miss it. No, I’m not a PollyAnna. Yet, I know how important noticing the little things matters to me, my writing and the characters I create. Such as how appropriately timed those words shared at both the coffee shop and retirement party were for me.

I felt the desire to wander downtown yesterday, before attending this friend’s retirement party. I will always love downtown Portland. I parked intentionally on SW First Avenue (a bit sad it was simply too cumbersome to take transit to this event), planning to walk to Powell’s, Multnomah County Central Library, and back through Pioneer Square.

Occasionally, I am still flooded by memories of being a teen first exposed to the freedom and convenience of walking from home to downtown; to have walkable access to places unimaginable to a rural kid in LaGrande and Wilsonville. I hated that move back to Portland at first; even though I was born here. My mind also retrieves later memories of heading downtown after work to meetings and social get-togethers. Our Portland – not burning up but in fact wet, blustery and empty on this afternoon. A downtown we all hope will recover – along with our communities – from the challenges posed by the pandemic, houselessness, drug use and poverty. A recovery that includes all of us making an effort to return. I bought a copy of Street Roots, gifting the seller with the four dollars change. Once in times long gone, I routinely bought Streets Roots before boarding the tram to work at OHSU. While I’m glad to be retired, a bit of me misses some of those routines.

And so I continued my wet and sloppy stroll, with a first stop at Powell’s, followed by the library. Last summer as I imagined additional ways to promote my book, my friend and literary hero Laura shared how she once sent postcards to local bookstores to announce a new book release. In today’s world of saturated email inboxes, postcards sounded simple and lovely. And, no surprise: as I handed an extra card to customer service associates at both Powell’s and the library, they smiled knowingly when I said I assumed my prior emails may never be seen. (Yes, I’ve had a few friends attempting to buy A Map of Her Own at Powell’s, only to learn they need to order it first.) I get it. So many books, so little shelf space. All we can do…is keep trying.

Then, as I walked past the building that once housed Portland’s Meier and Frank, my mind flew from my own childhood memories of holiday themed windows to a scene from the pages of A Map of Her Own. And although this paragraph precedes the more important reason for Emma to visit Portland, it feels relevant to me now. For after all, my own relatives walked the streets of Portland during fictional Emma’s time.

Speaking of old buildings, I’d been meaning to check out the J.K. Gill Building. (Hint: Look for a nod to this grand old store on page 124 of A Map Of Her Own and the 1915 Rose Festival Parade a few pages before.) Readers of this blog may recall reading about my tour of the then refurbished building during the heart of the pandemic. (See: The J..K. Gill Building Renewed.) Not long after I wrote the blog, I was sad to learn the building failed to sell at a foreclosure auction. Yes, another victim of the pandemic, economy and neighborhood.

As I neared Southwest Fifth and Harvey Milk, I fully expected to see a sad abandoned space. And yet, imagine my surprise to stare into tables loaded with displays of architectural drawings. As I peered through the window, I spotted someone inside, and must have looked curious enough that he met me at the locked door. He introduced himself as representing the PDX Design Collaborative, and just happened to be in the space. Now, seriously friends – if this wasn’t serendipitous on this rainy, quiet afternoon downtown, what is? After introducing myself (yes, I try not to abuse the line that J.K. was my great great grandfather…oh, and I supplied a few photos that I was able to confirm still are displayed in the lobby) he gave me an update on the building.

Yes, Menashe Properties purchased the building late in 2024 and plans to eventually lease the building for office tenants, I suspect. Certainly this is part of current efforts to return downtown Portland to its prior vitality. I have high hopes, even though I too understand the deep challenges. But yes, I love this downtown and probably always will because of my own sentimentality. I’m sorry I somehow missed the recent City of Possibility Exhibit (the remnants are still present in this space). Perhaps my head was too deep in my writing in those moments.

And I’d be lying if I didn’t admit being thrilled, as my kind escort walked me through the lobby, to notice the pictures I donated, still in place.

But now on this still rainy day, my blogging returns me to my dining room table. I return to old thoughts, teasing out new ones. Grateful to be on this journey, wherever it takes me. As I look out the window, I decide it’s time to walk up to the post office and grocery store. I embrace it. (That’s why we have rain jackets, right?) Not knowing then that I’ll decide to stop in at Tanner Spring on my way and have impromptu visits with my favorite friends on staff. It doesn’t take much to raise my spirit today. Yes, it’s the little stuff. Really.

By the way, check out my latest add to the Map of Her Own webpage – My Reader Discussion Questions. Next up? Get it into the hands of book groups. Hold that thought for next time. Or, reach out as I’m eager to start scheduling for book group discussions into 2026. And, there’s still time to join me in conversation with Author Carolyn Dasher next Friday evening November 14 at Bold Coffee and Books. Also, get this ebook and all the rest of mine direct from my publisher at 35% off retail price!

Still wanting a bit more about J.K. Gill? Check out my book My Music Man, and this category of blogs.

Happy Fall in this mix of sloppy walks and challenging times with slivers of joy.