A few years ago when at our family cabin in Ocean Park, dear neighbor Sandy dropped by, gifting us a copy of the Coast Weekend with an article about my then new book Humanity’s Grace. While I had seen the article online, I had not yet realized the news source was a printed weekly magazine. That first interview with journalist Patrick Webb had been delightful, as if we were long lost friends.

This time around I’m not quite so green. Too, I knew my phone call with Webb might be longer than shorter when he interviewed me for A Map of Her Own. That piece was printed in this week’s issue of the Coast Weekend. Unlike some who have written informational pieces about my books for news sources, Webb had read my entire book. What fun that interview was!

So much of what happens to me with my writing circles back to my own life experiences and connections, or that of my family. A very few of those who might have read my first book, My Music Man, may remember this story. For after all, it was Dad’s job offer in 1972 that initiated our family’s move from Wilsonville’s Montgomery Way first to LaGrande, and a few years later back to Portland.

So instead, Dad learned about Eastern Oregon, before returning to his roots and renewing his love and storytelling about the Columbia River for the Port of Portland. And on this morning, as I read this article published by the Astorian’s sister publication, I hear Dad. “That’s really something, Deeder.”

Learn more about A Map of Her Own on its webpage, including why I wrote it, editorial reviews, and where you can find it. And if you have not yet My Music Man, you might check out my recently released audiobook with my narration.