Reflections on a life in safety, a passion for fiction, and the labor that defines us. Each day, authors debut a first or next work. Somewhere between 2-4 million new books are released each year worldwide. It's both exciting and overwhelming to try to keep up with the variety and diversity of available books. And … Continue reading More Than a Job: How Work Can Dictate the Way Characters Breathe
Yeah, somewhere along the way I remember learning it not to be particularly helpful if we get too hyped up on happenings. Do some groundwork, sit back, and believe that things will take care of themselves. I’m getting much better at this. It reminds me of a paragraph I wrote when I committed to exactly … Continue reading Calmness Amid Events on Steroids
I found great joy in crafting a book for my grandson this past month. Yet another reminder about how essential it is to make time for creativity, love and joy in these difficult times. Too, I'm trying to model that for my own adult daughters. Our little guy and I had fun sharing his birthday … Continue reading Happy Birthday Oregon: Recognizing our Resilience and Spirit
It never fails. Just when I'm unsure I have another blog in me, a new inspiration floats in. Today it is a memory about a set of glass goblets, and the Oregonian's front page story celebrating 175 years since its birth. Today's Oregonian article celebrates the anniversary of the first printing of the Oregonian. That … Continue reading From Newspapers to Glass Goblets: Creatively Weaving Fact into Story
Yesterday I told a friend that my favorite author-related activity is joining book groups to discuss my books. I meant what I said. As much as I enjoy presenting book talks, usually with folks who haven't yet read my book, nothing compares to exploring a book's nitty gritty details. All of it: what people most … Continue reading Exploring Author Insights Through Book Groups
Yes, I hear a few of you thinking: Didn't she just say she's retired? Yeah, yeah. It's just that I do always hope to give back. And as evidence in my sharing this piece, though it might be contrary to what some believe, I too can't turn my brain off. After catching up with a … Continue reading Total Worker Health: Idealism vs. Reality
Until last year, listening to audiobooks was something I rarely did except when on a long drive. I would have to backtrack or rewind many times as my mind drifted to one thought or another. Once on a trip to Missoula, Russ and I listened to Invasion of the Body Snatchers enroute, and a collection … Continue reading Embracing Audiobooks: A Journey of Discovery
Just hanging out in my closet, reading to myself. Yes, for some time I've wanted to narrate an audiobook version of My Music Man. Several of the first readers of this book, when it was released in 2017, told me it felt like they had been in conversation with me while they read. Others asked … Continue reading Releasing My Music Man, the Audiobook!
The Imnaha River at Indian Crossing. If Wandering speaks to your spirit of the moment, I offer a few more bits. (See Wandering and the Gift of Time if you missed it.) As experienced hikers know, early June in Oregon‘s high country means lots of snow, raging creeks and rivers, and mosquitoes in the lower … Continue reading Wandering Part 2: Bits and Pieces
Near Pine Creek in the Wallowas. Yes, it’s been exactly one year since I was laid off from what I know now, though didn’t know then, my final chapter of traditional employment. While it took me a month to recover from my surprise and frustration, I know now how much I’ve gained. And how fortunate … Continue reading Wandering and the Gift of Time
Dede's Books and blog 