For most of the past thirty years, Russ and I have shared an inside joke about cleaning out our garage. It started as a serious proposal, our pile of stuff was growing! With neither attic or basement, into the garage it went. As other accumulators know, this stockpile includes the not yet ready to give … Continue reading About that marble table (or what about all that stuff?)
Preserving Old Oregon: A tribute to John Klatt
John Klatt from Old Oregon website. Our community mourns, celebrates and shares tributes to a special man, John Klatt. I'm not sure exactly when I first met John, or whether it was his wife Jody who I met first. What I do know for sure about this friend: he was beloved by his friends, family … Continue reading Preserving Old Oregon: A tribute to John Klatt
Of wallpaper and memories
I am a visual learner, meaning also that my mind sometimes wanders during verbal activities. Especially if something catches my eye or attention. I think about this occasionally in the context of my own aging. Age-related macular degeneration lies heavily in my gene pool: I walked with my mom in her final years, a decade … Continue reading Of wallpaper and memories
About that book launch…
I feel very loved: thank you for sharing your support upon the release of Humanity’s Grace. If you missed some of the excitement you can catch up by reading this (front page) article in the West Linn Tidings (West Linn author reflects on life's interconnectedness in new book), and this bit in the Astorian (In … Continue reading About that book launch…
The art of naming characters
I've read how many authors feel paralyzed over the responsibility of deciding the names of their characters. That's news to me - and certainly a good lesson. Or not. Naming characters has been one of the easiest things for me during my writing journey. Hmm. Perhaps, I don't take the task seriously enough? Here's the … Continue reading The art of naming characters
From Ripples to Humanity’s Grace: what to know
Soon after finishing my 2019 novel, Beyond the Ripples, I imagined writing a sequel. I wasn't yet finished with its characters: Annie, Sarah and others. I drafted a few short half-hearted attempts along different plot lines, soon after abandoning them to instead write another blog. Finally, just before the pandemic unfolded, I asked myself the … Continue reading From Ripples to Humanity’s Grace: what to know
Dear Mom, it’s Christmas and I miss you
Dear Mom, it's Christmas and I miss you. I've missed you every day since you died; how can it have been nine months? I miss you as I visit parks, so many places you and I journeyed together - later you using sticks, walker and wheelchair. I miss you when I cook certain foods, listen … Continue reading Dear Mom, it’s Christmas and I miss you
Books, launches and variants
I know I’m not alone in feeling a bit depressed as news circulates about the newest, especially contagious, COVID-19 variant, omicron. If the whole thing weren't so darn serious one might make some science fiction inspired joke about its name. I know that the existence of variants isn't surprising to infectious disease experts who understand … Continue reading Books, launches and variants
Independence by bicycle: Now and Then
Did you ever watch the 1995 film Now and Then? A captivating movie with bold, adventurous female actors like Christina Ricci, Rosie O'Donnell, Demi Moore, and Rita Wilson. My daughters and I loved watching this flick. And although, like with most books and movies, I'm not sure how it ages to today but one scene … Continue reading Independence by bicycle: Now and Then
Is Jolabokaflod PDX on your calendar?
It’s not hard for me to get excited about live events these days. You know, the ones that aren’t on Zoom or WebEx or Teams or some other virtual platform? I know, too, that I’ll need to pace myself. A few hours of “live” is about all I can handle these days. but that doesn't … Continue reading Is Jolabokaflod PDX on your calendar?
Dede's Books and blog 