When I was a little girl, I loved to read about pioneers on the Oregon Trail. I came to identify with qualities I perceived in people who made that difficult journey. They were bold, grasping freedom and opportunity. They were tough, pitting themselves against nature, gambling on their physical strength and mental acuity, and testing their will to survive. When I worried about what had happened to the Native peoples whom the pioneers displaced, I was given a vague answer, "It's too bad what happened, but it's progress and you can't stop progress." From my perspective now, I would not call westward expansion human progress. And my focus now is on Indigenous people's amazing will to survive. I'm identifying myself with the qualities of compassion, good listening skills and the ability to see history more clearly.
As a writer and lover of books, I'm also working to amplify voices that have long been ignored.
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Did I tell you I'm obsessed with the British Baking Show? I really needed to get some rest and relaxation into my schedule, and I ended up in the tent with the armature bakers. Virtually, unfortunately. Now I'm dreaming about Mary Berry's Viennese Whirls and Victoria Sponge, and drooling over Paul's couronne. That's yummy bread with endless choice of fillings and twisted into the shape of a crown. Mention puff pastry or creme patissiere, and I need a swooning coach. I have done a little baking in the last month. My recipes turned out delicious, despite the soggy bottom, slightly dry texture and flavors not "coming through." I am definitely sticking to writing Writing and my other job of marketing and promotion. Recently, I revamped this website and simplified the format of my weekly newsletter, which are cosmetic changes.
After the events of 2020, I'm also looking at some changes on a deeper level. I'm considering my work, and how I want to be present in the world, from a slightly different perspective. To be honest, I haven't, yet, been able to put it into clear words. I'm guessing that many of you are asking similar questions. So much has happened in the last twelve months and the dust has yet to settle.
Please welcome author Winifred Conkling here to tell you about the biography she's written entitled Ms. Gloria Steinem, A Life. Reviewers call it insightful and well-researched. From Booklist, "Readers will come away with...
Last week I revealed the cover of my new book! Close Up on War: The Story of Pioneering Photojournalist Catherine Leroy in Vietnam is scheduled for release in early 2021. But it is available now for pre-order. Catherine Leroy spent most of her time in Vietnam in the field with U.S. troops. She rarely saw American women, even female journalists who were there at the same time. Plenty of military and civilian women went to Vietnam War during the war, but their service and sacrifice was not always appreciated. This past week marked the anniversary of one of the most crucial moments in American civil rights history. February 7, 1942, African Americans launched the Double V Campaign. It started with one man's question. "Should I sacrifice my life to live half American?" And it burgeoned into a force for equal employment opportunity for blacks during World War II, and laid a foundation for the civil rights marches in the 1960s.
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I'm fascinated to discover little-known history, stories of people and events that provide a new perspective on why and how things happened, new voices that haven't been heard, insight into how the past brought us here today, and how it might guide us to a better future.
I also post here about my books and feature other authors and their books on compelling and important historical topics. Occasionally, I share what makes me happy, pictures of my garden, recipes I've made, events I've attended, people I've met. I'm always happy to hear from readers in the blog comments, by email or social media. Archives
September 2023
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