September Release! Once again I get to tell you about a woman who… The title of my fall release is Beneath the Bending Skies and the woman is Mollie Sheehan Ronan. There will be more about this story in the months ahead. For now, I hope to tweak your interest by telling you that it is set in Montana (with an important diversion to San Juan Capistrano, California).

I think many of us will be taking deep breaths as we face another year of uncertainty. Deep breaths are so important. I first became aware of the power of breath in 1972 as part of my training in Clinical Social Work. I chose a unique internship working with patients at a regional burn center in the midwest.

For Advent, that preparation time before Christmas, Jerry and I have participated in a Poetry and Prayer zoom devotional. A half an hour to hear poems, reflect, ask for prayers and pray for others and then hear a blessing. It’s been a calming, insightful way to approach Christmas this year. T

One of the scenes in The Healing of Natalie Curtis that readers are talking about concerns Natalie and another white woman, a teacher, singing happy birthday to an Indian child not allowed to sing her own songs.  Minus the prohibition on singing, this scene came right out of my own life.

October offers a variety of special “days” to celebrate. A favorite of mine is National Poetry Day (7th) along with World Teachers Day (Oct. 5th).  World Ballet Day is the 19th and World Singing Day is the 21st. Those latter two carry special meaning related to The Healing of Natalie Curtis, my latest release.