A World Wide Peace – 1911
As I wrote this for Veterans Day 2022, I wonder what has changed in 111 years since my Great-Grandmother Emily Hoppin wrote about World Wide Peace in 1911. Masculine energy still leans toward armed conflict, feminine energy favors home and family. Do we have the capacity to take care of our country and communities without…
Why I Love Archivists (2)
After years of researching my Yolo Pioneer and activist Great-Grandmother using online searches and old family documents, I was eager to locate primary sources. But I was not prepared for what I would find when I presented my research questions to staff at the Yolo and Niles archives and history centers. These professional archivists are…
Why I Love Archivists
After years of researching my Yolo Pioneer and activist Great-Grandmother using online searches and old family documents, I was eager to locate primary sources. But I was not prepared for what I would find when I presented my research questions to staff at the Yolo and Niles archives and history centers. These professional archivists are…
Letting Go…Moving Forward
I’m practicing letting go. It seems to be the work of my mid-70s. By nature, I’m a saver of boxes, jars, seed packets, vases, old jewelry, and family memorabilia. Some things will be easy to toss after I’m gone, but I should pass on other things now while I can do so with care.
Every Seed Holds a Story
I hold both a tomato seed in my palm and the seed for my next book in my heart. From over 40 years of growing tomatoes, I know the story of the seed. But my next book? I’m waiting to see what grows.
Can We Raise Healthy Children on an Unhealthy Planet?
In my 20 years as a rural school nurse, I observed the growing number of children’s health issues coinciding with increased pollution and climate change. How can we raise healthy children on an unhealthy planet?
Are We Under the Weather?
It used to be thought that “Peak Oil” or severe droughts would change life as we know it. But maybe it will be the continuous barrage of severe weather events. How do you prepare?
My “One Small Thing” Project
When in despair about our environment’s future, I turn to my next “One Small Thing” project.
Potato Chip Leaves
Gardening in heat and drought: The end of gardening as I’ve known it; time for a whole new gardening strategy.
Triads of Women Give me Hope!
It’s time for the feminine model of leadership of working in triads. Let NY Governor Kathy Hochul lead the way with her top two female advisors.
Elon Musk’s Neurolink: Harbinger of the “Nib”?
With new technologies that propose to link our brains with digital devices, (such as Elon Musk’s Neuralink) do we stand to lose our still, small voice?
Thought Provoking?
I received a notice that Heart Wood was a finalist for the 2021 Eric Hoffer Award’s Montaigne Medal. The significance didn’t sink in at first. Although I had applied for several book awards, the Montaigne Medal was not one of them. As an independently published author, I didn’t have the resources of a publishing house…
Behind the Scenes with Emily Hoppin
Join me on Wednesday, March 24th, 3 pm, for a Webinar about Emily Hoppin – Yolo Pioneer, Women’s Activist, and as my Great-Grandmother, the inspiration for Eliza in Heart Wood. Zoom link: https://yolocounty.zoom.us/j/96613600322
Creating Historical Fiction
Note to reader: I am struck by the irony of my post Creating Historical Fiction that I planned for today. Start with the facts, I write, but if you want a richer, more powerful story, try converting your story into a fictionalized version. We’re living in a time when a president is attempting to stay…
Three Books that Shaped “the Future” in Heart Wood
I’m often asked, “what influenced your creation of a dystopic future in Heart Wood ?” Although I’ve read speculative novels by amazing authors (think Margaret Atwood), my answer is always the same: The three dystopic novels forever branded into my memory are: “Earth Abides,” “The Great Bay,” and “Feed” Each novel influenced how I wove…
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Shirley DicKard 