May The Beauty Be With You
Spring is My Favorite Season to be Out in the World
From May Day to Mother’s Day to Memorial Day, May was a busy month. Rainbows of flowers—garden and wild—poked out all around. Trees and shrubs budded and leafed. Grasses spread themselves out. And seeds sprouted everywhere—even in sidewalk cracks. How many shades of green are there anyway?
Heart Full of Gratitude
I am often invited to attend book clubs—in person or via Zoom—to visit with readers and talk about Force of Nature and about hiking and writing. Book clubs are super fun! I love meeting my readers and turning them into my friends! Last week, one book club woman said,
When I finished listening to the audiobook of Force of Nature, I really expected to learn that you had recorded the book yourself. I was surprised to find out it wasn’t your voice, because it sounded so authentic!
I agree! And I’m super grateful to Narrator Anna Crowe, who did an awesome job of bringing my written words to life. The ultimate compliment about a narrator is that readers/listeners stop “hearing” their voice and are just immersed in the unfolding story, sure they’re in the presence of the author. Many listeners of Force of Nature have told me that they experienced that sensation, too.
Funny story: When my publisher first sent me audition recordings from prospective narrators, Anna’s recording came with an email note that jumped off the page.
I'm connecting with my inner fifth grader: "ME, ME, PICK ME!!!" Nope, never got picked first for dodgeball, but would love to be picked to narrate your memoir. This story is epic and filled with so much passion. And, please, the women. This Northern California woman (now in Ventura) would be honored to tell your story.
Though I never taught fifth grade, my eighth graders were never above shouting out “Pick me!” So, I was primed to respond to Anna’s message. When I found her audition to be excellent, I jumped at the opportunity to work with such a consumate professional. After a few emails, a Zoom chat, and hours and hours of work on her part, the audiobook was released in December 2023. I agree with my new book club friend, Anna created a perfect interpretation of my words.
A few months ago, Anna and I met in person at the Ventura Marina for a delicious and a very chatty lunch. We hit it off right away! Below is a sample of Anna Crowe reading an early scene from Force of Nature. Take a listen. Don’t you agree she’s done a great job! I’m super grateful to all the artists and creatives who helped me to write, publish, and now record Force of Nature!
Thank you, Anna! As an avid book-listener myself, I know how supremely important the voice is to my experience of the book. (If you want to know more about the art and science of narrating audiobooks, in Spring Semester 2025, I will be interviewing Anna for my OLLI at Sierra “Author Spotlight Lunch Pail” Zoom series. Join us!)
May Field Trip! — The John Muir House National Historic Site
Two weeks ago, I set out early on a short road trip—coffee cup filled and secure in its cupholder, Google Maps spewing instructions, and Audible reading aloud to me. I headed west to the John Muir Home NHS in Martinez. I’m embarrassed to say that I’d never before made the trek, though it was only a couple hours!
I watched a film in the Visitors Center and a young NPS intern, Daniella, took my photo with John himself. Under blue skies, I strolled the extensive trails that took me past old orchards and beautiful specimen trees, listening to the audio-tour on my phone. My favorites were the gorgeous pomegranate trees with their brilliant-colored flowers and baby fruits and the wooden bridge spanning a rushing creek.
Nearby train tracks used to cross their land, an easement traded for ten dollars and free lifetime use. They shipped their fresh, just-picked fruit back east and made a fortune. (I didn’t know that!) Muir had come a long way from that poor boy who walked across the country and herded sheep for a living.
Though it used to be a huge ranch, the NHS is now comprised of a few acres around the family’s large Victorian era house. The home is beautiful and visitors can wander throughout, including upwards into the cupola at the tippy-top, where I rung the bell.
Another Field Trip! — Horton’s Iris Farm
Nearby in Loomis, the Horton Iris Farm blooms in April and May across several acres with row after row after row of flowers. Each plant is marked with a little sign revealing its name, and I had as much fun reading the names as I did looking at the gorgeous flowers. Iris hybriders (is that a word?) seem to really enjoy the process of naming their new creations. Some used a musical theme, while others chose cute puns or plays on innuendos. My friends and I laughed and giggled over many names, while oohing and aahing over the bold color combinations. I was so inspired that I ordered several rhizomes to pick up and plant in pots on my deck in August. I’ve never grown irises before, so this will be another adventure in my retired life!
Some of the iris names I got a kick out of:
Brilliant Idea, I Saw the Light, Toucan Tango, Tunnel Vision, Staying Alive, Dancing in the Street, Pinball Wizard, Tour de France, Moody Blue Eyes, Stepping Out, Joy Joy Joy, Photo Shoot, Sole Survivor, Affair to Remember, Vanishing Act, Vivacious Vixen, Canned Heat, Renegade Lady, and Witchy Woman.
I’m thinking about field trips for June now. The de Young Museum, Loney Meadows, and Lily’s Garden are on my list in the next couple weeks. Where are you heading?
May’s Books
I have six books to recommend this month. All excellent reads. Four are by nationally known authors and have made all the “must read” lists. Two are from authors I know personally because we all share the same small publisher, Black Rose Writing, and I’m going to give them a boost here.
Four historical fiction
One nonfiction history
One contemporary fiction
Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon knocked my socks off. The central character, a midwife in the US Founding Era, is based on a real woman’s amazing life. It’s an intense page-turner that I could not pause listening to!
The Unlocked Path by Janis Robinson Daly is also based on a real woman’s amazing life, the story of one of America’s first female doctors. I gotta love those strong women who just will not stay in their assigned place.
James by Percival Everett is about as clever a literary idea as one can find. It’s the familiar story of Huck and Jim rafting down the Mississippi, but it’s from Jim/James’ point of view, and it turns the story on its head. I loved it.
Courting the Sun by Peggy Joque Williams is centered on the life of another strong woman taking on the world and making her place in it. It’s set in France. I learned a lot of French history reading this well told and deeply researched tale.
The Demon of Unrest rises to Erik Larson’s supreme standard of excellence. This nonfiction focuses on the days and weeks before and after the start of the Civil War—the personalities, the lost messages, the misunderstandings, the hubris, the heroics.
Camino Ghosts by John Grisham was a very fun read. It’s a contemporary mystery, or is it a eco-legal story, or is it simply a “beach read"? Yes. It’s all that, and the main character is a strong female author who is trying to write the story while it’s unfolding.
You can find all my book reviews on Goodreads.
Do you have book recommendations? I’m always looking for the next good book!
My TBR pile includes The History of Bees by Maja Lunde, Following Sunshine by Niamh McAnally, and An Unfinished Love Story by Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Book Clubs & Talks
I’ve really been enjoying visiting book clubs lately—in person and via Zoom. I’ve met with interesting groups from all across the country and several local groups to talk about Force of Nature, about hiking, about reading. It’s been really fun meeting so many new friends and catching up with old friends.
If you have a book club and would like me to join your group, just reach out. There’s more information in a Book Club Kit on my website, too.
If you’d like one of my handmade bookmarks for yourself and/or for your bookclub to use with my book. Reach out.
I’ll be June’s speaker at the Sun City Lincoln Hills Kilaga Library Author Series on June 24 in the Presentation Hall at 2:30pm. I’ll have slides and artifacts and a good story to tell about the adventure that became Force of Nature.
Trail Physics — A Poem From The Trail
This poem comes from the journal I kept while backpacking the John Muir Trail.
Time slowed, Expanded. Extra seconds Found their way into every minute, Extra minutes into every hour, Stretching out days. Boundaries blurred. Molecules mingled, Until I was partly made of Sky and granite, Pieces of myself Left behind In streams and wildflowers.
Happy Spring, my friends! When next I write, we will be knee-deep into summer!
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
A Force of Nature met by a human force by her resilience, power and curiousity! Diving into my first read of your epic experience, I had to stop at the emotion and grief of the loss of your dear friend, which kind of mirrors my own grief experience now and how through it all it propelled you to the next level - I'm hoping for the same for me.
Glad you've put this on tape, it's just the thing for me and I've ordered it on Amazon.
Thank you friend for being such a force in our world in Nevada County, our writers group, your mentoring and so many other things that you touch.
May your gifts enrich you further and bless you.
What a delightful process. An audio edition! Congratulations.