Blog Posts

  • Time Bank

    Need help around the house or garden? Want to learn French or knitting, or get a massage? Do you have a skill or service to offer: petsitting, composting, a ride to the airport? Time Bank Santa Cruz members offer services to other members, accruing hours in the bank. They withdraw hours when they receive services Read more

  • Pacific Coast Children’s Writers Workshop

    I haven’t attended this workshop, in my own backyard, now in its tenth year. But a local writing friend has been several times and recommends it. I hope to go in October. For any of you who are writing for children, here’s some information. Sounds like a good line-up of faculty. 10th Annual Pacific Coast Read more

  • The Wild Trees

    I recently spent a day in the redwoods, a Cabrillo College extension course led by Sandy Lydon. The afternoon of that day, our group went on ziplines into the canopy at Mount Hermon. While this was a beautiful and challenging experience, I was left somewhat unsatisfied because I was hoping for a real old growth Read more

  • Capitola Book Cafe

    Our wonderful local independent book store, Capitola Book Cafe, is struggling to stay in business, as are many independent book stores. They’ve kicked off a Survive and Thrive campaign to try to raise the money needed to keep on bringing us not only great books, but all the wonderful author talks, workshops, and other events Read more

  • Santa Cruz Peace Chorale events

    Two big events in May will end the season for the Santa Cruz Peace Chorale. Coming up this week on Thursday, May 3, the chorale will sponsor films as part of the annual Reel Work Labor Film Festival. The films are about the Occupy movement, current and historical. The chorale will sing a few songs, Read more

  • Valuable advice for critique groups

    I apologize for the long gap between blogs, once again. I’ve just completed a new middle grade book, Shell, about a modern young Maya girl’s experience immigrating to the U.S. Writing consumed me. Then I made a road trip to visit family in parts north. And I confess, I don’t always have something I feel Read more