Blog

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As a curious observer of life, I blog on writing, marketing, my prairie - anything that interests me in the moment. I like to have conversations with readers, so don’t hesitate to leave a comment. I'll respond.

Happy birthday, National Park Service

By Carol / 27 August 2016 /

The National Park Service marks 100 years this week. One hundred years of preserving our amazing natural resources. One hundred years of educating people on our great outdoors. One hundred years of giving joy to…

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The Seven Year Dress – Devastation & Resilience

By Carol / 09 August 2016 /

Today, I introduce you to Paulette Mahurin and her new WWII-era novel, The Seven Year Dress. The Seven Year Dress covers one of the darkest times in human history from the perspective of one Jewish…

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How have you chipped away at glass ceilings?

By Carol / 02 August 2016 /

“When there are no ceilings, the sky’s the limit.” Hillary Clinton NOTE – This is not a political post, so if Clinton’s name inspires you to rant, take a breath, relax, and hang with me…

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Murals fuel & memorialize Irish conflict

By Carol / 31 May 2016 /

Murals as a form of political, social, and cultural expression rose in importance during “The Troubles” – a 30-year conflict that began in 1968 and divided Northern Ireland. Though The Troubles more or less ended…

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Courage – Would you have enough?

By Carol / 27 April 2016 /

Harriet Tubman. Oskar Shindler. Esther. People iconic for their courage and the bold actions they took to save the lives of others, actions that put their own lives at risk. Every time I hear a…

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It’s "I Grew Up Country Day" – How will you celebrate?

By Carol / 18 March 2015 /

We expect you celebrated St. Patrick’s Day. Hopefully with enough restraint to leave room to celebrate a far newer day. Since Iowa Governor Branstad signed a Proclamation declaring March 18, 2015, “I Grew Up Country Day,” 50+…

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I Grew Up Country – New initiative encourages storytelling

By Carol / 10 March 2015 /

On Monday, March 9, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed a Proclamation declaring March 18, 2015, “I Grew Up Country Day” – in Iowa and wherever food is produced. Haven’t heard of “I Grew Up Country”? Let…

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'You got game, white girl' – Home Sweet Hardwood

By Carol / 11 November 2014 /

Mo’ne Davis pitches like a girl. A thirteen-year-old girl who throws a 70 mph fastball. The star of The Little League World Series may not even realize sports wasn’t always an option for girls like…

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Her kind of historical fiction

By Carol / 04 November 2014 /

“I’m blown away.” That’s what I thought as I read The Girl on the Mountain, a novel set in the West Virginia mountains at the end of the 19th century. The characters are vivid and…

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What is Go Away Home about? Readers weigh in.

By Carol / 16 July 2014 /

One of my college professors spent much of a semester dissecting T.S. Eliot’s poem “The Love-Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” I must admit, I left the classroom on most days shaking my head in dismay.…

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