Author & Ecologist
In 2007, I sold my first short story, 'Turning Point,' to the speculative fiction journal ZAHIR. Set in the highland forests of Costa Rica, 'Turning Point' chronicles the tensions between three field entomologists who must decide what to do when a faerie falls into one of their malaise traps. The meticulous Ruth, dedicated to documentation and... Continue Reading →
We're well into classes at Avila, but in quiet moments I still reflect on my summer trip to Germany and all the things I learned and saw traveling the country with my family; visiting the stomping grounds of relatives and ancestors. I've long been fascinated by family histories, a habit instilled in me no doubt... Continue Reading →
Every year around this time, I look at my August calendar and say, "Who are you, and what have you done with my summer?" Classes start at Avila this week. Wait, what? Classes start this week?? Why does time always takes us by surprise? I once read a theologian who argued this was evidence of... Continue Reading →
I'm honored to announce that I've been invited as the keynote speaker for this year's ADELANTE conference, presented by Prospanica KC. Prospanica is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the Hispanic community to reach their full educational, economic, and social potential. They also advocate the pursuit of higher education in all careers and advance Hispanic... Continue Reading →
Bee activity has spiked this month out at Jerry Smith Park. Our collection protocol brought in twice as many individuals compared to April and May combined! I'm also seeing bees I haven't seen before; notably, Svastra, a striking bee with very furry legs. (That "fur" by the way is what biologists call "scopa;" specialized hairs for carrying... Continue Reading →
All the true birders out there are going to say, "It's about time you got with the program!" And they're right. It's been a couple years since a friend and colleague introduced me to eBird, the wonderful app developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. I'm not sure how long eBird has been around, but... Continue Reading →
Book Three of The Silver Web trilogy is out in ibook, Nook, and Kobo as well as Kindle. Now you can read the full, award-winning series in the ebook format of your choice - just in time for summer! Brief description and purchase links below. Enjoy! 🙂 Daughter of Aithne (Book 3 of The Silver Web) Winner of the... Continue Reading →
Saturday I attended a meeting of the Heartland Authors Guild, which goes by the wonderful acronym HAG. We did a flash fiction workshop including an exercise based on sensory prompts. Prompts were given to us by chance - drawn from a deck of cards. Mine read as follows: the sound of a garden hose What... Continue Reading →
It's been a month since I said good-bye to my friends at Virginia Beach, happy yet sad as we embraced each other in the bittersweet end to our annual gathering of creativity, womanly power, and meaningful companionship. I always come away from that week with a sense of renewal and at least one important lesson... Continue Reading →
