Author & Ecologist
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 →
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 →
We've been through some tough times for love. On a personal level, I've navigated fallout from a divorce, but more than that, as a community we've been bombarded by relentless forces of anger, division, and hate. Compassion, hope, and affection have had difficulty finding their voices in these confusing times, and all of us have... Continue Reading →
Once in a great while, a calendar year comes with a singular message; a lesson that seems to start on or near January 1st and come full circle by the end of December. If I were to articulate the big lesson of the last 365 days, it would be this: We must work hard to... Continue Reading →
Week 4 Query Totals (Agents Only): Submitted: 41 Rejections: 7 Requests for Partial/Full: 0 And...I'm done. For the moment, at any rate. July has ended, and August is here. Time to set aside query madness and focus on getting my act together for the start of fall semester. Later on down the road - probably... Continue Reading →
One year ago this week, I traveled to Costa Rica to sign my divorce papers. Today, I can reaffirm the old saying, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Because this thing nearly killed me. And now, I feel stronger for it. The years leading up to the divorce and the months following have been... Continue Reading →
As long as I can remember, I've used two different names for the exact same bird. The gentle dove, Zanaida macroura, has lived in my mind as both "mourning dove" and "morning dove." I use the two names interchangeably, without any thought or notice of when I make the switch, or why. It's fitting, in a way. Mourning... Continue Reading →
If you know me well - or even if you don't but you're good at reading between the lines - you're probably aware that one of my current life challenges involves moving past the emotional fallout from my recent divorce. It's been about nine months since we signed the papers. Every day is a little... Continue Reading →
Whoosh!! And just like that, the month of January is gone. When I stay away from the internet for extended periods of time, it's usually because I have a lot going on in my non-virtual life - most of it good - and this month has been no exception. In addition to kicking off the... Continue Reading →
This isn't the first time I've gone through divorce. I'm not very proud of that statement. In fact, I'm embarrassed by it. If you'd known me for the devout Catholic girl I once was, you might understand how remarkable it is that I've grown up to be the twice-divorced child of the family. Even now,... Continue Reading →
