I started writing in 2011, and for 9 years I have experienced an aloneness in the lack of participating in a writer’s community. Despite much local community support and interest, as far as being part of a writers’ community, I have felt like one small voice speaking into the wind of modern industrial society, the powerful wind that blows the opposite way. This aloneness pertains to many missing elements, the peer group of writers for children, the peer group that is concerned with the more-than-human dimension, and even the technical dilemma of not having an editor (a children’s book editor) and a consistent graphic artist. This slowly has come into place with the generous appearance of Lisa P Allen, my editor, and subsequently Christina Wightman, my graphic designer. I am very grateful for their glowing participation.

Further, to my great joy, through a certain collection of books that I have been immersed in reading this spring, I have found that I DO belong to a writer’s community of thought and soul perceptions. I was first led into this by Bill Plotkin’s Nature and the Human Soul – Cultivating Wholeness and Community in a Fragmented World. Through his writings I was introduced to Thomas Berry’s, Evening Thoughts – Reflecting on Earth as Sacred Community. And further, Brian Swimme and Thomas Berry’s The Universe Story – From the Primordial Flaring Forth to the Ecozoic Era – A Celebration of the Unfolding of the Cosmos (Whew! Long titles, but inspirational and illustrative).

Finding my writer’s community, the stream of thoughts and perceptions held by other writer’s has given me a tremendous boost and confidence, as you can imagine! I feel like I have arrived at the train platform, after walking through a wild and pathless land for 9 years!

I can only say to the Conscious Universe, “Thank you, thank you!” And also thank all my friends and local community for their support and interest all these years!