It's the first of the year, and in California a slew of new laws are going into effect. In the past, survivors only had until they turned 28 to press charges for sexual abuse offenses in their childhood. Today the statute of limitations was raised to the victim's age 40. It's a change in the [...]
This brilliant patch of volunteer flowers grows beside my neighbor's driveway. His wife, Joy, grew and canned fruits and vegetables and shared them with all of us who live nearby. About four years ago, she died unexpectedly. Her husband dug the vegetable garden under. And since then, each spring and summer, these volunteer flowers come, [...]
The first on-line coverage of this new edition of Strong at The Heart just went live. It's at The Pirate Tree, a blog about social justice and children's books. Strong is for YA and up, so it fits! They gave me a good amount of space for an interview, too, and I'm glad. It gave [...]
It was a fabulous party. So many people came, friends, strangers and readers of the book. What a great send off!The Northcoast Rape Crisis Team was there (we put this on as a benefit for them). They use Strong at the Heart for crisis worker trainings and to give to clients.One young crisis worker talked [...]
Tomorrow is the official launch of the new, updated, paperback edition of Strong at the Heart. The party will be at one of my favorite places--the bookstore four blocks from my house. If you are local, do come! Northtown Books, 957 H Street, Arcata, CA. The party starts at 7 pm. This morning I was [...]
In the past month I've experience three powerful moments of healing in my own community. "Flash mob, on the Plaza," a friend told me on Valentine's day. "What time?" "2:14." So I ran over to have a look. There must have been upwards to a hundred young teen girls gathered on the Plaza in the [...]
