Tweit & Riehl begin “Blog Duet”: How do we nurture ourselves and still nurture the world?

Susan Tweit, began our blog duet yesterday,Tuesday, February 12, 2008, with her post on “Community of the Land,” titled “Finding your balance: outward and inward.”

Susan J. Tweit telling plant stories in Colorado

Janet Riehl performs “Big Butts Are Beautiful”
As a journalist, memoirist, blogger, and speaker I’ve known Susan through two organizations: Women Writing the West and [...]

St. Louis Black Rep Company’s Fireside Chat #2: August Wilson’s “Radio Golf” (opens February 13-March 9, 2008, at Grandel Theatre) When does urban renewal turn into bulldozing the past?

The Black Rep Company’s website describes August Wilson’s “Radio Golf” like this:
The final installment in Wilson’s cycle of ten plays that examines the African-American experience in 20th century America, and the tenth to be produced by The Black Rep. The epic tale centers on Harmond Wilks, an Ivy League-educated lawyer who plans to declare his [...]

“Iron Ladies of Liberia” airs on KETC in April…Sneak Preview of Independent Lens Film at Missouri History Museum

Alex Detrick pulled together another fine evening last night at the Missouri History Museum, featuring Independent Lens film “Iron Ladies of Liberia” which will later air on KETC/Channel 9 April 6th at 11 p.m. Click here for video clip and political background on Liberia and the film.
Click here for 2005 Washington Post article written before [...]

Writers in the Sky February Newsletter presents Riehl’s poem “Window Frame” from “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary”

Yvonne Perry of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services asked me to send her a poem for her February newsletter. Click here to read the entire newsletter.
I sent an excerpt from WINDOW FRAME originally published in “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary” and dedicated to my mother Ruth Evelyn Johnston Thompson (January 4, 1916-May 1, 2006). [...]

Happy Losar! (Tibetan New Year)

Happy Losar!
Happy Tibetan New Year!
To read the story of Losar from Namgyal Monastery (Personal Monastery of H.H. the Dalai Lama) click here.

Alla’s Historical Dallas Bed & Breakfast…a heavenly blend of old and new

If you live in the Dallas area…if you’re travelling to the Dallas area…If you live anywhere in Texas…come on down to Alla’s Historical Dallas Bed and Breakfast where old ways and new ways meet to offer a thoroughly modern version of old world hospitality…and, enjoy the rooster!

Alla is what makes Alla’s B & B a [...]

Riehlife Back of the Envelope Book Marketing Plan for “Pen to Print” Panel at SCN National Memoir Conference, Austin, Texas

In 2006 I published my book “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary”with iUniverse. While my first-line audience was friends and family, I quickly found there were second-third-and-fourth-line audiences rippling out there who were interested in my book, my topic, and by extension, in me and what I thought and had to say. I marketed “Sightlines” by every [...]

SCN Conference: Circles of Conversations

Barbara Jo Brothers, of San Antonio (nee New Orleans), and discuss levels of losses in New Orleans after Katrina…how there are subtle losses, far more reaching and harder to reconstruct than the buildings. How are these subtle losses to be healed? Loss of relationship? The loss of how places were before Katrina…and all the way [...]

SCN’s National Memoir Conference Henfest 130 strong—like relaxing and writing with a group of girlfriends

“Who’s the designer for your blouse?” asks Martha Fleming from San Antonio, Texas.
“Gosh, I don’t know. Go ahead and check the label,” I say, holding up the the inside collar for her inspection. It’s “Connie’s Moon Light.” I bought it at the St. Louis Art Museum boutique right before I left because I thought its [...]

SCN Caberet: Musical Memories & Anecdotes with Sue Bilch & Paullette McDougal

My father has a phrase for it in his beautiful poem: “Music brings memories.” Yes, indeed it does. Working from that premise, Sue Bilch and Paullette McDougal presented a thrilling cabaret performance for the Story Circle Network Saturday luncheon.
It occurred to me during the performance, as I listened, enjoyed, and looked around the room, that [...]