How love of Anais Nin’s work brought Maryanne Raphael a new friend

Maryanne Raphael sent me this poignant story. Her story of how she met Anais Nin appeared earlier on Riehlife. –JGR ________________________ When I took a course in the psychology of women at Los Angeles City College, I wrote about the Anais Nin I knew. My professor Dr. Eve Jones told me, “If you know Anais…

Blog Duet: How do we connect to and nurture our creative path?

Selena Wolff is a recent Blogging Buddy. Her site is Solitary Words: Finding Spirit Through Writing. It’s exactly what it says! Selena contributed a guest post to Riehl Life on “Finding Your Voice.” From blog comments to emails to guest post to telephone conversation, gradually our connection grew stronger. Today we’re sharing our views on…

Part 2: Life with the Written Word–Ernest Dempsey’s Story from Pakistan

Yesterday Riehlife readers were treated to Part 1 of Ernest Dempsey’s “Life with the Written Word.” When you read part one you’ll see Ernest’ bio and the story of our four year internet friendship since 2007. –JGR ______________________ PART 2: Life with the Written Word – Ernest Dempsey’s Story from Pakistan JGR: Your home is…

Life with the Written Word: Ernest Dempsey’s Story from Pakistan

Just like one’s immediate social surroundings, being part of an online community required mutuality of interest, a certain desirable decorum, and above all, the will to engage in meaningful, very often a reassuring, and dialogue – whether in form of direct person-to-person communication or comments on blog posts. It was living in a world of…

Art? It’s the magic of the mundane

Jenny Hazard and I met when she participated in a dialogue about “Five Tips for Creative Independence: Don’t sell your soul to the company store.” Jenny is a trained Advocate and Counselor with 20 years experience working with Youth and Families. Most recently she’s worked with Domestic and Sexual Violence Counseling and support. Jenny says…

“Passage into Elderhood—Happy 60th Birthday,” by Janet Grace Riehl

Womens Memoirs published my story “Passage into Elderhood: Happy 60th birthday” on my 2011 birthday December 29th exactly two years after I celebrated my 60th birthday by returning to Ghana. Long ago a Ghanaian friend asked me, “Janet, what kind of old woman do you want to be?” This story is the answer to his…

Art Connections–one art develops another. Conversation with Louise Ladd

Louise Ladd is a strong example of a multli-talented creative person. Now a writer-editor-teacher she’s no stranger to performance and painting. Since the mission of Riehlife is to create connections through the arts and across cultures, I’m delighted to share our short conversation. –Janet Janet: I find that nothing is ever wasted. My ear for…

A young writer & musician draws strength from history: Jeffrey L. Buford Jr.

Jeffrey L. Buford Jr. is my guest today on Riehlife. He grew up on the banks of the muddy Mississippi River on my father’s property. He’s a growing writer and musician. Here is our conversation. –Janet ____________________________ Riehlife: Tell us about your writing path so far. Jeffrey: Through writing about history and politics I found…

Anne Schroeder’s “Room of Her Own”: She transformed an ordinary garden shed into a dream writing room

I met Anne Schroeder through Women Writing the West. You’ve seen her before on Riehlife when I interviewed Anne about her humorous and insightful memoir “Ordinary Aphrodite” which chronicles her attempts to live a balanced life. Anne’s story of creating her dream writing room out of ordinary materials proves that it’s not the the money,…