After a Few Pages, Lynn Knew "this was a book that belonged in my library ."

"This book is a collection of twelve incredible essays by some of the finest writers to call Colorado their home. I have compiled and edited four or five of these kinds of books. All were enjoyable in more ways than I can describe, but this one was the most fulfilling and satisfying. Much if this had to do with all of the fine writers involved. They included David Mason (Poet Laureate of Colorado), Mara Purl (author, publisher, actress, musician). Susan Tweit, Joe Stone, Larry Meredith, Mark and Kym Todd, Margaret Coel, Mario Acevedo, Laurie Wagner Buyer, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, Kathy Brandt, and Dan Guenther. This is one of the most impressive line-ups of writing talent anywhere."---W.C Jameson, editor


Editor W.C. Jameson has long been interested in why writers do what they do. Why do they write? What obstacles do they encounter, and how do they overcome inevitable bumps in the road? He also wondered how living in Colorado specifically influences the writing experience. So he asked authors, with no rules or boundaries, to share whatever they wanted about their art and lives. This eclectic collection is a peek inside the minds of Colorado authors as they reflect on topics like the writing process, identity as shaped by place, and the stronghold of Colorado's history as a catalyst for creativity.

Lynn says:
"Having (sadly) missed the Tattered Cover event for this book, I'd forgotten about it until a customer was enthusing about it to the point that I agreed to read the essay he named as his favorite at my next opportunity.  That was Joe Stone's' The Writer as Shaman' and indeed it gave me an unexpected jump-start for my own (LONG dormant!) journaling because of the case Stone makes for writing's incredibly cathartic process for both writer and reader.

Going on to read from page one, the essays by Margaret Coel ('Anatomy of a Story'; revealing her compelling motivation for especially her nonfiction work, 'Chief Left Hand' on the Sand Creek Massacre) and David Mason('Opening a Town'; an essay exploring his inspiration and experiences around writing his verse novel about the Ludlow Massacre, 'Ludlow') were fascinating and convinced me this was a book that belonged in my library as I'd want to refer to it again and again.  'From Pretty Pink Bows to Chicken Manure: Embracing Poetry as Practice' by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer is a testament to the magic and power of words and to the process of crafting them in a life affirming way.  Each additional author in this book has something uniquely perceptive to say about how place, character and imagination figure in to inform and vivify one's writing.

Whether you've ever belonged to a writing (or reading!) group or owned a blank journal, this group of regional authors may well have you occasionally, if not daily, moving your pen or typing on your keyboard with a refreshed sense of play, wonder or even urgency."