A blogging holiday begins

October 9, 2019
Book news Title IX

I’m blogging less and less as I focus more on writing the manuscript for Uppity Women: Title IX and the Ongoing Fight for a Fair Education. I’ve already declared digital holidays from Instagram and Facebook. So, let’s make it official: I’m taking a blogging holiday at least until I finish a first draft of the book manuscript.

At KWMR radio with my Mesa Refuge writing mates, Davia Nelson (center) and Jesus Mena.

I just returned from a two-week writing residency at the gorgeous Mesa Refuge in Point Reyes Station, Calif. Lucky me, I shared the Refuge with two fantastic people and writers, Jesus Mena and Davia Nelson. Jesus is writing a historical novel about the lynchings of Mexican Americans in Texas — something few of us gringos learned about in school. For a lighter taste of his writing, here’s one of his short stories that he read for us. Davia is one half of The Kitchen Sisters. Though she works mainly in sound, radio, and podcasting, Davia and her “sister” Nikki Silva are working on a new book that’s partly personal memoirs, partly a Kitchen Sisters memoir, and partly a collection of insights about storytelling. Watch for both their books!

A Mesa Refuge tradition: Writers autograph the closets.

Let’s hope that no breaking news about Title IX compels me to return from my blogging holiday in order to share an urgent blog post. With Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and President Trump still in office, you never know.

Meanwhile, it’s a joy to encounter women with their own Title IX stories everywhere I go. I wish I could fit them all into the book. They, too, are the uppity women creating history. My latest example: Mesa Refuge Program Coordinator Kamala Tully. She and other students got all uppity with the help of Title IX during her years at the University of California, Berkeley in the 1990s.

The East Shed at Mesa Refuge, a writing haven looking out on the wetlands just south of Tomales Bay. (The topmost photo is a sunset view from my windows.) Photos by Sherry Boschert.

If you’re ever fortunate enough to go to Mesa Refuge or to meet Kamala, ask her about it! Even better, just start randomly asking girls and women if they know of Title IX and have their own Title IX story. You may be surprised how many do.

Me, I’m off to write Title IX’s story. I’ll be attending another month-long writing residency this winter. See you in 2020!