To the lighthouse*
A reading in Bozeman, a trip to the coast, and other news
Dear reader,
Stories find me usually when I least expect them. Like in an old stone barn with red doors 20 000 miles from where I grew up; on a casual walk home from a family dinner on the Swiss border; or in the tight stairwell of a lighthouse overlooking the Salish Sea. Each time, a tingling wanders from my heart all the way into my toes and I feel the story before I write the first word. Sometimes, like for Hush of the Land, they want to be written with urgency, right away, night and day. Other times, like the one I am working on right now, set in Germany of 1939, they come back gently but persistently over multiple years reminding me of what I still have to do. Others just stop and say hi, like a friendly ghost, excited to me see me again and about what is it yet to come.
It takes time to find myself as a writer. In particular when life is busy with shuttling between kids dance and soccer practices, homework and housework, always other work. I am so thankful that a dear friend invited me to join her at the Centrum writing residency in Port Townsend for a few days last week. It was like taking a deep breath in and out, making space for all these wonderful stories knocking at my door.
Now, let’s catch up on some events and news, a lot has happened since the last issue!
Bozeman. Smoke, Thelma and I didn’t know what to expect from our first event at a bookstore and the only one we will have in southwestern Montana a few weeks ago. All other readings this year had been at libraries, museums or community spaces and lecture halls. We had not been to Bozeman for years and only knew a few people. When it is hard to walk, navigating downtown Bozeman on a Saturday and not finding ADA parking close by can be nerve racking. But Maris, our staffer from the Country Bookshelf, made us quickly feel at home. To our surprise, all chairs were filled with curious people, even some familiar faces, all excited to see us.
A group of women just got off their horses from a ride through Yellowstone National Park; a man had heard about but never met Smoke and was excited to tell us about his future adventures in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Another family from Washington stopped browsing for books and joined us when they heard Smoke tell a story about crawling into a mine shaft in the Lincoln Scapegoat Wilderness. Every stop on this booktour is worth it and we are so thankful for everyone taking the time to stop by. We have two more planned stops, even one or two virtual ones, on our Montana book tour this year, I’ll list them on the bottom.
Montana Magazine of Western History. I had a lot of fun working with the amazing staff of the Montana Magazine of Western History over the past few months. First we just wanted to do one chapter, then it morphed into combining two. The results is a wonderful showcase of the essence of Hush of the Land. We even included some new pictures that didn’t make it in the book. Make sure to grab their newest issue and see for yourself!
Big Sky Journal. So many people at our readings ask me how Smoke and I met and I got to write his book, so I decided to write it down for everybody to read! The wonderful editoriral team at Big Sky Journal liked it so much, they picked it up right away and published it in their fall issue. This is my first published Magazine article, I hope you enjoy!
Auf bald,
Eva
Other NEWS
Sign up for a FREE Wilderness Curriculum Training with Tammy and Smoke Elser on October 5 9:00-3:30 at Smoke's Barn in Missoula!
Welcome one and all to a FREE training on a new curriculum on Wilderness and the Wilderness Act of 1964 under development by Tammy Elser and her Dad, Smoke Elser. Smoke and Tammy are looking for educators either in public schools or community-based conservation organizations that provide youth activities to learn how to implement and field test a curriculum on Wilderness under development. We have targeted grades 4 to 8, but this curriculum is adaptable to any age or grade. All participants will be provided access to the curriculum and invited to try out lessons and let us know how it goes! Space is limited. Sign up here.
Upcoming EVENTS
Ovando, MT, October 19, 4:30pm, Ovando School Gym, Ovando, MT
Seeley Lake, MT, December 6, Community Foundation Bldg, 2pm, hosted by Alpine Artisans
Virtual HUSH OF THE LAND Storytelling & Reading with book signing!
We are currently working on offering a virtual HUSH OF THE LAND Storytelling & Reading with book signing event. Please get in touch (info@evamaggi.com) if you would be interested in having us talk to your community or join your book club via zoom!
You can also find HUSH OF THE LAND on Facebook and Instagram.
* The title of this post is inspired by Virginia Woolf’s TO THE LIGHTHOUSE. A wonderful read.