I have two creative outlets: writing and fibre art quilts. I belong to the Art Quilt Alliance. In November, our president gave us this challenge: Choose a poem and make an art quilt that reflects that poem. The “reveal” would be this May. I chose Emily Dickinson’s poem, Hope is the thing with feathers. I … Continue reading Hope is the Thing with Feathers

We found each other years ago. Who could imagine that such deep friendships could evolve in our lives---eight women in their sixties, or near sixties? Who could imagine that we would see each other as friends we could count on regardless the need? But that is what happened . We wrote from our vulnerability and … Continue reading MEMOIR WRITING GROUP

My book case of poems holds six books by Mary Oliver, and they hold eons of wisdom. This one works for me right now. PRAYING It doesn’t have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay attention, then patch a few words together … Continue reading Mary Oliver

Lots of time, sequestered now, to do random re-reading in the books of poetry that fill a case in the living room.  No goal in mind…just open to hearing/listening. Last Fragment And did you get what you wanted from this life, even so? I did. To call myself beloved, to feel myself beloved on the … Continue reading A Lasting Fragment

Virginia Woolf Who can say it better than Virginia Woolf? “No need to hurry. No need to sparkle. No need to be anybody But yourself.”             ­A Room of One’s Own

It is with great pleasure and humility that I learned that Lone twin: A true story of loss and found has been awarded an Honorable Mention by the book review panel for the 2020 Book Award from the International Congress for Qualitative Inquiry.

Cousins on my Paternal Side How can we protect the identities of people we write about but still tell the “truth”? I just faced that problem (again) in writing about the death of a very dear friend. (See Blog, 80 + Candles, Jan’s Death). I originally wrote the story using correct names lest I confuse myself … Continue reading PROTECTING PRIVACY, PROTECTING SELF

I have two major creative activities: writing and fabric art. I have done them since I was a child. I embroidered the center of the art quilt when I was five; the border I created four years ago from 1940s vintage fabrics. I can only do one creative activity in some unspecified but clear to … Continue reading Writing and Quilting

My new book, LONE TWIN is number one new book in Psychological Biographies! I love this book, and I am so happy that I wrote it. I hope you can recommend it your friends, and students. Thank you for your support. You can easily find it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Lone-Twin-Story-Social-Fictions/dp/9004411348/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=laurel+richardson&qid=1562697863&s=books&sr=1-4-

Forty years ago, I was in a car accident and, then, a coma. When I came back to consciousness, talking was embarrassing and difficult because I could not find words in my jumbled-up brain. But I could write because writing was a private activity.  I could leave a space for the word I couldn’t find and … Continue reading Writing for My Life