How has Northfield provided a context and support and community for writing?
There are a lot of fine writers in Northfield and I haven’t met a single one who wasn’t positive and encouraging. But the word that first jumps to mind is resources. Especially in the case of my book, which was so research intensive, I gained fresh appreciation for the people who serve at public libraries, archives and historical societies all over the country — and that includes the men and women who work at Northfield’s three fantastic libraries. I relied on all three for various things, including to retrieve and read reams of microfilm; to find information about the American Indian boarding school experience; and to obtain published dissertations and out-of-print books that I otherwise couldn’t read without spending a lot of money. In a more general sense, I think the nature of life in Northfield is conducive to writing. When my laptop and I need a break from each other I can, in a matter of minutes, go deep into the Arb to walk my dog and clear my head. Writing wears me out and I c
