“Is climate change to blame” for the California fires? “The answer, simply, is yes.”

My amazing colleague, Erica Smithwick answers the question, “Is climate change to blame” for the California fires? “The answer, simply, is yes.” 2024 is officially the hottest year on record, the tenth of the ten hottest ever-recorded years. Snowpack is reduced, droughts are longer and deeper, and everything on the ground is drier and therefore … More “Is climate change to blame” for the California fires? “The answer, simply, is yes.”

A student faces the fires. We’re lucky he understands what drives them & is ready to do something about it.

Over the last few days, I’ve been texting with a former student, Joe Thompson, from the Local Climate Action Program who lives in Orange, CA. The Palisades fire has been raging around him, so he’s been assisting his community by taking food the local shelter for it to go to Los Angeles. With the Santa … More A student faces the fires. We’re lucky he understands what drives them & is ready to do something about it.

1:12 pm Black Bear – A chapter draft from my novel, Rise.

I’m working on a novel, tentatively titled Rise. It takes place over the course of 26 hours, largely in one place. Each chapter focuses on a different character. In this chapter, I’ve written from the perspective of an adult female black bear who sees a wildfire that’s started in the chapter before. This is the … More 1:12 pm Black Bear – A chapter draft from my novel, Rise.