Collisions of Earth and Sky

Connecting with Nature for Nourishment, Reflection, and Transformation

Well, folks—it’s here! The cover of my next book, the reason I’m writing about ordinary collisions in the first place, is done and visible (at least on the internet..) for all to see. The designer did such a lovely job on it, don’t you think? I love the way she (Olga Grlic) captured the essence of one of my favorite ordinary collisions: that of the trees and the sky. It’s a collision that’s going on all the time, and one of those that I’m always deeply grateful for—that these trees that keep our air breathable collide so beautifully with the expanse of the sky, that wide-open, ever-changing space above our heads. When I look all the way up from my backyard in about October, I see a view very much like the one on the cover, with a few more maples and basswoods in the mix. Tall trees and blue sky harmonizing is one of the earth’s best works of art.

You can now preorder the book anywhere books are sold (and doing so is a great help to authors, as it helps the publisher decide how much time and energy to devote to marketing and publicity).

And in case you’re thinking, hmmm….what exactly is this book about, anyway? Fear not—the book description is also done and here it is:

Research indicates that spending time in a natural setting provides a plethora of benefits, from lower blood pressure to increased immunity to an enhanced sense of well-being and happiness. People who appreciate nature tend to experience more moments of joy and are more innovative. Being connected to nature helps us be more fully human and better planetary citizens. But the pace of our lives often leaves little room for connecting with nature, and our history of colonization complicates our relationship to the landscapes we inhabit.

Collisions of Earth and Sky is an invitation to live in a way that is attuned to nature, paying attention to what's going on inside ourselves and in the larger collective. Guided by wellness coach and poet Heidi Barr, it is a journey of self-inquiry for digging into our origins and roots, figuring out what it means to be a good community member—both to other humans and to our nonhuman neighbors—and integrating those truths and lessons so we can add to the healing of the world. Barr shows us a way to let nature be an ally in living well, offering hopeful inspiration to continue our own path of self-discovery.

A collection of reflections, poetry, and invitations to discovery, Collisions of Earth and Sky calls you to celebrate what it is to embrace wildness as an integral part of being fully alive.

Now that the cover is done and the preorder is live, I’ve been starting to talk more about the book (t-minus six months to publication day!) and had my first few chances to tell people about it this week: During a Zoom reading, Q&A, and discussion with a church group in LA, and at sidetracked, a public art space in Mankato, Minnesota, after a poetry reading. I have some work to do yet on ensuring my 'book elevator speech’ is concise, but it felt good to tell folks about this project that I’ve been devoting energy to for quite awhile now. We’ve reached a pivot point.

There are a number of pivot points in the life of a book once its written and edited: When you say to your editor, “yes, this looks good, green light to send it to the printer”; when the preorder goes live and you start telling people they can order a copy; when the first box of author copies arrives on the doorstep in physical form. And then again when it’s truly out in the world with readers. So, we are two pivot points in—I approved the final cover copy just the other day, and the preorder is up!

Onward.