“The Hudson is a long arm of the sea, and it has something of the sea’s austerity and grandeur. I think one might spend a lifetime upon its banks without feeling any sense of ownership in it, or becoming at all intimate with it: it keeps one at arm’s length.”
     —“A River View,” by John Burroughs

I set out in my kayak to form an intimate relationship with the Hudson River. From water-level I saw great blue heron take flight, and snapping turtles slip into the waters of the North Tivoli Bay. I rolled onto the rocky shores of the river and explored abandoned cement factories and former ice houses. I collected bricks that litter stretches of sandy shoreline and memorized the trees and bushes that line the water off of my home village of Tivoli. I learned this section so well that I called it mine: MY REACH.

Seven years later I have a book, published by Cornell University Press, in which I detail my meandering adventures on this great river. Woven into these explorations of history and natural history is the story of my family, and the life and death of my parents. Though I have published twelve previous books—all edited collections—I feel like this is my first book. For a gorgeous meditation on what this first book means to me, and to its "godmother", read this blog post. I am grateful that the book is sailing into the world with wonderful support. I gave advance copies of the book to a set of generous reader friends to read and comment on. They have also sent photos (send me more!). There are several regional events planned—join me!

Read a short piece on wrote on paddling at night for Zocalo Public Square.

Here is an interview with a local paper, The Kingston Freeman.

Elizabeth Floyd at the Albany Times Union wrote a wonderful interview.

And here is a piece I wrote for a wonderful literary website, named Berfois.

The readings/signings this fall have all be marvelous. Here is the book cake, made by Mikee the baker (of Tivoli fame--read page 123), for the Oblong reading.