DEBUT
Flash MEmoirS out SOON!
Picking Raspberries is a collection of literary snapshots that take you back in time. They invite you into the seasonal rhythms of an ordinary American childhood. Turn off the news, brew a cup of chamomile tea, and bring it out to the front porch. Take a moment to savor these stories and enjoy the memory of grandma’s sweet tart lemon meringue pie.
Whimsical Illustrations by her son, Wyn Di Stefano, deftly capture the perspective of his mother's Midwestern roots. From tea sets in farm pig pens to tornados heading toward the neighborhood pool, these stories bring you inside the adventures of a bookish girl growing up in Minnesota.
recommendations
"With vivid, nostalgic prose, this collection of flash memoirs captures the simple yet profound moments that shape a childhood: joys such as raspberry picking and summer swims, to the awe of seeing a butterfly emerge, or the fear of a tornado siren, each snapshot brims with emotion and humor.
Readers are invited to relive the magic of everyday memories that make us who we are. Wyn Di Stefano’s art creates engaging visuals accompanying the words.
A truly heartwarming read!”
– Scott McCombs, Wordsmith
In her Flash memoir course writers were invited to “highlight tiny magical moments and transform them into shining jewels.”
— Diane Frank, Award-winning author
About Paula
Paula Nichols grew up in Hopkins, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. Once known as the Raspberry Capital of the World, Hopkins hosted the annual Raspberry Festival and Parade on Main Street every July. A writer, editor, and columnist, Paula studied at the University of Minnesota and completed her BA in Magazine Journalism at San Francisco State University. After a career in New York City, Paula returned to the Bay Area to work in UC Berkeley’s Oral History Center. An oral history interview with her Great Aunt Shirley became the inspiration for many stories in this book. In her art-filled apartment in the North Bay, Paula enjoys advising students on their college application essays. She enjoys historic novels, Fresh Air interviews, cooking and water walks.
About The Illustrator
Wyn Di Stefano is a muralist and painter whose art is exhibited on public and private walls throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, and Colombia. He works as a scenic artist, painting for the Marin Shakespeare Company, the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, the Aurora Theatre, and the San Francisco Playhouse. Wyn received his BFA in Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute. WynsArt.com WynDiStefano.com
