Author Archives: sheilawill

Fly Like An Eagle

Posted on October 28, 2025 by sheilawill

Driving alongside the Mighty Mississippi to the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota, was worth the trip. Time to spend with my darling nearly nine-year-old grandson on a late Autumn day, with its Midwestern array of gold, red, and orange … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Matters, Managing Minneapolis, Nature Girl, politics | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

No One is Talking About This

Posted on September 28, 2025 by sheilawill

I want to tell you about two very different writers. Both are worth reading. Their writing resonates with me for very different reasons. Patricia Lockwood is a quirky, “let ‘er fly” poet, novelist, and essayist. She disdains genres. Her novels … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

I didn’t know it yet…

Posted on August 19, 2025 by sheilawill

As I returned from this morning’s three-mile walk around Lake Harriet, I passed Wild Rumpus Children’s Bookstore. As I often do. A mom and dad and a skinny young boy made their way from their small car (with a Quebec … Continue reading →

Posted in America WTF?, Baby Boomers, children's books, Family Matters, For Love of History, Managing Minneapolis | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

To The Editor

Posted on August 2, 2025 by sheilawill

I’m proud that the Minnesota Star Tribune printed my letter to the editor this week. I’m two for two getting my writing into one of the country’s top newspapers. The first was “Misogyny Amplified,” a column that appeared following the … Continue reading →

Posted in America WTF?, Fight wimpiness, For Love of History, Journalism/Writing, politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Most Remarkable Man

Posted on July 13, 2025 by sheilawill

I’m proud to share my tribute to Ashley Bryan, which was just published in the Horn Book Magazine. It would have been Ashely’s 102 birthday on Sunday, July 13.  We need more humans like Ashley in this tumultuous world! https://www.hbook.com/story/a-most-remarkable-maine-man-a-tribute-to-ashley-bryan

Posted in children's books, For Love of History, Mount Desert Island/Maine, Old friends, Read, Read, Read | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Unscathed and Unbit

Posted on June 25, 2025 by sheilawill

Ship Harbor is my favorite one-mile stroll along the Atlantic. No climbing any of the thirty peaks on Mt. Desert Island. From that rocky coast of Maine, view the Duck Islands in the distance, a lobster boat crossing by. There … Continue reading →

Posted in Baby Boomers, children's books, Family Matters, For Love of History, Mount Desert Island/Maine, Old friends | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pencil Sharpening Means Renewal

Posted on June 8, 2025 by sheilawill

I’ve had my regrets in life. But I don’t regret getting so excited about the fourth anniversary of the 20-ft. pencil sharpening at Lake of the Isles, yesterday on June 7, which took place on the front lawn of the … Continue reading →

Posted in America WTF?, Fight wimpiness, Managing Minneapolis | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Dream Count, A Recommendation

Posted on April 23, 2025 by sheilawill

After my children and grandchildren, after hiking in Tucson or on Mt. Desert Island, I love books the most. Since I’m the former owner of OZ Children’s Bookstore (1982-1997), you won’t be surprised to realize that books, nature, my dear … Continue reading →

Posted in America WTF?, politics, Read, Read, Read, The inconvenient truth about education, The Rest of the World, travel | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

All My Rage Can’t Fit On This Sign

Posted on April 5, 2025 by sheilawill

It felt good to join 6,000-10,000 humans in front of the Minnesota State Capital today. We put ourselves out there to stop the rise of authoritarianism, the outrageous oligarchy knocking on all of our doors. What creative signs Minnesotans came … Continue reading →

Posted in America WTF?, Fight wimpiness, For Love of History, Managing Minneapolis, politics | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

No Equality Here!

Posted on February 21, 2025 by sheilawill

When I stopped teaching at Mt. Desert Island High School in 2002, I got cute with my students. Not realizing that any semblance of equality would be on the chopping block in twenty-five years. “If we run into each other … Continue reading →

Posted in America WTF?, Fight wimpiness, For Love of History, Mount Desert Island/Maine, politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment