Stacy's Books

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I write across the genres of nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and oral history/personal narrative. I'm also the author/illustrator of two children's books and the editor of two essay collections, including essays by contemporary feminists on the concept of pilgrimage and protest essays by the late and phenomenal poet, teacher, and activist June Jordan.

Other Writing Projects

Please view my CV to see a complete list of my book chapters from edited collections and my writing that has appeared in various periodicals.

 

BEYOND 70: The Lives of Creative Women (Nauset Press, 2023)

What will you be doing BEYOND 70? Far from the stereotypical views of older life being a time of decline, this inspiring collection of interviews with 21 creative women age 70 or older affirms that life in the “third act” is often a period of vitality, growth, courage, new possibilities, and even reawakening.

Stella Peabody’s Wild Librarian Bakery and Bookstore: A Novel in Stories (Wild Librarian Press, 2021)

Stella Peabody’s Wild Librarian Bakery and Bookstore: A Novel in Stories (Wild Librarian Press, 2021)

Stella Peabody, an independent and free-spirited “Wild Librarian,” follows her dream and opens a vegan bakery and bookstore where she and her literary-inspired baked goods form the heart of a diverse community full of beloved characters. Recipes are included in this heartwarming tale of one woman’s dream being realized—and, subsequently, the creation of a community built on friendship, belonging, and a mutual love of great books and delicious baked goods.

Wild Librarian Bakery and Bookstore (Litwin Books, 2021) - illustrated book for readers age 4 through adult

Stella the librarian loves her work at the library, but she daydreams about opening her own combination bakery and bookstore. One day she follows her dream and opens a magical place that becomes a popular community gathering space. Wild Librarian Bakery and Bookstore is an inspiring story about following one’s passion. Vegan recipes included!

Poetry Hounds (Litwin Books, 2020) - illustrated book for readers age 4 through adult

Poetry Hounds (Litwin Books, 2020) - illustrated book for readers age 4 through adult

Poetry Hounds celebrates the joy of living a creative life through the adventures of two dog poets as they write poems, garden, take art and music classes, hang out with cat poets, and much more! The story is inspired by my senior rescue dogs Joni and Walter.

Love Activism (Litwin Books, 2018)

Love Activism presents a daily, radical activism of kindness and a positive way to live against cruelty, violence, and injustice for those who seek a more peaceful world. This is realized through how we perform our work, what we do in our communities, and decisions we make each day. Through stories, examples, and lists of practices, readers discover the different elements of this form of activism and how they can bring these practices into their lives. 

Wild Crone Wisdom: Poetry and Stories (Wild Librarian Press, 2023)

The powerful, complex, and often mysterious figure of the Crone is imagined here in stories and poetry from a vibrant array of contributors. The Crone appears as a beloved mother, moon worshipper, hungry spirit, wise elder, bawdy and spicy traveler, aged body, divine gardener, writer, dancer, dangerous soul, lifelong learner, adventurer, mythical being, nature dweller, witch, and beyond. Wild Crone Wisdom offers the lush, deep, and richly imaginative landscape the Crone inhabits and inspires.

Feminist Pilgrimage: Journeys of Discovery (Litwin Books, 2020)

Feminist Pilgrimage: Journeys of Discovery features personal essays by contemporary feminist artists, writers, scholars, and educators. Each contributor imagines the concept of "pilgrimage" in their own life and work as a feminist.

We Were Going to Change the World: Interviews with Women from the 1970s and 1980s Southern California Punk Rock Scene (Santa Monica Press, 2017)

We Were Going to Change the world is the result of a beautiful oral history project I did for several years where I interviewed other women like me who are now in their forties, fifties, or sixties to ask them about their experiences in the early punk rock scene and how those experiences may have influenced the rest of their lives. Most of the interviews were conducted in the women's homes. What is unique about this project is that it includes a diversity of women's voices who were involved in different ways. This includes musicians, photographers, fanzine creators, journalists, and fans. It is an example of social justice-based and feminist-grounded oral history.

The Moon and Other Poems (Dancing Girl Press, 2019)

I wrote the prose poems in this chapbook during the final year of my brother’s life. He passed away from the terrible condition known as ALS. These are some of my favorite poems I’ve ever written. I was so thankful for them. When they arrived in my imagination it was another testament to the healing and survival aspects of art and creativity. I have a few copies still available through my etsy shop.

Everyday Magic (Finishing Line Press, 2019)

The Everyday Magic chapbook includes a selection of my poetry from the years 2015-2019, including a few new poems and earlier poems from my poetry zines.

A Better World Starts Here: Activists and Their Work (Sanctuary Publishers, 2019)

Personal stories have the power to change the world. A Better World Starts Here features interviews I conducted with twenty-five amazing individuals who are performing diverse forms of activism, including ecofeminist Carol J. Adams, activist poet Judy Grahn, and feminist and environmental artist Helene Aylon.

Life as Activism: June Jordan’s Writings from the Progressive (Litwin Books, 2014)

In 1993 I was incredibly fortunate to be a student in June Jordan's "Coming into the World Female" course at UC Berkeley. June Jordan was an amazing poet, essayist, activist, teacher, and so much more. She stood with all of the oppressed. Life as Activism is an edited book I created of her complete protest essays she wrote for The Progressive magazine. This project was completed to help preserve her work and bring her important voice to more people. It includes a foreword by Angela Davis and an introduction by Matthew Rothschild, who was June's editor at The Progressive.

The Library as Place in California (McFarland, 2008)

I believe libraries are important and special community spaces. My first book, The Library as Place in California, investigates the concept of “library as place” found in library literature. I traveled throughout the state of California to visit the libraries presented here and experience their unique sense of place in person. Each chapter is on a different library I encountered during my travels. This was my first book. Some used and new copies are available on Amazon.