In my last update I mentioned having a book on peer review with a major university press. Here are some of the reviewers’ comments (after all, it’s not bragging if you’re quoting someone else):

Tamela Rich’s proposed book, Along the Ohio: Traveling America’s Dividing Line, seeks to understand the racial history of the lower Midwest by chronicling the author’s tour along the Ohio River, which Rich calls “America’s first and longest slavery borderland.” A mix of history and travelogue, and structured along thirteen stops along the river, the book plans to investigate “the lower Midwest’s and upper South’s true racial history” by touring the region, visiting historic sites, and interviewing modern-day residents.

Rich’s writing is both clear and compelling. The style is appropriate for the intended audience and the author’s voice is appealing. Rich’s personality also shines through. I think the book will grab readers and will hold their attention. 

If you’re a writer wondering why I decided to publish with a university press or the advantages of peer review, feel free to email me and I’ll answer your questions. You might first check out my archive of newsletters on writing and publishing. Finally, this book was a valuable resource.

If you’ve been missing me on “the socials,” most of my online activity is at my two free email newsletters. I narrate every newsletter, so you can listen in the Substack app or in your favorite podcatcher.

Heavy Lifting

For the past six months I’ve been working with a personal trainer to build my strength and overall functional fitness. No one has been more shocked than yours truly how much I’ve enjoyed it.

I walk to the community fitness center with my neighbor, Lauren, and we share a 45-minute session with our trainer. If you’re considering getting into shape (or better shape) I heartily recommend doing it with a friend—for both accountability and positive reinforcement.

Get a load of that bicep!

I rode my motorcycle from home (North Carolina) to Maine around the Labor Day holiday to attend a national BMW Motorcycle Rally in Fryeburg, making the most of the late summer temps and gorgeous scenery. For those keeping track, I ride a 2022 BMW F 900 XR and love everything about it.

After the rally, I spent several days in Bangor with one of my dearest friends, Jill, who is also an avid motorcyclist. Watching the sun set from her rooftop living area (right) we relived some of our favorite moto-moments from North America and Europe, then realized it had been ten years since our first Maine tour. Ten!

Seize the day, friends! They soon become years.

In New Hampshire, Jill and stopped for dinner at Covered Bridge Farm Table in Campton on trivia night. We named our little team of two “Ramblin’ Roses” before sweeping the field of regulars. I was especially proud to answer this question correctly: If a group of horses is a herd and a group of owls is a parliament, what animals form a group known as a “bloat?”

Speaking of trivia, if you enjoy learning something new, check out my 981 Project newsletter. I feature monthly trivia on all things related to the 981 miles of the Ohio River.

Whatcha Watching?

I’ve been gobbling up documentaries lately. This weekend I watched Ken Burns’s Benjamin Franklin while crocheting with some yarn I bought in Maine.

Do you enjoy British dramas, mysteries, and crime shows? You’ll love The Inheritance, in which three siblings are left reeling after their father’s unexpected death. After learning they are left out of the will, they embark on a journey to figure out whether this death was truly a tragic accident, or whether it was murder. So many secrets!

I have a BritBox subscription but you can also watch it through Amazon Prime Video.

I hope your winter holidays are filled with joy and lots of downtime. You deserve it. I’ll be back in 2025.