No matter where I’ve lived, I’ve come back to and drawn from my experiences growing up on our family’s homestead. My poetry book Sunset Dreams is a compilation of poems I wrote over many years. It highlights and celebrates the Ashley area and its German-Russian culture, examining its place in our histories, before diving into post-college experiences. I appreciate Lindsay Schock’s invitation last month to sign my book at her Ashley store, “Book Smart.” We had a wonderful time! Lindsay’s work can only improve connection and conversation surrounding the shared heritage of the area. A bookstore can be many things, and I hope hers can continue to be the best of them.