I'm wayyyy behind on updating this webpage, but wanted to add a link to my lecture on parks and Point Reyes that was filmed by C-SPAN in my "Landscape History of the American West" class in Spring 2017, at Sonoma State University -- it has been broadcast and also available on-line as part of C-SPAN's "American History TV" series. here is the link:
https://www.c-span.org/video/?426970-1/landscape-preservation-national-parks
It's about an hour and ten minutes long -- hope you enjoy it!
Wow, i'm totally terrible at keeping up with this blog thing -- i need to add a few things from over the summer -- but right now, just excited to see the first published (that i know of?) review of my book, written by a colleague at UC Berkeley who's work i have HUGE admiration for, so that makes it extra-exciting -- and published on a super-cool website (former journal), Boom California:
huge thanks to the editors at Boom, and to Dr. Sayre!
I was EXTRA-delighted and honored to share the stage with one of my most esteemed intellectual heroes, geographer David Lowenthal, at Book Passage Bookstore in Corte Madera on saturday, March 25, 2017. I have been reading David's incredible work on landscapes, preservation, and heritage since my earliest days in graduate school, and was over the moon when he agreed to write the Foreword for my book.
Thanks to everyone in the surprisingly-sizable crowd, considering it was one of the first sunny saturdays we've had in months! and here are a few pictures, taken by friends:
David Lowenthal and I in conversation
chatting after the event with my dear friend Margie Purser and David.
David telling a story to my former student Vita Rodriguez and I
Vita and me, with my book!
Fabulous author Jonah Raskin and I have a wonderful Q&A conversation at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station, January 22, 2017 -- and despite the howling wind and rain that day, about 70 people came out! here are a few photographs taken by my friend Paula Hammett from that lovely evening:
Kevin Lunny introducing Jonah and I
me speaking, with a glamorous painting of a cow for company on stage!
my wonderful Sonoma State colleagues who braved the rain! Alexis, Richard, Paula, Maureen, me, Jonah, and Daniel.
I have not been great about keeping up with this blog, but trying to catch up a bit now -- was delighted to do an interview with the Press Democrat newspaper, which ran on January 19, 2017 -- here's the link!
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/6560105-181/ssu-professors-new-book-whither?artslide=0
i'm learning more and more about the lifespan of a tweet -- as Pollan's original tweet has now been retweeted by a number of folks (thank you!!), including this evening by Alice Waters!!! i'm so appreciative of people's support in getting the word out!!
so excited to know that he likes the book! see for yourself!! (and please feel free to re-tweet if you're a Twitter-er!)
A few weeks ago I sat down with the editor of the Point Reyes Light to talk about my new book -- which was published in the paper last week. Please click here to read our conversation!
http://www.ptreyeslight.com/article/laura-watt-point-reyes-national-seashore-its-creation-and-controversies