Welcome, new friends!
Cindy on June 4th, 2008
Lately I’ve been hearing from a lot of readers who are new to my work. If you stumbled on something I wrote elsewhere and liked it enough to stop by, I’m happy you did!
I’m a card-carrying homebody and freelance writer who’s always on the lookout for the sacred in the suburban. I’ve traveled extensively in this country and abroad — only to find that my quirky hometown is the absolute coolest place to be. Last year, I was appointed to my local public library‘s first honorary Writer-in-Residence position, which means I get to fulfill my longtime dream of sharing my favorite books and the craft of writing with others in my community.
Focusing primarily on home, family, and women’s issues, I specialize in personal essays and lifestyle columns. Early in my journalism career, I worked for a reference book publisher and freelanced for several publications. I also spent six years editing a small bed-and-breakfast travel magazine.
After writing a weekly “slice of life” column for 12 years for our local daily newspaper, I discovered that personal columns and essays were the perfect vehicle for reaching others who were also looking for the beauty in the ordinary; the truth in everyday experience. It was one of the best assignments I’ve ever had. For one thing, I could do most of the writing at home while my only child was in grade school. Secondly, the weekly deadlines challenged me to look beyond newsworthy events for small miracles and epiphanies in my daily efforts.
Weeding my perennial garden, for instance, I would suddenly unearth an early memory of my grandparents’ backyard in Detroit. Baking bread in my kitchen while U.S. military forces bombed Baghdad, I renewed my commitment to being a peacemaker in my own community. And while recovering from two major surgeries, I realized how many of life’s fundamental gifts and simple pleasures I had taken for granted.
I live in a 1920s Tudor-style home on a boulevard where the trees are as old as the houses, and the houses always need some renovation or repair. But everyone here appreciates character — in houses and people. I work in a small room — yes, a real home office — with a nice view of the neighborhood. And while I like to think of it as a room of my own, the truth is, I share it periodically with my husband, son, and two cats.
I’ve always believed that the personal is the political, and that what happens in our own homes has a ripple effect on the rest of our world. I write daily to discover what I believe, how I think. And I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to reach others who are also struggling to fit all the pieces together.
My essays and feature stories have appeared in over 50 different publications, from Catholic Digest to Reader’s Digest to Writer’s Digest. Through my inspirational writings, I’ve met a lot of wonderful people from many different faiths who cherish their families and boast an abiding respect for community. My goal is simple: To continue a dialogue with these people, adding what I hope will be a supportive voice on the journey. I post new essays at least once a week in addition to random blogs or updates on my Writer-in-Residence programs. So please come back often — and let me know what you think in the comment space, or send me an e-mail. – Cindy La Ferle
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A favorite quote: “How we spend our days is how we spend our lives.” -- Annie Dillard
