My latest book, a collaboration with my co-editor, Chryss Yost, was released in May and we're thrilled with all the positive responses! If you're so inclined, please review on Amazon. It really helps sales!

Women in a Golden State: California Poets at 60 and Beyond (Gunpowder Press)

The volume captures the diverse voices and experiences of women from across the state, highlighting the rich and varied lives and perspectives of older writers, proving that age is no barrier to achievement, creativity, or relevance. The poems examine the mythology and reality of being a woman of a certain age (especially in youth-obsessed California), inviting its readers to reconsider aging not as an end, but as an ongoing journey filled with beauty, strength, and boundless possibilities. 

About the Editors

Diana Raab, PhD., is an award-winning author of 14 books, and her articles and poems have been published and anthologized worldwide. She’s the editor of two previous anthologies, Writers on the Edge: 22 Writers Speak About Addiction and Dependency, and Writers and Their Notebooks.



Chryss Yost, PhD., is the co-editor of Gunpowder Press, which publishes the Shoreline Voices series of which this release is a part. She has co-edited many anthologies, including California Poetry: From the Gold Rush to the Present and Poetry Daily: A Year of Poems for the World’s Most Popular Poetry Website.

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• Write about a father figure in your life.
• Write about any celebrations you do for summer solstice.
• Write about an uplifting book you've read recently.
• Write about a male friend you're grateful for.

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande (Nonfiction)

This book was recommended by my niece who is an avid reader and just graduated from nursing school. This is not the type of book I would pick up at a bookstore, but she was so convincing and I'm glad I listened.

Gawande is a surgeon who emphasizes the importance of quality of life for all of us. His tidbits of wisdom permeate every page and give the reader much to ponder. He discusses life, death and aging and poses the important questions of what makes life worth living. He emphasizes the importance of having a purpose and a reason for waking up each morning.

The theme of aging is the thread running through the book. The author reminds us of what's important to the aging individual. He tells us that achievement becomes less important as life's simple pleasures become more important such as comfort, companionship, nourishment, routine, and having sunshine on our faces. He wisely reminds us of the human goal to avoid suffering, and the challenge of doing this in the senior years when disease becomes more prominent. He reminds us of the importance of facing reality instead of avoiding our problems, which is not always easy, even in the best of times.

Gawande's book is well-written and highly recommended!