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Our Friend Sitting Bull

Posted on July 13, 2021 by Steve Semken

A long journey to homestead and in pioneer spirit the Dell’s moved from Iowa to the Dakota territory. Travel, food, children and hardships awaited them as they worked to achieve their dreams. Along the way, a friendship developed with well-known Lakota Chief Sitting Bull. A humble and educational story. […]

From Cancer to Kinnick

Posted on June 8, 2021 by Steve Semken

An endearing account of a family’s loving wish to adopt a child from China, to care for a daughter and the support, hope, love, and inspiration they find all along the way. Who knew a simple wave and the care of people at the hospital would make such a huge difference. A heart breaking and heart warming and much needed story for our times. […]

Birds In The Morning

Posted on April 9, 2021 by Steve Semken

Lyrical meditations on rural life braided with observations from her global public health and medical practice with struggles raising an autistic son and all the beauty and challenges brought by the creatures that surround her wild Iowa home. An instant environmental classic. An updated Leopold Land Ethics book. […]

Moon of the Snowblind

Posted on January 3, 2021 by Steve Semken

The Spirit Lake Incident in March of 1857 was a dark moment in Midwestern History, incited by indigenous resistance to their loss of homeland culture, and people. A number of white settlers in northwest Iowa’s lakes region were killed. Four female survivors were taken by lnkpaduta and his band of Dakota Sioux. […]

When This Is Over: Pandemic Poems

Posted on August 27, 2020 by Steve Semken

Creation of an Artist

Posted on May 17, 2020 by Steve Semken

Road To Waubeek: Discovering Jay. G. Sigmund

Posted on March 17, 2018 by Steve Semken

… At the crossroads of two cultural icons exists Jay G. Sigmund, born in Waubeek, Iowa. As the Regionalist movement was in full swing guess who had an enormous influence on well-known artist… Read more… […]

Prairie Gold Anthology

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Steve Semken

The Book: The American Midwest provides the ideal landscape for literature exploring the intricate evolution of American ideology and culture from the earliest frontiersmen and settlers to present day citizens. In celebration of this region’s inherent importance to American identity, Prairie Gold: An Anthology of the American Heartland presents a myriad of Midwestern-focused literature in […]

The Sky Begins At Your Feet

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Steve Semken

Starred Review Library Journal A memoir on cancer, community, and coming home to the body. “I cannot figure out who I am as a body these days,” writes Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg in this powerful, tender and humorous memoir about resiliency and love in the face of cancer. Mirriam-Goldberg braves breast cancer, the breast cancer genetic mutation […]