We had our first reading for Antarctica in Rhinebeck’s cosy and wonderful, independent bookstore Oblong. One of the great pleasures of doing these readings is getting to know the writers whose works I’ve read and re-read for months. For this reading that person was adventurer, writer and filmmaker Jon Bowermaster, who is a marvelous, generous storyteller with a wealth of experience in the Antarctic.

That he could attend this reading was amazing because most of the time he’s off in exotic places - in eleven days he again leaves for the Antarctic. There he will kayak and film a part of the continent most never see, the western side of the Palmer Peninsula, near the Larsen Ice Shelf. Visit Jon’s website to find out more about his amazing adventures: www.jonbowermaster.com. Another pleasure is meeting people who are curious about the Antarctic, and in the audience was a couple headed to the Ice in February on a cruise ship. Also in attendance was Anne Brooksher, a student of mine from the University of Arizona, now a lawyer in New York City (proof that creative writing majors can go on to great careers).

Next stop: Boulder, Colorado.