Laura Austin Wiley

Hoosier Fossils Laura Austin Wiley

From the poet: "All the poems in the book were written in the past thirty years. I grew up in rural Indiana, went to college in New York City, and then came out to California after I had graduated from college. I started writing poetry after I settled in California. Many of the poems in Hoosier Fossils reflect nostalgic feelings about my Indiana childhood, as well as my love for the California landscape and my life here with my husband, our cats and the creatures that populate our yard and the places where we like to hike. Some of the poems deal with grief and the loss of my parents and other friends or family members. Some are about music. Others deal with issues that accompany being middle aged. Since they're autobiographical, I often add years to the titles of the poems. I tend to enjoy reading other poets who are very direct and accessible-ones who address the reader as if they were old friends chatting over a cup of coffee. I hope readers will find something in all of these poems to relate to and to value-something that makes them feel a little less alone and a little more connected to the world."