Authors and Artists

Spring 2024

Books

Into Siberia

Gregory Wallance ’70, St. Martin’s Press, December 2023

Into Siberia recounts American journalist Kennan’s 1885 journey to investigate the brutal Russian exile system. Over 10 months, Kennan traveled 8,000 miles and endured suffocating sandstorms in the summer and blizzards in the winter. His interviews with convicts and political exiles revealed how Russia ran on the fuel of inflicted pain and fear. Critics say Into Siberia is “a thrilling work of history,” “reads like a classic adventure odyssey,” and is “history at its most compelling.” Wallance is a lawyer and writer in New York City.

No One Is Better Than You: Edith Renfrow Smith and the Power of a Mother’s Words

Monique McLay Shore ’90, January 2024

Shore has written an illustrated children’s book about the life and legacy of beloved Grinnell pioneer and icon Edith Renfrow Smith ’37, whose adage that “No one is better than you” continues to inspire everyone she meets. Shore recounts Smith’s remarkable resilience, her determination to succeed, and the inspiration she gives to others. No One Is Better Than You is available for purchase through the Pioneer Bookstore. Learn more at The Renfrow Story.

On Desert Shores

Thomas Bowen ’62, University of Utah Press, December 2022

Hot, arid, and uninhabited, the western Midriff Islands in the Gulf of California are surrounded by an often-treacherous sea. Why would ancient people go there, and why would anybody go there today? Bowen addresses these questions in the first comprehensive history of the islands; drawing on a range of sources, including the first archaeological field work ever conducted there and his own firsthand experiences. Bowen is a research associate with the Southwest Center at the University of Arizona and professor emeritus at California State University-Fresno.

Portrait of a City: Lincoln, Nebraska, at the Turn of the Twentieth Century

Bruce F. Pauley ’59, Bison Books, September 2023

Pauley’s latest book highlights his hometown during a period of rapid social and technological change between the 1890s and 1920s, examining the modernization of homes, public and private transportation, education, the status of women, and entertainment. He also addresses challenges like the loss of civil liberties during World War I. Pauley is a professor emeritus of history at the University of Central Florida.

Russian Style: Performing Gender, Power, and Putinism

Julie Anne Cassiday ’86, University of Wisconsin Press, December 2023

Russian Style examines gender and sexuality in Russian popular culture from 2000-2020, as Vladimir Putin’s control over Russian politics and society grew. As the West liberalized its stance on sexuality and gender, Putin’s Russia moved toward a neoconservative agenda characterized by increasingly exaggerated gender roles, heteronormativity, and homophobia. However, Cassiday examines how gender performativity also inspired citizens to resist and protest the state’s mandate. Cassiday is a professor of Russian at Williams College.

Surviving Change at Work

Vanessa Gennarelli ’05, Book Apart, September 2023

Working at a high-growth tech organization can be tough, from product pivots to constantly shifting expectations to personnel turnover. Gennarelli provides insights from her years of hard-earned expertise — sharing extensive research, case studies, and practical exercises for anyone seeking to boost their tech career. Gennarelli is the principal of Fortuna, a change management firm, and the chief operating officer for Raise.dev.

The End of the Road

Matt Brennan ’77, Kelsay Books, December 2023

Brennan’s latest volume of poetry takes his distinctive style of lyric realism to another level; critics say it “is not a collection of individual poems so much as an episodic autobiography, a Wordsworthian recollection of his life from his Midwestern Catholic boyhood to his mature years of study, writing, and travel.” Brennan has won the Thomas Merton Prize for Poetry of the Sacred and the Theodore Dreiser Award. He taught literature and poetry writing at Indiana State University from 1985 until his retirement in 2017.

Fall 2023

Books

52 Tweets to a Great Marriage

David Feldman ’90, Bowker, March 2023

Feldman’s wisdom and positive spirit come through in this book about restoring intimacy, connection, and love in marriage. Full of insights on commitment, gratitude, communication, and respect, Feldman’s advice offers practical tips to make relationships flourish again. The book is his first publication as a licensed family and marriage therapist.

Herocrats: A Guide for Bureaucrats Leading Change in State and Local Government

Allison Bell ’01, Wise Ink Creative Publishing, September 2023

This public policy book celebrates the Herocrats — government workers who are motivated to eliminate inequities in systems of transportation, housing, education, and more — by inspiring them to lead change from wherever they’re positioned. Bell tells real-life stories from state and local government workers around the country who are using their superpowers of courage, connection, and creativity to make a difference. The founder and CEO of Bellwether Consulting shares best practices from her professional experience and includes 12 strategic missions, dozens of tactical moves, and exercises to practice them.

Keeping Your Seat at the Table

Nori (Wood) Jabba ’86, 1st World Publishing, May 2023

After more than 30 years in corporate real estate, community development, and consulting, Jabba realized she’d lost her seat at the table when, despite her experience, no one would hire her for employed work again. Eventually she abandoned her job search to study why job hunting is so challenging for middle-aged women. She shares her story, lessons learned, and valuable insights from experts in this memoir and guide to combatting ageism in the workplace.