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Travel back in time to some of the most unspoiled, beautiful places on earth with Santa Fe’s own Hampton Sides who transports us across The Wide Wide Sea, the title of his enthralling new book about Captain James Cook’s final voyage. With piercing insight and extraordinary detail we are immersed in the “moral complexity” of this age of enlightenment and adventure and the consequences millions live with today. Meet Hampton at Collected Works in Santa Fe on Tuesday, April 9th at 6:00 pm, in Albuquerque at the main library April 10th at 7:00 and in Taos on Saturday, April 13 at OpCit Books at 2:00.hamptonsides.com

I’m aware that many Last Word listeners are writers, so today’s interview with award-winning Northern New Mexico’s poet, Renee Gregorio, may offer us all a fascinating boost for our writing life. Renee joins me with her new book, The Writer Who Inhabits Your Body: Somatic Practice to Enhance Creativity and Inspiration. Drawn from her lifetime practice of the martial art Aikido and her work as a master somatic coach, Renee suggests creating our own internal writing “dojo” through a simple centering practice. How do we open our whole body to the magnificence of language? How do we walk through the doorway of fear? How can our writing sparkle and roar? And is a roar really a whisper that quietly lets the reader feel that blessed and elusive moment of inspiration that never leaves us? Meet Renee at The Ark Bookstore on Sunday, March 24th at 3:00. www.reneegregorio.com

A fun and very different aspect of the world of writing today with local composer and lyricist Carol Calvert who has written a delightful musical operetta called The Way of Angels which will premier next weekend. What comes first I ask, the lyrics or the music? Carol’s answer surprises me. We explore the way the creative muse, and perhaps angels themselves, guided Carol to find collaborators including Santa Fe’s Criss Jay, members of the Zia Singers and accompanist Holly Mead. As an ordained minister, Carol’s fascinating conversation also strayed away from the actual writing to discuss the role of angelic help in other ways in our troubled world. A different take on The Last Word. The Way of Angels will take place at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 107 Barcelona St., Santa Fe on Saturday, February 24th at 7:00 and Sunday 25th at 2:00. By donation.

Marsie Silvestro is an internationally respected speaker, feminist composer, author, visual artist and non-profit and business consultant. Known especially in Santa Fe as the former Executive Director of Esperanza Shelter she brings to the KSFR studio her years of community service and awareness distilled in four slim volumes of sumptuous poetry. Listen as Marsie describes The Gold of Poetry and reads from her latest collection, Shifting Stillness. Her earlier body of work, Grief Walks Through Me Like A Rake, brings comfort and heart-wrenching familiarity. This week’s show is not to be missed. Contact Marsie directly at marsiemoon@earthlink.net

A delight to welcome Dr. Erica Elliott to the KSFR studios with her new book, From Mountains to Medicine. Erica’s life of adventure and misadventure around the world in search of her true calling has taken her from fragile depths to extraordinary heights. She has a mountain named after her in the Andes and here in Santa Fe she is affectionately known as the “health detective” sought out by patients with challenging symptoms. You’ll likely bite your nails in suspense and shed tears following Erica’s journey. Upcoming readings in Santa Fe include Garcia Street Books on Sunday, March 17 at 4:30 and The Ark Bookstore on Saturday, April 6th at 6:00. Enjoy her blogs at www.musingsmemoirandmedicine.com

Today, a glimpse into the craft of writing you’ve likely wondered about but never explored. Meet Joshua Lisec, a ghostwriter who has penned more than 80 books in the name of some well-known and lesser-known authors and celebrities. My interest was piqued by an article written by Lisec called Release The Ghosts, suggesting that the publishing industry’s hard-working, secret authors be given much more public credit. But it’s not as simple as that and revealing the “ghost” needs to be considered on a case-by-case basis, sometimes for legal liability reasons. However, Joshua did reveal the ghostwriting he’d done for a respected cardiologist in Florida and the intensive medical research that it took for him to understand and accurately present the subject matter. A fascinating and many-layered interview on the path towards presenting “emotional truth.” Joshua’s own book, So Good They Call You A Fake is out now. Learn more at lisecghostwriting.com

A vital interview for all writers, aspiring authors, editors, book designers, booksellers and everyone in the publishing world. I welcome Shirley Melis and Anna Sochocky to the KSFR studio, Co-President and Vice President of New Mexico Book Association. This month, NMBA celebrates its 30th anniversary at a Gala on August 27th with special guest Hampton Sides. Learn how you can get involved with NMBA, one of this country’s most active and respected literary organizations? Listen as Anna and Shirley tell their own fascinating stories and be newly inspired. nmbookassociation.org

An essential listen for all pet lovers in this uplifting return visit with animal rights activist, Carlyn Montes de Oca author of Dog as Your Doctor, Cat as Your Nurse and the multi-award winning Junkyard Girl. Last month, Carlyn’s beloved dog, Gracie, went missing in the Glorieta wilderness while on a hike with a trusted dog sitter friend. Her loss and return have become an inspiration. With the assistance of tracker Conrad Mahaffey of CMM Lost Pet Recovery and Humane Trapping, Grace and Carlyn were safely reunited in 24 hours. Listen and learn how that happened, it’s not what you’d expect. And learn more about Carlyn at animalhumanhealth.com

Maria Tellier was appointed as the New Mexico Director for the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) in July 2024, following seven years as the assistant state director. She organizes a monthly event in Alamogordo called “Coffee Cups & Flying Saucers,” which aims to raise public awareness about the ongoing presence of unidentified objects and abduction experiences. In her role as director, Maria is responsible for training new field investigators, assigning cases, managing the chapter’s YouTube and Facebook pages, and speaking to various groups.

Molly Swank, Executive Director of Common Cause NM, and Orin Pope Baca, Fund Development Associate at Somos, discuss this year's efforts to modernize the legislature with funding to compensate full time legislators.