October 11th, fellow blogger and friend, Audrey Kletscher Helbling, posted the news that her poem, “Funeral During a Pandemic” had been published in an award winning book- This Was 2020—Minnesotans Write About Pandemics and Social Justice in a Historic Year.
The collection was compiled by Paul Lai, a Ramsey County Librarian in Minnesota. If you click the link at “posted the news” above so you can see a photo of the beginning of her poignant poem.
There are 54 pieces of prose and poetry in the volume. I called the reference librarian at their library and was able to get the
ISBN# 9781087967622
I discovered the book could be ordered from your independent bookstore. So I did!
Here is a nearby independent bookstore, White Whale Bookstore (“a home for book lovers”) in Bloomfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh PA, just a few miles from my home. Today I went to pick up the book. I’m looking forward to reading it. 
Hope you have an independent bookstore near you.
During the pandemic, books kept me going!
Congratulations Audrey on your poem publications! What a great accomplishment.
Thank you kindly, Carrie. I’m honored to be part of this incredible collection by some gifted Minnesota writers.
Your welcome. Wishing you continued success!
Occasionally I read on my iPad via the Libby app. Nothing like a book in the hand tho. I can spend hours browsing in a book store especially an independent and used book store.
Dearest Ruth, thank you for supporting me and my writing (and other Minnesota writers) by penning this post and purchasing This Was 2020. I am humbled. And I am so happy to call you my friend.
Thank you also for supporting independent bookstores. Yours is beautiful from the entrance to that bold and powerful mural.
I’m so glad to have your poem in the book. Connection through writing and reading. What could be better?
Agreed. I cherish you, Ruth.
❤️
Love to see people coming together to try and bring their diverse perspectives, especially in what was truly a historical year. And love all of the independent bookstores that support us, and that are supported by us.
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