A Reunion of Two Spuds Full of Stories and Memories

Lauren Stringer and Betsy Woods, 2024

A few weeks ago, I was cleaning out some files when I came across a draft for a post on One Potato... Ten. My pandemic-amnesia-fog lifted enough to reveal clear memories of this extraordinary group of writers and friends, bring a smile to my face, followed by a sigh. Would I ever see any of this exceptional group again-- spread out across the country? 

Then, literally two days later, I received a message from Betsy Woods! She was coming through Minneapolis and would I be available to meet for a coffee? Of course I was available. I have an unusually free August, thanks to getting illustrations and manuscript submitted early for my next book, AN ABUNDANCE OF LIGHT, The Story of Matisse in Morocco, Fall 2025.

This past Friday Betsy and I met at Rustica for delicious coffees and great conversations. It was wonderful to hear about her novel, MUD, which will be coming out in January! (Of course, I had to tell her that my first book was also called MUD!)

Cover for my first picture book published in 1994.

Betsy shared the cover for her new novel-- but it is not completely finished yet, so I cannot share it here. Just be sure to keep an eye and ear out for her publication of MUD! January 2025! I will tell you that it is a stunning cover! I cannot wait to get a copy of it!

We ended up in a conversation about the possibility of using one's initials instead of first name on the cover of our books. If I went along with this, I would be known as L.C. Stringer. Betsy would be known as B.K. Woods. It was a great conversation on the merits of owning one's female identity and not hiding behind genderless initials. There have been times historically when this was the only way a woman could be published, but not so now. There is also the argument of opening up to a larger audience when using initials, unbiased by gender, but that didn't hold for either of us. 

We talked about writing and writer's groups, our writing goals and how they have changed as we age. We talked about when all ten of us gathered in the Main House of the Anderson Center in Red Wing and shared our writings--and how much that meant to us. And that was ten years ago! 

When Betsy's wife and sweet dog, Fiona came by to hit the road again, we said our good-byes and promised to stay in touch. And about an hour later, another text came from Betsy-- could they swing by for a photo of the two of us? And there you have it-- the photo at the top of the post! It was a joy to see Betsy and meet her wife and pup. An invitation to visit them in New Orleans has made me vow to make travel plans to the Gulf for the coming year.

Maybe it's time for another gathering of One Potato... Ten? I am certain we all have loads of stories to share!