Notes From the Editor.. Anna Whitcomb

Riverrock: A New England Family Saga
July –2023

My mother’s novel was published 2018, a long journey to publish. This included editing, rewriting, and pulling together her story.

Today many years later, it is time to write an update. While my life has changed only slightly since the publication of my mother’s novel, the world has changed at a greater speed. These include but are not limited to:

• The Covid-19 pandemic .
• The radical right and its movement to destroy our democracy.
• Racism in our country which is still bubbling away and fortunately the steps taken to address racial injustices.
• The war and violence at home and abroad.
• The rise of fascism and the current steps by NATO to unify.
• Turning back the reproductive rights of women in our country and FDA approval of an over the counter drug to end pregnancy.
• The LGBTQ movement which has created positive changes and more acceptance but still being pushed back.

The struggles continue. Climate change and global warming is the driving force creating unstableness of our world. Horrific storms, flooding, heatwaves, draught, fires, migration of peoples, famine, refugees and homelessness. We need to address climate change. Our earth is under pounding pressure from global warming. We are destroying Mother Earth.

My mother’s novel Riverrock: A New England Family Saga, illustrates the complexity of  “good and evil” it does truly exist in our world. Her chapter in the book (fire in the field) in Vermont is a metaphor to humankind that brings home the consequences of climate change and how the community can take action and bond together. Vermonters are work together and are resilient. This is what we need to do now to address climate change.

Today, the house in the story has been torn down. A neighbor bought some of the property and has built a modern house –International style. The land has been preserved along the Charles River in Dedham, MA – across from Wilson Mountain Reserve and entitled  Whitcomb Woods, a lovely walk with views of the Charles River. The large rock by the stream has been engraved with the names of the members of the family most have passed away,  and abutting the property is the assisted living complex – Newbridge on the Charles, a part of Hebrew Senior Life https://www.hebrewseniorlife.org/newbridge

Enjoy the book and visit the location mentioned. – Peace –

Anna