{"product_id":"ordinary-skin-essays-from-willow-springs-9781682830062","title":"Ordinary Skin: Essays from Willow Springs","description":"Amy Hale Auker's first book of essays, \u003ci\u003eRightful Place\u003c\/i\u003e, was the story of a woman finding beauty in her place, the Llano Estacado. Her new collection of creative nonfiction, \u003ci\u003eOrdinary Skin\u003c\/i\u003e, explores her midlife transition with prose poems and essays that illustrate a new terrain as well as new ways of being in the world. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTouching on faith and body image and belonging, these essays explore our role in deciding what is favorable or unfavorable, as well as where we some day want to dwell, and who came before us. In that touching, they feel their way with observations about current affairs, drought, mystery, and the hard decisions that face us all as we continue to move toward more questions with fewer answers. This exploration is informed and softened by hummingbirds, Gila monsters, bats, foxes, bears, wildflowers, and hidden seep springs where life goes on whether we are there to see it or not. It is about work in a wild and wilderness environment. In the end, even as life changes drastically around us, we are better off for knowing that the ugly mud bug turns into a jewel-toned dragonfly.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eAuker, Amy Hale:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cb\u003eAmy Hale Auker\u003c\/b\u003e is the author of\u003ci\u003e Rightful Place\u003c\/i\u003e, the 2012 WILLA winner for creative nonfiction and Foreword Reviews Book of the Year for essays. She is also the author of \u003ci\u003eWinter of Beauty\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Story Is the Thing\u003c\/i\u003e. Auker cowboys for Spider Ranch in Yavapai County, Arizona, and performs poetry, speaking to groups all over the country.","brand":"Texas Tech University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50362470367506,"sku":"9781682830062","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_b0d5457d-504e-4dcb-a976-ff3515105204.jpg?v=1728384802","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/ordinary-skin-essays-from-willow-springs-9781682830062","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}