Welcome to Family Matters!
I’m so glad you are here.
At last, the world is opening up again, and I’m beginning to schedule visits to bookstores and book groups. My latest book, Back to the Land in Silicon Valley, is now available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble and by order from independent bookstores everywhere.
If you belong to a book group and would like me to visit, virtually or in person, please contact me using the Contact or Events tab, or at marlenebumgarner@gmail.com. If you scroll to the bottom of the page you can see what I’ve posted lately on my blog, Look around, and please leave a comment so I know you’ve been in the building.
Back to the Land in Silicon Valley (Paper Angel Press).
My forthcoming book, Organic Cooking for (not-so-organic) Families, will be out soon. Meanwhile, I am researching a new book, Grandparenting Matters: Strengthening Relationships in the Modern Family. (Are you a grandparent? Join my Facebook group!) I’m also working on a cozy mystery novel Death on a Sunny Morning. The main character is a grandmother!
Marlene
MY BOOKS
My first book, The Book of Whole Grains (St. Martin’s Press, 1976), grew out of teaching cultural history to fourth graders. After opening a natural food store, I wrote a food column for the San Jose Mercury News and a feature for Mothering Magazine, where I was a contributing editor. A series of cooking classes followed, and a second book, Organic Cooking for (not-so-organic) Mothers (Chesbro Press, 1982). In 1997, St Martin’s Press revised and republished my first book as The New Book of Whole Grains. While teaching developmental psychology to undergraduates, I wrote Working With School-Age Children, (Pearson, 2013, 2017). My most recent book, Back to the Land in Silicon Valley (Paper Angel Press, 2020), is a memoir of the decade my family and I lived on the land in the 1970’s in California’s Silicon Valley then known as The Valley of Heart’s Delight.
RECENT ADVENTURES
Before the COVID-19 Pandemic I purchased a Mercedes Benz Sprinter-based Class B Motorhome. I call her Sheila. I planned a journey to 25 states and at least as many bookshops. That’s now on hold, but let me know if you want me to stop in your town when I’m able to reschedule it.
Each time I return from an adventure, I transcribe my travel journal and post excerpts on my blog, so be sure to check back for updates (or subscribe to my newsletter if you want to receive articles by email.)
These web pages are where I post excerpts of my latest work, share peeks at new projects, and connect with my readers. I still teach Child Development online, and occasionally do some consulting and public speaking, but mostly I write about my experiences as a teacher, mother, grandmother, gardener, and cook. Please check out my blog, subscribe to my newsletter, buy my books, and drop in often.
Marlene
Meet Kismet
Meet Kismet. She turned shy when we asked a professional photographer to capture her smile, but did a great job during her session. Click here to open the video in another window!
A Downsize Too Far
Downsizing was one goal of my move to Southern California two years ago. Friends my age have for several years been reporting on their efforts to simplify their lives and save their children the emotionally laden task of going through a lifetime of possessions once...
Where Did the Summer Go?
Hello again! This summer has gone by too quickly. My original plan had been to write every day, but that didn't happen. I thought it might be fun to look back over the last three months and figure out where the time went. June My last post here was a tribute to my dad...
My Fathers Day Memories: Our Silly Half Hour
Our Silly Half Hour When I was six years old, my parents and I lived in a rented Victorian in the Richmond District of San Francisco, and my favorite time of day was the Silly Half-Hour. There was no set time when this event would occur, and it didn’t happen every...
