Dick's Blog

Hello Folks. I’m starting a new feature on my web site, an Audio PODCAST called “Reflections and Stories Along the Way”. People tell me I have a deep and resonant radio voice (I’ve also been told over a dozen times that I look like David Letterman – that’s scary!). They love to hear my stories read aloud. Years ago, I read stories about my adventures to a dear friend with terminal brain cancer. Another friend who was losing his sight had his wife read stories from my books to him. You will be able to listen to these audio blogs on my web site or download them for future listening on your portable device. You will find selections from my past written blogs, from my two memoirs, “Hiking Out” and “Inside and Outside”, and brand new material just suited for listening. If this works out, I will consider creating a complete audio book. I’d like your opinion and suggestions. I’ll start this off with my rendition of “Help, I’m a Clone” a humorous story written for my second memoir “Inside and Outside’ about my resemblance to David Letterman, even though I don’t have a gap between my two front teeth. Here we go! Just click on PODCAST and the story “Help, I’m a Clone!”

Dear New Reader,

I’m told by my readers that my two memoirs “Hiking Out” and “Inside and Outside” sell themselves, that I take my audience to many places, to our inside and outside worlds, that my stories and essays are healing and unforgettable. If people enjoy my blogs, they will enjoy my books. They will also appreciate the excellent Kirkus Review of my second memoir.

Kirkus Review of Inside and Outside “---The writing, in fact, is consistently polished. His voice is that of the subtitle’s ‘life-long hiker’ whose trails have taken him down paths both well-worn and fresh. What’s more, he does this with good cheer and a willingness to learn from everything that he encounters. ---Sederquist’s good-humor, optimism and varied subjects offer diverting reading.”

I’m trying to attract new readers, who will purchase and review my books, by dropping the price of my Kindle e-book versions from $7.99 to $2.99. You can post your comments and reviews by email, at the Amazon site, my blogs at www.dicksederquist.com and on posts on my Dick Sederquist Author Facebook page. I will respond to all your critiques. Given a positive response, I expect to reduce the purchase price of the paperback versions as well. Let me know your interest in this offer as well as anything you would like to see in my future blogs. There may be another book here.

I write with the same passion that I conduct my volunteer secular prison ministry. Publishing “Inside and Outside” was motivated by my prison program. As a depression survivor, having lost hope in my life, I can appreciate the plight of those who have lost their hope. My message of hope and inspiration is captured in the words on the back cover of my book.

Outside is the world we live in,

Free to seek our dreams.

Inside our world are prisons,

Both real and of the mind.

A lifelong hiker and depression survivor,

The author takes the reader to many places,

To our inside and outside worlds,

Some of them magic,

Stories you will never forget.

I invite you and your friends to read and critique my memoirs. As I write in my book inscriptions to the reader “I hope you enjoy this hike through life.”

Sincerely,

Dick Sederquist

Check out the new “In The News” section of my web site. It contains a magazine feature article on my prison ministry. This is the prologue to this article published November 2013.

Dick Sederquist is dedicated to the goal of reducing mass incarceration and recidivism in our prisons. Toward that goal, Dick created and conducts an eight-session workshop motivational program called “Life Change Discussion Group” for inmates in a Connecticut medium security prison. His program has affected the lives of over 120 inmates over the last four years. The objective of this program is to improve communication skills and develop life coping strategies. Dick’s volunteerism was recognized in an article that appeared in the November issue of Inside Middletown. This article is being posted with permission of hibu community magazines.

Dick sees two avenues to changing the present state focus of funding prisons and imprisonment to investing in programs that will ensure successful inmate reentry into our communities. This concept of change in focus is popularly called “Justice Reinvestment”. First, as a concerned citizen, is his commitment to volunteering his talents to serve and show his moral support for those individuals presently in prison. Somebody on the outside truly cares about these individuals. Second, is his advocacy of focusing state and community activities to invest in offender counseling, rehabilitation and support systems including affordable housing and access to education and jobs to ensure success in community reentry.

This is a pitch for citizen involvement both inside our prisons as volunteers and on the outside to support programs providing meaningful encouragement and employment to those reentering society. Successful reentry means returning an individual as an active citizen, spouse and parent and to the rolls of employed taxpayers, a win-win for these individuals and their communities.