Rebecca Beardsall (MA, Lehigh University; MFA, Western Washington University) works at Western Washington University. Rebecca is the prose editor at Psaltery & Lyre and the nonfiction editor at Minerva Rising Press.
My Place in the Spiral
Philadelphia Reflections
Western Pennsylvania Reflections
Western Washington Reflections

Land and Story
And when we go through our own surroundings, as we do every day, familiar features of our landscapes keep reminding us that the past is alive – Epeli Hau’ofa
Land holds a story: of time, of generations. When a nonfiction writer investigates land or place in their work as physical space (terra firma), as home, or as historical event, it becomes a presence, and in some cases an agent, in the narrative. [Read More…]
The Buzz
You don't have to live in PA to enjoy this collection. I spent a few years in central PA and was transported by these stories. They convey such a strong sense of place and are clearly written straight from the heart.
Jennifer Hollenstein
What can be the best thing about a book of essays is that they are different flavors of the same main ingredient. This is the case in "Philadelphia Reflections". In lovely, bite sized pieces, I was able to savor different aspects of a portion of the country that I am completely unfamiliar with...Because each essay had such a different taste to it, I found myself reading only one each sitting - individually savoring the words and images and emotions these writers bring to life.
Karie Hoskins
Co-editors Colleen Lutz Clemems and Rebecca Helm Beardsall took their vision for this book, a collection of stories written by regular folks about this unique area of the United States, and created this work of art. The end result is lovely...Each writer's voice is honest and comes through; some are funny and others, deeply moving. For those interested in stories about western Pennsylvania, this is a must-read.
Sue Rumbaugh