Vermont : A Love Story
This all happened . All from Vermont .
Okay , so after Resolution , then what ?
“ All my work after that was really civic work and writing ,” Bill answered . He has written nine books so far , most in or about Vermont . As a frequent speaker at book festivals , libraries , and bookstores , his good advice to new writers is widely appreciated .
“ I served on some Vermont boards ,” he modestly told me : Shelburne Museum , VT Symphony Orchestra , ACLU Vermont chapter , VT Judiciary Professional Responsibility Board , the Farm to Plate commission . And some others .”
And , if that wasn ’ t enough , he has been the Chair of the Board for Vermont College of Fine Arts , Vermont Folklife Center , Vermont Journalism Trust / Vermont Digger , Vermont Arts Council , Vermont Public Radio , Vermont Board of Libraries , Vermont Bicentennial Commission , Circus Smirkus , Vermont Business Roundtable , and even UVM Medical Center . He embodies giving back to the community .
Many of Bill ’ s nine books are steeped in Vermont ethos and give the reader an
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often-authentic sense of life here . It can be hardscrabble and can be heart-tender at the same time .
“ I grew up with stories , and so I wrote one . It was published in Vermont Life . I did a couple more for VERMONT Magazine . And then I thought , I should just do a collection .” He then created the Lamoille Stories .
From the beginning of his book , Lila and Theron :
Be cold Forage and grow Haul wood and stone Go hungry Use hand tools Be bold Raise children Cure food Walk without light Keep animals Grow old Adore someone Greet wildlife Pay rapt attention Forgive yourself and others
Bill explains , “ This was the genesis of my book Lila and Theron . This kind of sums up who I am — or at least would like to be .”
When I read these words , ( and his books ) they speak the Vermont I know . A state of land-awareness , purity , and usually , kindness .
Bill told me , “ I ’ ve lived in Vermont all my adult life . Never wanted to live anywhere else . I just felt at home in Vermont . As much as anything , it ’ s the landscape and the culture , but it ’ s also the land , the people , and the persistence of community . Our small communities compress us and bring us together in a way that we think twice about being disrespectful to one another .”
“ In a small community , there are people who are on one side of an issue , and people who may not agree , and they live together . They buy from one another , they meet each other in town or at town meeting , and they treat each other with a modicum of respect .”
“ You know , you go by somebody whose politics you totally disagree with — and they ’ re off the road in the winter . You stop , you pull out a chain , and snap it on their frame and on your frame . And you pull ‘ em out . And they say , ‘ thank you ’, because you know they would do the same for you .”