PODCAST INTERVIEW ABOUT JULIET FISH NICHOLS: Victorian Women Lighthouse Keepers

Podcast about Juliet Fish Nichols and other Women Lighthouse Keepers

March is Women’s History Month and the perfect time to promote KEEPER OF THE LIGHT. It was a busy month. On March 4^th I presented a session about the book to teachers and librarians at the Charlotte Huck Children’s Literacy Festival in Redlands, CA. It included projects done by 4^th graders at a local school that were inspired by the book. (I had met with them earlier via Zoom.)

Last week I featured the book when I did an author visit at Ecole Bilingue in Berkeley. Some of the kids had been to Angel Island. All of them were familiar with the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and loved the illustration of Juliet’s house shaking on the morning of the earthquake. I rang a bell when I read about the fog bell machine.

And earlier this month I was interviewed by Suki Wessling at the Babblery in Santa Cruz about the book and Juliet Nichols, along with two other people who have researched other women lighthouse keepers in California—one of them Juliet’s mother, Emily Fish, the light keeper at Point Pinos, and the other Laura Hecox, light keeper in Santa Cruz. It was fun being interviewed by Suki and sharing stories with author Lynn Guenther, who researched and wrote about Laura Hecox, and actor/interpreter Eleanor Morrice, who portrayed Emily Fish.

The interview was broadcast on Sunday March 26 on the KSQD radio station in Santa Cruz and is now available as a podcast online. (It is an hour long—so you have to be willing to set aside an hour to listen to it.)

Even if you don't have time to listen to all of the program, be sure to read the blurb and take a look at the photos and the links. Try to imagine what it would be like to do all the work of a lighthouse keeper--cleaning, sweeping, polishing, climbing ladders, rowing or sailing a boat, winding up the fog bell machine-- wearing a long skirt and sometimes a bustle!

AUTHOR VISIT AT ECOLE BILINGUE, BERKELEY, CA: Celebrating Women’s History Month with KEEPER OF THE LIGHT

Ecole Bilingue, Berkeley, CA

Last week on Friday I had a terrific visit with third, fourth and fifth graders at Ecole Bilingue in Berkeley, California. The main focus of my presentation was my book KEEPER OF THE LIGHT: Juliet FishNichols Fights the San Francisco Fog. Learning about Juliet’s experience at the Angel Island Lighthouse and during and after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake fit right in to the students’ studies of California history. While most of them had not personally visited Angel Island, it is a familiar sight, visible from any of the major bridges that cross San Francisco Bay—the Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the San Rafael Bridge.

With the first slide of my power point presentation.

The timing of my visit was perfect because March is a national celebration of women’s history. After I shared the story of the book I asked the students what kind of a person Juliet had to be as a lighthouse keeper. Their answers: brave, persistent, hard-working, strong, committed. Clearly they understood that Juliet Nichols is a true hero. I also shared a few of my other books and details of my writing and illustrating process.

How plucky Mrs. Nichols wound up the fog bell machinery every fifty minutes for seventy-two hours and saved ships in Golden Gate from running on the rocks. (San Francisco Chronicle, 1906)

Ecole Bilingue is a bilingual school where children learn in both French and English. (I don’t speak French so my presentation was in English.) I have a special connection to EB because my granddaughter Paige was a student there from pre-school through middle school. My last visit to the school was in 2019 when she was in 8^th grade. It was a pleasure to return to EB and see many of her former teachers and meet the new staff as well. I especially thank Emily Kaltenbach, the English Program coordinator for arranging my visit and making sure that everything ran smoothly. I will be returning in April to celebrate Earth Day with the K-2 students.

 

SCBWI READING LIST CELEBRATES WOMEN'S HISTORY, Keeper of the Light: Juliet Fish Nichols Fights the San Francisco Fog

I am pleased to have my book KEEPER OFTHE LIGHT: Juliet Fish Nichols Fights the San Francisco Fog included on the March SCBWI recommended reading list. It is in the nonfiction section. Scroll down to find the book.

This Reading List Celebrates Women's History Month. Pick up a book and read about strong, inspiring women from around the world: artists, authors, activists, inventors, scientists, teachers, dreamers, and more!

Inspired by the logs of a female light keeper who kept the light shining through the fog following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Written by Caroline Arnold. Illustrations by Rachell Sumpter