Special Edition: Update on the Editor
© Terrie Murray
In September of 2000 I quit my full-time office job in order to devote myself full-time to writing. I've loved every minute of every day of it. In addition to this site here at the Suite, I've also established and maintained a second website dealing with birdwatching beyond our backyards (http://www.field-birding.com), I've written two novels and I'm working on a third, and I've published numerous articles. I have never been happier with the direction I'm going.
As I've been writing, I've felt an increasing desire to immerse myself in a serious study of nature writing and the natural world. I also want to complete my college degree, which I didn't complete when I was younger. To that end, I've applied to and been accepted into the adult degree program at Vermont College, where I will begin my studies in October, 2002. I will be studying nature writing and environmental studies. I hope to complete my BA in April of 2004, and if all goes well, I will continue on for a Masters degree in the same fields.
I have no intention of giving up my role here at the Suite. Being the Contributing Editor of this site is a joy, and so is working with the other editors here at the Suite. I believe that continuing my backyard observations will help keep me grounded during a time in my life which I know will be stressful and exciting. I also know that I will be learning things in my studies which will make my writing here more valuable and more meaningful, and I want to be able to continue to share that with you. If I get to the point where I don't feel I can manage both editing this site and keeping up with my studies, I'll decide then what to do. But I'm hopeful that won't happen.
I'll be designing my own coursework and curriculum, and that's one of the hallmarks of the Vermont College program. I've got a pretty good idea of what I want to work on, but if any of you have suggestions for books you've read on nature writing or natural history which really blew your socks off, please share them with me. I'm open to any and all ideas. I'll also be studying trees, wildflowers, butterflies and other aspects of the natural world, including geology and astronomy, so the range of subjects is pretty broad.
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