A podcast that features indie writers, memoirs, and self-publishing. We talk with authors, editors, publishers, ghostwriters, and other free spirits drawn to writing, and the company of a cup of tea and a good book before the fire. Hosts Craig Stewart and Barb Robitaille, produce ink & peat from a cozy carriage house a short stroll from the Pacific on the wild Washington Coast.
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Final Episode of ink & peat In this, our final episode of ink & peat, we offer a sampling of guests' recollections of joy when they least expected it. A heartfelt thank you to all our listeners.By Craig Stewart & Barb Robitaille
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Pro Audio Voices Inc ~ with Founder & CEO Becky Parker Geist
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Following the advice of a mentor, Becky Parker Geist took a leap of faith and combined her love for theater, reading aloud, and books. She turned these beloved pastimes into a global business dedicated to publishing audiobooks explicitly for indie authors. Pro Audio Voices is a company that produces audiobooks for authors who want to take their wor…
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Love's Journey Home ~ with author Gabi Coatsworth
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In her memoir, Love’s Journey Home, author Gabi Coatsworth tells the story of finding, leaving, and reuniting with the love of her life. Gabi’s candor about how their relationship worked, and then didn’t, and ultimately did, makes for a read that is both romantic and packed with the realities two people must face when confronted with difficult life…
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Inheriting Our Names ~ with Author C. Vargas McPherson
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Cristina Vargas McPherson’s memoir is a deeply moving account of coming to terms with grief – a grief handed down from grandmother to mother to daughter, brought about through unconscionable events of the Spanish Civil War. Told through imagined conversations between her grandparents, real events of Franco’s fascist regime, and vivid mystical encou…
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Between the Lines of Three Winning Memoirs
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Expert book reviewer and developmental editor ~ Annie Mydla ~ joins us on ink & peat again. This time to share her vast knowledge about what has made each of three North Street Book Prize winning memoirs worthy of the awards they received and why a reader would do well to invest time and soul into these self-published authors and their books. In in…
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When Mike Evans graduated from college, he moved to Belfast, Northern Ireland – ostensibly to be a Program Director for a non-profit, coaching basketball to young school kids in a visionary program called Playing for Peace, while keeping his hand in semi-pro basketball on the side. But things didn’t turn out quite as he expected, and Mike soon foun…
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In the Shadow of the Apennines ~ with author Kimberly Sullivan
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Enchanted by the rugged beauty of the Apennines in Italy's Abruzzo region, and drawn to the rich history and struggles of its inhabitants, Kimberly Sullivan crafted a novel that tells the stories of two women separated by a century yet connected intimately by place and circumstance. In the Shadow of the Apennines is Kimberly's third self-published …
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Modern Websites for Authors ~ with designer Emma Bates
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ELB Media builds websites for authors. An unbridled love for books and reading inspired ELB Media’s Founder ~ Emma Bates ~ to apply her vast technical know-how and social media expertise to help authors. In ink&peat episode 42, Emma shares her insights on what makes author websites unique, how her life has been impacted by books and authors, and ho…
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Amuse-Bouche ~ A Taste of Melancholy with poet Dana Huneke-Stone
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Dana Huneke-Stone expresses her poetry in bite-sized morsels. She recently self-published a collection of her poems and accompanying illustrations in a book entitled Amuse Bouche - A Taste of Melancholy. In ink&peat episode 41 Dana shares how she draws inspiration from living on the Oregon Coast and through taking what she calls prayer walks, how s…
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Michelle Meyer created The Book of She as a means of celebrating, exploring, and honoring the experience of womanhood. Having lost her mother unexpectedly, Michelle – an only child – felt a deep longing to cultivate relationships with other women. Through a year-long Instagram collaboration with 51 women who interpreted Michelle’s poems and created…
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A Conversation with Author Ceilidh Michelle
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Inspired by the teachings of an Indian spiritual master and following a deep desire to find her way in the world, 20-year-old Ceilidh Michelle left home and a fractured family life in Canada for an ashram in Southern California. Accompanied by her acoustic guitar and a few belongings, Ceilidh found herself instead broke, but not broken, living and …
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Aaxel Author Services ~ with Alexa Nazzaro
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These are Golden Days for Indie writers. With so many options for self-publishing, however, it can be daunting. To help emerging authors and seasoned writers maneuver through the complexities of crafting a quality finished product, Alexa Nazzaro created Aaxel Author Services. Alexa's commitment to the authors she works with is summed up aptly in th…
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14 Days in Beijing ~ Author Chancellor K. Jackson Shares His Story
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Author Chancellor K. Jackson shares his story of 14 Days in Beijing – what brought him to China, the significance of 14 days, how he sought and received help from his ancestors to overcome the challenges he faced, and the lessons learned along the way. He realized in talking with family and friends after he returned home that there was a book about…
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Writing Tips for Winning Manuscripts ~ A Conversation with Annie Mydla
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Annie Mydla knows good writing when she reads it; she is an impassioned advocate for well-written books and stories in what she refers to as the Golden Age of Literacy. Annie applies her keen sense of what makes a great book to help emerging writers craft manuscripts that transport readers. Along with offering mid-draft critiques to aspiring author…
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Talking with Martina Clark About Her Unexpected Life
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In 1992, at the age of 28, Martina Clark's life took an unexpected turn: she was diagnosed as HIV positive and told by doctors she had from a few months to a few years to live at best. At the time, Martina knew of no other women who were HIV positive – information and support were scarce. Through her determination, courage, and facing her situation…
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Diane Hatz Shares Rock Gods and Messy Monsters
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A career in the fast-paced, cutthroat corporate music industry provided Diane Hatz with the inspiration for her first novel – Rock Gods and Messy Monsters. Diane writes with a masterful blend of satire and absurdism to create fantastical characters in bizarre scenarios that shed light on seamier sides of the star-making music machinery. Diane share…
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Exploring Self-publishing and The Other Side with Ghost Helper, Tina Erwin
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Author of The Lightworker's Guide to Healing Grief, and seven self-published books on Amazon, Tina Erwin is known as a Ghost Helper. Ghosts, she explains, are just souls that - for any number of reasons - did not make the transition from their earthly life to the realm of the afterlife. In ink & peat episode 29, Tina shares with us her insights and…
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Spontaneous Revolutions ~ A Conversation with Liza McQuade
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Liza McQuade joins us on ink & peat episode 33 to talk about her book Spontaneous Revolutions – Seeing America One Pedal at a Time, a travel story about biking with her husband cross country on the spur of the moment - out of shape, lacking long haul biking experience and armed with only a basic knowledge of bike mechanics. Instead, they relied on …
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Self Publish with Author Now! ~ Talking with Erin Donley
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It’s estimated that roughly 80% of us would like to write and publish a book, but most of us don’t know where to begin, or what to do to bring it to fruition. Erin Donley is the motivating force behind the book publishing service, Author Now, where she uses her skills as a ghostwriter, author, editor, and book coach to guide people through the proc…
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A Tale of Transformation & Hope ~ with Delila Olsson
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In the depths of the global pandemic, one of her dear friends gave Delila Olsson a milkweed plant to attract Monarch butterflies to her Portland, OR garden. A keen observer, Delila noticed a tiny caterpillar had hitched a ride on the milkweed and realized she’d been given both a physical and metaphorical gift to lift her spirits. She set about crea…
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Stillness and Wonder ~ A Conversation with poet Caroline Holm
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Poet Caroline Holm, shares in ink & peat episode 30 the sources of inspiration for her newly published book Woodland. A resident of Salem, Oregon, Caroline’s poetry, prose, and illustrations celebrate nature, miracles of being a mother, the dance between joy and suffering, and the richness of being in the present. Caroline offers glimpses into how,…
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Writing Your Way with Conor Bredin, Author & Teacher
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After a summer hiatus, we are pleased to start a new season of ink & peat with a lively conversation featuring author/teacher/ and podcast host Conor Bredin, whose enthusiasm for writing, reading, storytelling, and teaching runs deep. Conor shares writing tips, and talks about how a 'kick in the arse' from his beloved was the motivation he needed t…
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Living on Lamlash Street ~ A Conversation with author Jill Phillips
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Fond memories of growing up in her family’s three-story home at 11B Lamlash Street in southeast London, provided the inspiration for Jill Phillips’ first memoir. In her book, she recalls the incidents surrounding a pivotal time in her beloved neighborhood when everything changed. Lamlash Street, a pocket within the cockney Elephant and Castle distr…
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Growing Up Black in Nova Scotia with Leonard Paris
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In his memoir, Leonard Paris recounts the struggles of growing up a black male in rural Nova Scotia, Canada during the 1950’s and 60’s. Leonard began writing Jim Crow Also Lived Here in response to lying awake nights, replaying childhood memories ~ both good and bad ~ and reflecting on how racism and generational poverty had impacted his life. He f…
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Adventures with Rachel Nolan ~ On Cycling, Gratitude, Whiskey, and Freedom
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Rachel Nolan knew as a young girl that being outside is where she feels most free. This has translated for her into a lifetime of adventure ~ cycling, kayaking, climbing, running, and team endurance challenges ~ around the world. She created Rachel’s Irish Adventures in her hometown of Ballina, County Mayo, to share her love of being outside in the…
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George Plawski has lived a life brimming with adventure -- in the sky, before the stage, and with his beloved wife, Rita. His memoir Never a Dull Moment; Memoirs of Canadian Naval Aviation, Firebombing and Theatre, captures on the page a collection of stories, and lively anecdotes. In ink & peat episode 24, George recounts the choices he’s made, hi…
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Liamy Mac Nally talks with us in ink and peat episode 23 about the Irish “sense of place”. A native of Westport, County Mayo, Liamy’s rich sense of place is built upon tradition, local stories, the Irish language, and walking the familiar landscape of his childhood. He was a featured BBC Three Counties Radio and Mayo West radio personality, is a re…
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The Butcher Shop Girl: A Memoir for Misfits & Mavericks, Carmen Kissel-Verrier
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Carmen Kissel-Verrier grew up on a ranch in Alberta, tagged by her schoolmates the Butcher Shop Girl. In her striking memoir, Carmen talks about ranch life, working in her mom’s slaughterhouse, and striking out on her own to follow the allure of big money -- first in the oil fields and then as an exotic entertainer. In ink and peat episode 22, Carm…
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RecreateNow ~ Making Things Better; A Chat with Mike Arseneault
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Mike Arseneault believes beauty is all around us and has stories to tell -- if we choose to see it. Mike uses his gift for bringing stories to life through marketing, musical theater, photography, foodie groups, and community organizing -- wherever he lands. From working successfully as a major creative in global sportswear giant Nike, to building …
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FoodCorps From the Ground Up ~ a Conversation with Curt Ellis
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The path to becoming co-founder and CEO of FoodCorps led Curt Ellis through his father’s tomato patch, the streets of Brooklyn with a pickup bed full of soil, the commons of a prestigious university not known for its ag program, Iowa cornfields, and documentary film cutting room floors. Through these experiences and his boundless enthusiasm for foo…
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Eloquent Listening with Oregon Poet Laureate, Kim Stafford
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Kim Stafford is a writer in Oregon who uses writing as a means to raise the human spirit. He has done so through the creation of a vast collection of poems, books, classes, workshops, and readings around Oregon and the globe. The Northwest Writing Institute and Fishtrap Writers Gathering were inspired by and created through Kim's commitment to the …
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Key To Change ~ A Conversation with Dr. Quinton Morris
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Dr. Quinton Morris, master violinist, tireless teacher, and advocate for underserved youth, talks with us in ink & peat episode 18 about listening to his inner voice. Through hard work, resilience, and unwavering perseverance, Dr. Morris overcame extraordinary odds to become a world-renowned violinist. He has performed three sold-out solo recitals …
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William Kenower is a prolific writer, a writer's writer. Author of two books for writers, novelist, essayist, writer's life coach, teacher, editor-in-chief of Author Magazine, podcast host of Author to Author, Bill has lived and examined all sides of the writer's life. In his thoughtful book Fearless Writing, Bill explains to both beginning writers…
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Telling Tales with Traditional Irish Storyteller, Niall De Burca
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As a young boy, Niall De Burca heard stories told by an elder Irishman and knew at that moment he was meant to be a traditional Irish storyteller. Later, as a young Irish emigrant in New Zealand, his vision began to take shape ~ upon the urging of his friends, Niall took his storytelling to the stage and has never looked back. In ink & peat Episode…
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Stories by the Fire with Craig Stewart & Barbara Robitaille
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Sharing stories can shorten the social distance between humans, no matter how far apart. Listening to writers read their work before the hearth in Cottage 4 calls us to the Memoir Tours retreat as much as anything. Think Open-Mic with a peat fire ablaze, cup of tea or glass of wine in hand, listening to stories. Stories of how we got here, what we …
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Storyteller Marianne McShane chats with us on ink & peat episode 14, and gives us a taste of remembering what it was to be a wee child. A native of Bangor, County Down on the northeast coast of Ireland, Marianne developed an appreciation for stories early on. She fondly remembers many evenings before the hearth listening to her Granda fill her imag…
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The Memoir Project with Marion Roach Smith
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In this episode, we talk with author and teacher Marion Roach Smith about her approach to writing memoir. Author of The Memoir Project: A Thoroughly Non-Standardized Text For Writing & Life, Marion has developed a formula for writing memoir that opens the writer to take a deep dive into the waters of self-examination. Writing with intent is the goa…
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Our guest on this episode of ink & peat is Barbara O’Neil, teacher, writer, facilitator, and -- perhaps the most coveted title of all -- a former elementary school librarian. Barbara teaches mixed-age groups in the Boston area helping students develop their writing voices. In addition, twice a month she writes with elders, a practice that brings he…
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To Taste Life Twice ~ A Conversation with Drew Lamm
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Author, teacher, mentor and writing muse, Drew Lamm inspires writers to mine their life's stories. For over twenty years, students in Drew's Taste Life Twice Writing course have found their voices and their stories through her gentle and effective writing instruction. Her students call her teaching technique 'enchanting, affirming, supportive, on t…
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Una Morris chats with us on this ink & peat episode about how the pursuit of art has shaped her life, both as a creative outlet and as a vehicle or an opportunity to extract meaning from memory ~ real or imagined.By Barb Robitaille & Craig Stewart
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The Rune Woman ~ A Conversation with Ingrid Kincaid
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Our chat on this episode of ink & peat is with Ingrid Kincaid, a writer, teacher, wise counselor who lives fully and freely, following ancient wisdom as offered through the reading of runes, through silence, through questioning and through living flat out. Ingrid teaches writing as a means of tapping into one’s creativity and urges those she teache…
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Insights from a Ghostwriter ~ A Conversation with Erin Donley
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Erin Donley talks about how her ghostwriting career evolved through years of reviewing books, how she loves the collaborative book writing process, and how memoir can be viewed as a legacy. Erin is the author of Don’t Tell Me to Calm Down -- Face Your Power and Find Your Peace; she speaks passionately and with authority about book writing and publi…
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By Barb Robitaille & Craig Stewart
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In this episode of ink & peat ~ which we refer to as a session for reasons that will become clear ~ we have a chat with Andrew Gillespie, box player, singer, folk music advocate, consummate musician, and generous soul. Andrew is a leading figure in the Killala Bay Folk Club and music scene. He joins us for a chat about playing the box, what makes f…
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Walking the Mayo Landscape ~ With Naturalist Denis Quinn
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Denis Quinn is our guest on this ink & peat episode. A Failte Ireland-approved local marine and countryside guide, Denis is the founder of Wild Atlantic Cultural Tours. He holds an Honours degree in Heritage Studies; that he received the Award for Academic Excellence comes as no surprise. Denis is a walking guidebook for natural and built heritage,…
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Upping Your Writing Game with Writer & Editor Helen Falconer
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Many aspects of writing demand courage -- overcoming resistance and feelings of inadequacy are two that top my list. Add to these the vulnerability we often subject ourselves to, especially when writing memoir, and we can find ourselves paralyzed, staring into an abyss of unstarted or unfinished projects, or both. Projects, when shared, can be tran…
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On Writing ~ An Act of Great Audaciousness; Conversation with Author, Kate Kerrigan
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Kate Kerrigan, New York Times bestselling author, is second-generation Irishwoman, born and raised in London, who returned to her beloved Irish family roots in the 90’s, settling in Killala to be near her Mother and their family home in Ballina, a short distance away. Kate prides herself on being a Writing Evangelist ~ she teaches writing at the Na…
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This episode features a conversation with Carol Raphael, writer, editor and ghostwriter. Carol talks about writing, memoir, what mentoring/ghostwriting memoir means to her, and the value of making time to bring a fresh perspective to one's life.By Barb Robitaille & Craig Stewart
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Psychotherapist and dream advocate, Kathleen Duffy. Kathleen is the author of Awaken to the Wisdom of Your Dreams: Mirrors in the River. Kathleen is an expert on dreams and how they can be used to inform our waking hours. Listening to her is inspiring and helps us mine the psyche for great insights, which in turn is useful for bringing context to w…
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