"Some places stay with you, not because you lived there long, but because something in you recognized them. I've always felt that landscapes hold memory, something older, deeper. That's the terrain I keep returning to."

I've moved across continents, carried languages, left and found homes again. Through all of it, I've learned that connection to place isn't about PERMANENCE, it's about RESONANCE. I'd love to share a conversation about what it means to feel rooted even when life moves you, how landscapes can reflect back who we are becoming, and how memory, belonging, and identity live in the spaces between.

There's this stretch of coastline in Parksville, not particularly grand or dramatic. It's quiet, mostly. The tide comes and goes without fuss. Driftwood rests where it lands. The sand holds the marks of birds, dogs, children. I walked there often, never with a plan. Just walking.

At first, I didn't think much of it. I was new to the area, still feeling like a visitor in my own life. I didn't speak the landscape's language yet. But little by little, I started noticing things. A crooked branch that looked like it was waving. A stone that never moved. Light that changed the shape of everything.

And then one day, I realized, without meaning to, that I had started to memorize the land. Like it was starting to memorize me back. I knew where the shadows would fall. I knew when the birds would come. I knew how the wind sounded just before it rained.

That was the moment I realized I was building a kind of home with familiarity, with presence, with noticing. I wasn't looking for roots. But they found me anyway.

It made me think of all the places I've been, all the ways I've tried to belong. Sometimes it's hard to say where "home" really is. But for me, it often begins with land, with walking, listening, paying attention.

I didn't know I was gathering home. But I was.

Website, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram

Federation of Canadian Artists

Art Vancouver, Vancouver Art Foundation at the end of May 2026

Diane is a second-time guest on Story-Power. Her first appearance was on December 6, 2023. Since then she's been busy creating new stories one of them is a mystery/thriller, a genre she's never written before. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Diane Merrill Wigginton, born in Riverside, California in 1963, grew up in the vibrant community of Mira Mesa, San Diego. From a young age, Diane developed a deep passion for storytelling, inspired by the adventures of her childhood in the 1970s and early 1980s. Spending summers on her grandparents' ranch in Idaho, Diane learned the value of animals, nature, and storytelling that would shape her future writing career. After marrying her husband, David, in 1998, Diane and her family lived in Encinitas before moving to Herald, California in 2001. They embraced a rural lifestyle on a 5 ½-acre ranch, raising six children. Diane's love for writing never waned, but raising a family and working full-time kept her literary ambitions on hold. However, in her 50s, Diane decided to pursue her dream of becoming a published author. It was then that she created Angelina's Secret, the first book in her critically acclaimed Jeweled Dagger Series.

Since then, Diane has published five novels, including her first children's book, The Secret of One-Eyed Cogburn, The Dreaded Pirate Captain. Diane's work spans multiple genres, from historical romance and suspense to children's fiction, and she has earned a prestigious collection of awards that reflect her remarkable storytelling ability. She has won accolades such as the Benjamin Franklin Digital Award, Reader's Favorite 1st Place Historical Fiction Award, and numerous awards for A Compromising Position. In 2017, after retiring from her "9 to 5" job, Diane and her husband moved to Kalispell, Montana, where they now enjoy a life filled with adventure, hiking, and exploration in the stunning wilderness around Glacier National Park. Diane continues to write full-time, bringing to life the rich characters and intricate stories that captivate her readers. Diane's creative spirit is fueled by her deep appreciation for family and her love for storytelling. Now a proud grandmother to eleven grandchildren, Diane is living her dream and continues to inspire readers with her heartfelt and adventurous tales.

Diane's social media: Website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Amazon

Diane's books published through her company: Jewel Dagger Publishing

A Compromising Position Awards: The Global Book Award, Bookfest, Firebird Books

Laura's Story

Angelina's Secret

Isabella's Heart

Olivia's Promise

The Secret of One Eyed Cogburn: The Dreaded Pirate Captain

Compromising Position

The Magician Killer

The Duke's Lady is a Spy (work in progress)

Meet Bob Martin, a guest with a story that is as extraordinary as entertaining and fun. From a high-powered mob lawyer during Miami's wild Cocaine Cowboy days to a Certified Meditation teacher with an MSW to go with his JD, he has helped hundreds redesign their thinking for the life they dream of. Bob's journey is anything but ordinary.

Now a two-time published author and Professor of Wellness at Elon University, Bob blends Taoist wisdom, brain science, psychology, and humor to tackle everything from breaking free of limiting beliefs to finding clarity and resilience in life's chaos.

With a knack for making big ideas relatable and plenty of stories to keep listeners hooked, Bob's the kind of guest who inspires, challenges, and keeps the conversation lively. Want to hear more? Check out his over 50 five-star reviews.

Facebook, LinkedIn, Website, Podcast (A Wise and Happy Life)

Bob's upcoming book, Martin's Corner

Bob's current books, I am the Way, Children of Abraham

Pratt Institute

I Ching, a Taoist practice

Tao of Pooh, Te of Piglet, Benjamin Hoff

Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu

PodMatch, a dating service for Podcasters

A Course in Miracles, Helen Schucman PhD

The Road Less Traveled, M. Scott Peck

Bob's blog, The Wise and Happy Life, on Substack