Many moons ago, when this paper was just a wee one in diapers, we had a few die-hard columnists come on board … and they stayed to this day, about 20 years later! The paper and our readers are grateful. In this special spread, these columnists share the ins and outs of writing for the monthly paper about topics that are important to Truckee/North Tahoe.
Linda Lindsay, since 2002 | Practical Wellness
How long have you been writing for Moonshine Ink?
My first article appeared 20 years ago, in Moonshine’s second issue. Since then, I’ve written more than 120 articles for the publication.
What have you written?
I write pretty exclusively about wellness, in some form or another, with topics ranging from food and lifestyle choices (sleep, alcohol, caffeine, meditation) to environmental concerns, such as exposure to plastics and toxic cleaning products. I particularly enjoy researching articles that challenge long-standing myths, such as, does caffeine cause dehydration? And are sports drinks really necessary?
What are the favorite pieces you’ve done?
One that comes to mind was titled The Key to Good Habits; Are You an Upholder, Obliger, Questioner, or Rebel? It was fun to interview people about how they respond to inner and outer expectations, which — surprisingly — often explains why people succeed or fail at sticking to a habit. Many of my favorite articles are ones that taught me the most and caused me to change something about my own health for the better.
What are some of the biggest/most surprising responses you’ve received?
It’s so gratifying when someone tells me they clipped an article to save, or that an article motivated them to make a positive change in their diet or lifestyle. Sometimes people ask me to write about topics that have nothing to do with wellness, which I take as a compliment, but politely decline. I enjoy my niche here at Moonshine.
How has writing for Moonshine impacted your life?
It’s been rewarding to write for a publication that is valued and appreciated by the community. Writing wellness articles makes me stay on top of new research and dig for the truth behind sensational health headlines, which misconstrue original research so often, it’s shocking. With every article I write, I clean up my act a little bit more. I’ve become religious about sleep since covering the topic in 2019. I also practice time-restricted eating, and meditate regularly. I stay on top of my Vitamin D levels, never heat or store anything in plastic containers, and eat upwards of 15 different plant foods daily.
Eve Quesnel, since 2005 | Book It!, Nature’s Corner
May/June 2005, pictured here, was her first edition. Photo by Ted Coakley III/Moonshine Ink
How long have you been writing for Moonshine Ink?
In 2005, I proposed a column called Book It! in which I reviewed a book and/or interviewed an author. Some authors I interviewed during those years included Jordan Fisher Smith, Khaled Hosseini, Alan Weisman, and Pam Houston. In my introduction to the column, I included this quote, “Literature helps us to understand ourselves, and in attending to the experiences of others as they are represented in strings of words, we can see how we’re directly tethered to others.” Later, I suggested a column that addressed our bioregion; one contributor we named “Bioregion Boy.” In 2012, I started Nature’s Corner.
What have you written?
I co-authored with Leticia Aguilar a 2023 book called Leaving Patriarchy Behind: One Woman’s Journey. I was co-editor with Cheryll Glotfelty for The Biosphere and the Bioregion: Essential Writings of Peter Berg, 2015. I contributed essays to two natural history anthologies, Tahoe Blues and Wildbranch: An Anthology of Nature, Environmental, and Place-based Writing. I am working on a collection of nature essays.
What are the favorite pieces you’ve done?
I have loved working on all the Nature’s Corner pieces. In my interviews, I learn about the natural world from people who are as passionate about it as I am.
What are some of the biggest/most surprising responses you’ve received?
I don’t receive written responses, but sometimes a friend will say: “I didn’t know (fill in the blank) about (fill in the blank).”
How has writing for Moonshine impacted your life?
Writing for Moonshine has impacted my life in many ways. First, in continuing a friendship with the team. Second, learning, learning, learning about nature. And third, it makes me feel a part of the community. I love Truckee and Tahoe. I love our little town in the Sierra.
Pete Kristian, since 2002 | Flip’s Friends
How long have you been writing for Moonshine Ink?
I pitched Flip’s Friends to Mayumi when she was dating my roommate. I’m pretty sure I go back to issue number 2. Somehow 20 years went by.
What have you written?
I started out writing Flip’s Friends with my dog Flip. We wanted to help local dogs and cats find homes. I’ve written a variety of other pieces, but I’m probably most known for ghost writing for cats and dogs. I do have one cover story and have branched out and written profiles and other stories.
My only modeling gig was in a Moonshine Ink holiday handbook. In one of the photos, I was supposed to hold a guitar. I heard from several guitar playing friends that I had no idea how to hold a guitar. Surprisingly, I never heard from any modeling agencies.
What are the favorite pieces you’ve done?
Steve Randall recently retired from 37 years with the Truckee-Donner Recreation and Park District. I’ve worked with Steve for over 20 years. I wanted to write something authentic, but also have it be something Steve would be proud to read. That was a nice challenge.
When I started Flip’s Friends I would stop by the shelter and throw a dog in my Jeep, and we would head off on a little adventure and write a story about it. There wasn’t a fancy animal shelter. When Flip passed away, I wrote a story about him. For me, it was an end of an era. The Truckee shelter is so much better and more civilized now, but I miss a little of the old adventures.
What are some of the biggest/most surprising responses you’ve received?
I got a nice reaction to the Steve Randall retirement piece. I heard from quite a few long-time locals and even Steve’s daughters that they enjoyed the article.
People have donated to the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe in Flip’s name. That is very gratifying. I’ve met a lot of folks who adopted dogs and cats we featured. I think I got a cat’s gender wrong in a story. Heard about that.
I write more as a hobby, but I like to get feedback from the pros. I hear occasionally from David Bunker or Sylas Wright on a story. They are actual writers who put out stories on a more regular basis and don’t have the time to reflect or obsess like I often do. They are on to the next story. I have a lot of respect for the grind of regular contributors.
How has writing for Moonshine impacted your life?
My daughter, Maeve, had an article published in Moonshine Ink’s last issue. She has been working with some students at Truckee High to bring back the student newspaper. I hope that in some way my work at Moonshine has inspired her to explore writing. There was an evening where we searched the Moonshine archives together and found some of my old stories. It was pretty special to share that with her.
I do feel like I am a part of something special. I’ve taken Tim Hauserman’s Tahoe Rim Trail Guide around the lake more than once. Pretty cool to be in the same newspaper as him. Being involved in Moonshine Ink has only made my experience in Truckee and Tahoe richer.
