Sue Hertz

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Selected Works

Books

Write Choices: Elements of Nonfiction Storytelling

Write Choices blasts through the boundaries between different forms of narrative nonfiction, focusing on the choices all writers of all forms make at every juncture, from choosing an idea, to collecting content, to creating a structure, to revising.

Caught in the Crossfire: A Year on Abortion’s Front Line

A powerful narrative illustrating the impact of abortion politics on women and health care workers.

Essays & Features

Call It Anything But Retirement

Washington Post piece exploring early retirement and whether the flood of older workers leaving their posts will eventually return.

Skiing Up That Hill: How I Discovered the Power of Resilience in Snow

Do we tempt tattered ligaments and torched egos by pushing the envelope? Trying something new? Or do we stick with what makes us feel masterful. A personal essay on risk and aging published in Shondaland

Couture Beans of London

London may be the Coffee Capital of Europe, but during an 11-month stay in the UK city, I struggled to find home brew satisfaction. My quest to find dark roast beans took me all over the city to all sorts of coffee purveyors to listen to all sorts of lectures on water temperature and roasting times and the importance of never, ever, ever letting coffee sit in the vessel in which it was made. What I learned is that while tea remains a national staple, coffee has become an obsession -- every day, the UK drinks over 55 million cups of coffee – that the epicenter is London, that thousands of hours of effort go into every mug of specialty coffee. Most important, I learned what it means to travel, to stretch the comfort zone, and whether knowledge really can breed appreciation.

Learning to Roll with June in Quebec

Cold. Rain. Black flies. Biting dogs. What else could go wrong on this bike vacation?

Of Hipbones and Hostels

Travel essay published in the anthology "Around the World."

A Very Personal Organizer; A Personal Coach and Best-Selling Author is One of a New Breed of Advisers for Hire

Boston Globe Magazine cover story on life coach Cheryl Richardson

Biking British

How does one survive biking in Cambridge, the legendary English city of narrow, winding streets, congested traffic, bellowing drivers, and cows? Lots of cows.

Taking Care of Mom & Dad

Caught between caring for their parents and their own families, members of the sandwich generation struggle to cope with the many challenges of parenting a parent.

Can Heavy be Healthy?

Can you be fit and fat? Contrary to common belief, yes you can.

Do, Re, and Mi

Writer Sue Hertz explores a lifelong ambition – learning to sing on key. Can she? Will she?

The Unexpected Congresswoman

With the help of an antiques dealer, nutritionist, and a medieval scholar, Carol Shea-Porter, who had never held public office, beat the Republican incumbent to represent her New Hampshire district in the U.S. Congress.

Whatever Happened to Dinner?

Remember the warmth, the closeness, the dailiness of the family meal? Neither do we. A Boston Magazine essay exploring the reasons behind the disappearing family dinner and the repercussions.

What's a Joint like You doing in a Race Like This?

Hockey great Bobby Orr may have knees like no other, but that doesn't mean the rest of us haven't abused the joint beyond its intention.

Time and Tide of Portsmouth

Boston Globe Magazine cover story on the gentrification of this seaport city on the coast of New Hampshire

Temple of History

The New Hampshire Historical Society's regal home, one of the state's most renowned structures, celebrates its 100th birthday. The path to the creation of Concord's architectural gem was anything but smooth.

Window Woman of New England

Alison Hardy has dedicated her career to saving antique windows.

Learning to Roll with June in Quebec

The River Rouge in welcome sun.

Learning to Roll with June in Quebec (556 KB)

Rain. Wind. Cold. Black flies. Biting dogs. What else could go wrong on this June bike trip?

Travel essay on the wisdom of biking in northern Quebec pre-season