Write-up by Betty Blanks: Review, Giveaway, Interview
In the heart of the Central Valley of California, two remarkable women emerged from the hardships of the Dust Bowl era, their lives and works deeply intertwined. Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel, a poet known as "The Biscuits & Gravy Poet," and Betty Blanks, a Visalia-born lawyer and author, shared a unique bond that spanned over a decade.
Born during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl period, Wilma developed a strong work ethic early on, working with cattle and milk cows. Her poetry vividly captures the struggles and spirit of Dust Bowl migrants and the era's hardships. Betty, who referred to herself as a "surrogate daughter" of Wilma, also hailed from a similar background as a child of Dust Bowl migrants, indicating a deep personal and historical connection between them.
Betty is notable for her biography titled *Pick Up Your Name and Write*, a detailed account of her life experiences connected to the Dust Bowl and her relationship with Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel. The book, self-published due to rejection from the University of Oklahoma Press, offers a unique insight into the lives of these two extraordinary women.
On January 28, Betty Blanks will be at Fresno City College for a reading and program about Wilma's biography. Readers can enter to win a copy of *Pick Up Your Name and Write*, along with two books by Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel, by emailing KRL at [email protected] with the subject line "pick up."
Wilma lived most of her life in various cities across the Central Valley, from Livingston to Fresno. Her work, although not widely distributed until the second half of her life, gained recognition, earning her the nickname "The Biscuits & Gravy Poet" and the Poet Laureate of Tulare in 1975.
Betty, who practiced law in Visalia for over thirty years, became a friend of Wilma's in her last 14 years, handling her business, legal, and medical affairs. In Wilma's last decade, there were some special moments, such as an evening at Bakersfield's Crystal Palace where Buck Owens read out one of her poems, a Wisteria Tea event, and Wilma's passing surrounded by nurses and aides reading her poetry to her.
Collections of Wilma's poems, stories, and papers can be found at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater; UC Merced; and historical societies in California and Oklahoma. For those interested in delving deeper into Wilma's work, many library branches in the San Joaquin Valley Library System have copies of books, collections, and chapbooks that contain her works.
Betty hopes that people feel a pride in their own heritage and understand the importance of knowing and telling their own history after reading her book. With a small body of short stories that she would like to expand on and start something new, Betty continues to honour the legacy of her friend and mentor, Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel.
- The book, "Pick Up Your Name and Write," penned by Betty Blanks, delves into her life experiences and her relationship with Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel, offering a captivating insight into their unique lifestyle and shared history.
- Betty's literary work, incorporating elements of her own life story and her connection with Wilma, serves as a testament to the importance of understanding one's roots and preserving personal history, reinforcing the value of pets, books, and entertainment as reflections of one's heritage.
