Author: Traci DePree
Located in: Le Sueur Minnesota
Submitted: December 27, 2001
Tell us a little about yourself. In 1996, My husband and I became tired of chasing
careers, of not knowing our neighbors except to
toss a hello over the fence in our busy-ness.
Life had become a racing monotony. And we began
dreaming of living in the country, having a big
garden and a few animals; of stopping to relish
the life that God gave us. So we moved to the
Valley of the Jolly Green Giant in southern
Minnesota. It has become all and more than we had
hoped. Here, I can look out my windows across
acres of cornfield. I can hear the cicadas when
September flutters in. Here my neighbors are my
best friends, calling to check on me when Im
ill, bringing a hotdish over even though I tell
them they dont need to go to all that trouble
What was your motivation behind this project? When I started writing A Can of Peas I especially
wanted to give each reader a reason to believe
that the person next to them in the airport or in
line at the grocery store is worth getting to
know, because each of us has a story worth
hearing if we will only take the time to listen.
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? With todays news a constant onslaught of
negative events in our world, it is difficult to
remain encouraged and to believe that good will
still exists. A Can of Peas carries a message of
hope and shows America as it ought to be and
truly still is in rural Minnesota. Where people
genuinely care and acts of kindness are everyday
events. I wrote A Can of Peas to offer hope for
for those feeling trapped by the blurred pace of
modern life and for those seeking a deeper
connection with God, others, and creation.
Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists? The lessons learned in A Can of Peas are lessons
that I learned in our own move to a farming
community in rural Minnesota. I am influenced
every day by those whose lives touch mine and
especially by Jesus.
Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know: I have a heart for fiction, especially excellent
fiction. To learn more about my favorite authors
or the daily happenings in my life visit my
website www.tracidepree.com
