Author Archives: Geradine Simkins

In the spring of 2016 I had the great good fortune to travel with my good friend, Marina Alzugaray, as she made a journey to Cuba after 50 years of living in the United States, away from her beloved homeland of Cuba. Marina has been a practicing midwife in the US for nearly 4 decades.Continue reading

I am please to tell you educators across the country are taking me up on my offer! To celebrate the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year I will send any midwifery program one free case of the text Into These Hands, Wisdom From Midwives. That’s 18 books, retail value of $450, for the price ofContinue reading “Educators: Have you ordered your FREE case of books?”

Each of the 25 midwives in Into These Hands, Wisdom From Midwives was chosen because I considered her to be a Sage Femme—a Wise Woman. Who are these women?  “The midwives in this anthology are all over fifty years of age and each has been a midwife for over twenty-five years, some for as manyContinue reading “A powerhouse of Grace and Guts: Who are the 25 authors?”

I am so happy to say Into These Hands, Wisdom From Midwives is now a required textbook in several midwifery programs in the U.S., both for CPMs and CNMs. FREE gift for educators In gratitude, and to celebrate the new 2015-2016 school year, I will send any midwifery educator one case of Into These Hands,Continue reading “Why are midwifery educators using Into These Hands in their programs?”

It’s almost ‘school time’ again for educators and new students. In my part of the world we are savoring the last gorgeous summer days and dazzling nights. For students and instructors its time for gathering materials and ordering books. Two years ago I sent every midwifery SCHOOL in the U.S. a copy of my newContinue reading “2015-2016 School Year Special: FREE case of books for all midwifery educators!”

I slipped away from my blog for what seemed to be a minute or two. In a blink of the eye so much happened. I started the year with a big surprise—I got engaged to my old lover from 20 years ago, dear friend, and very talented and sweet man, Fred Heltenen.   We built aContinue reading “The whirlwind adventures of 2013”

This year my nephew Sam (whom I caught when he was born) married his love, Vanessa, and they gave my brother & sister-in-law their first grand baby, and my mother her first great grand baby. Her name is Lyla, and she was born at home with midwives, as was her daddy and most of hisContinue reading “New Life, New Family”

It’s been a wild and crazy summer. I have been traveling in the air, on the ground, and across the waterways of the Great Lakes. It is that time now, however, that we in the North woods think about settling down and tucking in for the winter, and gathering the resources we need for the short days andContinue reading “Been Gone, I’m Back”

I met one of my activist heros at the 2nd International Indigenous Women’s Health Conference held in Albuquerque last month. Buffy Sainte-Marie made history with her song—Universal Soldier—during the Vietnam War era. The song was actually about the individual responsibility we all share for war, for making, financing or sustaining wars. Her song won herContinue reading “Activism Has Many Faces”

After the long and tedious four-year cycle of conception, gestation, growth, and birth, my first book—Into These Hands, Wisdom From Midwives—was finally published in Spring 2011.  As it turned out, the first people to see it in print were the Board of Directors of the Midwives Alliance. Our spring board meeting was held in OhioContinue reading “My Beloved Friend Abby Died Today”