Acknowledgments -- Roots -- Chicago Born -- Neighborhoods 1980–2000 -- 1980: Such a Yellow House -- 1985: Come Walk with Me -- 1986: Errands by Foot -- 1992: The Block Party -- 1996: Blue Wednesday -- 1997: Second Acts -- 1998: Home Alone -- 1998: Simply White -- 1999: New Year’s Eve -- 2000: New Year, New Century, New Millenial -- Intersecting Worlds 2001–2003 -- 2001: Our Small World -- 2001: What Is Black & White & Red All Over? -- 2002: Memorial Day Parade -- 2002: Chez Provence -- 2002: The Dairy Queen -- 2003: Solstice Wrens -- 2003: Do Not Go-Lytely -- 2003: Third Acts -- Transits 2004–2008 -- 2004: Lincoln Park -- 2004: My Last Class -- 2004: Cut Loose -- 2005: Heavy Metal.-2005: Blinders -- 2007: Jessica -- 2008: Secret Recipe -- Restorations 2009–2014 -- 2009: The Stitching Post -- 2010: Bashi and Lily -- 2011: Kisses in the Dark -- 2012: Authentic Movement -- 2013: Curtain Call -- The Forever Home 2015– -- 2015: Errands by Car -- 2015: Midnight-Sky Blue -- 2015: Come Walk with Me, Again -- Afterword -- Appreciation -- Appendix A: Why Seven Minutes? -- Appendix B: Further Engagement -- About the Author."Book: An American Daughter’s Story is a collection of linked stories written chronologically from 1980–2015. They create a multifaceted narrative of how the public and the private, the past and present, the local and global, intersect. With earnest reflection, modesty and humor, Laurel Richardson introduces the reader to her Ohio neighborhoods, friends, family, writers and therapy dogs. She ages, retires and frets over her droopy eyebrow. Her town’s local stores close; police bust heroin dealers; September 11th happens; universities corporatize; poetry venues transform. All this and much more as Richardson honors the complexity and vibrancy of America, and her life within it. Richardson’s renowned book, Fields of Play (1997) is about constructing a life inside the academy; Seven Minutes from Home is about constructing a life outside the academy. This extraordinary example of literary sociology can be read for pleasure, adopted in book clubs, or used in courses in American Studies, communication, creative writing, narrative, qualitative research, sociology, cultural studies and women’s studies. An appendix offers discussion questions, research projects and creative writing exercises. “A tour de force, the penultimate statement from gifted writer Laurel Richardson. Here an American daughter’s story comes home.” – Norman Denzin, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign “The stories are riveting; you will not be able to stop reading.” – Carolyn Ellis, University of South Florida “An exemplar for how good social science should be written.” – Jessica Smartt Gullion, Texas Woman’s University “A love letter to a culture and a life well-lived.” – Anne Harris, Monash University “Highly recommended for courses in sociology, women’s studies and creative writing.” – Mary Margaret Fonow, Arizona State University Laurel Richardson, Professor Emeritus at The Ohio State University, has received a Life-Time Achievement Award in Qualitative Research, a Cooley Book Award, and two Affirmative-Action awards. She writes daily. She is most proud of her therapy dogs’ work with special-needs children. ".