Bent But Not Broken

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Bent But Not Broken: The Lives We Lead: A Memoir of Short Stories and Reflections (2025)

NEW MEMOIR FROM DICK SEDERQUIST - Positive and Uplifting Lessons, Stories and Reflections on Surviving the Ups and Downs, the Rough Spots in Life.

Bent But Not Broken completes a pentalogy of Dick Sederquist's memoirs of lighthearted and uplifting short stories and reflections. Written over a two-and-a-half year period and three difficult back surgeries, Dick continues to educate and entertain the reader on a variety of topics while maintaining a positive attitude and outlook for the future. His essays provide insight into surviving life's ups and downs.

Dick's essays are postcard-sized memories of the unexpected joys and sorrows of life, and as his editor reminds him, images seen through a unique prism. His best writing comes in the form of short stories and reflections on multiple topics and ideas. The prompts come from anywhere, anytime, reminders of past experiences, many from unexpected sources. His subjects include surviving depression, his prison program, humor, nature, hiking, science, writing, spirituality, hope, faith, and even the hypocrisy the world keeps coming up with. It is hoped the inspirations and insight that came to him as he adjusted to and accepted the major changes in his life can help others in any kind of recovery or recuperative process. The memoir is written in four parts covering the major stages and revelations in his two-and-a-half year recovery and progress towards reclaiming a new life.

Over the years, hiking has sustained Dick. His son, who has been his constant hiking companion for fifty-four years (since he was four years old), is now leading the charge in spite of Dick's recent physical limitations. Like the book's title, the cover photo of his son says it all. He stands tall, outlined by the bent branches of a tree on a mist shrouded ridge overlooking the Farmington Valley in Connecticut. He is always ready, planning another hike, and providing a helping hand for Dick over the rough spots. With that inspiration in mind, Dick hopes Bent But Not Broken provides readers some help over their rough spots, too.

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Hiking Out

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Hiking Out: Surviving Depression with Humor and Insight Along the Way (2007)

Dick’s first memoir, these stories and essays are all about life seen through the eyes of a hiker. This book explores the roots of his lifelong depression, a celebration of everyday life, the places, the kind and helpful people he met along the way.

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Hiking Out Again

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Hiking Out Again: On Surviving Depression, a Prison Ministry, Love of Science, and Musings While Falling Asleep (2021)
Dick’s third memoir, completes a trilogy with Hiking Out (2007) and Inside and Outside (2011). The Kirkus Book Review, in reviewing his second memoir, described the author’s writing style this way. “The writing, in fact, is consistently polished. His voice is that of the subtitle’s ‘life-long hiker’ whose trails have taken him down paths both well-worn and fresh. What’s more, he does this with good cheer and a willingness to learn from everything that he encounters.”

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Inside and Outside

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Inside and Outside: Messages of Hope from a Life-Long Hiker and Depression Survivor (2011)

Dick’s second memoir, this is a collection of life change and inspirational stories and essays. The feature story “Life Change Discussion Group: Bringing Hope to a Medium Security Prison” is about his volunteer prison ministry. Having lost hope in his life, he can appreciate the plight of those who have lost theirs. This book is for all who seek insight, enlightenment and sweeter dreams wherever you may sleep.

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Taking a Walk

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Taking a Walk: Stories and Reflections on Pathways Old and New

With an array of stimulating, lighthearted, and humorous insights about life, Taking a Walk completes the quadrilogy of Dick Sederquist's memoirs. As Kirkus Book Review noted in 2011, "[Dick's] voice is that of the 'life-long hiker' whose trails have taken him down paths both well-worn and fresh. What's more, he does this with good cheer and a willingness to learn from everything he encounters."

The new collection of essay celebrates a life beyond depression, real and virtual prisons, and the challenges that come with everyday life. From missing the camp-side coffee speciality of a deceased friend to encouraging a teary stranger bound for a job interview to stories of high school overindulgences, as well as the avid hiker's own frustrations with his decreasing mobility, each of Dick's essays is a postcard-sized memory of the unexpected joys and sorrows of life as seen through his unique prism.

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Writing a Memoir, Coming Soon.

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About The Author

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Dick Sederquist is a retired engineer, engineering consultant, writer, author, hiker, motivational speaker and cancer and depression survivor. Dick suffered an emotional breakdown 49 years ago, realizing that he had been depressed all his life. That started his long journey back to mental health and happiness. Dick writes motivational and inspirational nonfiction short stories and essays for general audiences on many topics including life, family, humor, spirituality, nature, science, his volunteer prison experiences, hiking and travel adventures, depression, overcoming adversity, and what the author refers to as “home improvement”, healing the mind and body we live in. Dick and his wife have been married 64 years; have two grown children and four grandchildren, all part of a close-knit, active, caring and loving family. The whole family believes that the greatest gift in life is helping others.
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