Nebraskans love to vigorously debate who we are—starting with our state slogans: “The Good Life” to the newer “Nebraska Nice.” We joke about the phallic shape of our capitol building over lattes, defend the scent of western Nebraska’s ranches as the “smell of money,” and engage our radio talk-show hosts in intense discussions about what image should represent us on our license plates—cougars, elephants, or meadowlarks. Nebraskans are ranchers and farmers, soldiers and officers, inventors and entrepreneurs, laborers and winemakers, world travelers and homebodies, artists and writers.
This Misbehaving Nebraskans collection is not the neat and tidy version of us. It's gritty, authentic, painful, poignant, thoughtful, and honest. Charlene Pierce is honored to have three pieces in this collection of creative Nebraskans.