Dick Sederquist

Dick Sederquist is the author of five memoirs, "Hiking Out" (2007), "Inside and Outside" (2011), "Hiking Out Again" (2021), "Taking a Walk" (2022), and his most recent, Bent But Not Broken (2025). Dick writes about surviving depression, his prison ministry, love of science, and other stimulating motivational topics. He and his wife, Linda, are the proud parents of two wonderful adults and grandparents to four loving grandchildren.

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 long recovery and eventual 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.

In all his writing, Dick follows a format of short stories and reflections on multiple topics. Taking a Walk: Stories and Reflections on Pathways Old and New, his fourth memoir, is a collection off one hundred motivational and inspirational short stories and reflections on life and many contemporary issues including science, spirituality, our democracy, the pandemic, and his upbeat and positive assessment of the effects of joint and back surgery and the subsequent effect on his spirits and the loss of mobility as a lifetime hiker.

Hiking Out Again, his third memoir, was written preceding and completed in the middle of our world Covid-19 pandemic, a time of uncertainty and, more than ever, a time to reflect. Dick continues the themes of his first two memoirs with new and valuable insights on surviving depression and what he has learned from the men behind the razor wire in his volunteer secular prison ministry. The author also reveals his love and respect for good science and the scientific method, hopeful messages which often sustained and motivated him during his darkest depression. Lastly, he explores the fascinating things that come to mind when wrapping up the day and falling asleep. Hiking Out Again, like its predecessors, is a reader’s guide to both the external and internal terrains we travel through life.