Dear fans of Ariele Huff and her SHARING STORIES column…

I received an email from her the other day, and it spells the end of an era for Northwest Prime Time.

The first-ever edition of Northwest Prime Time rolled off the presses in March 2000… Ariele Huff started her association with us a mere nine months later and has been with us ever since.

During our print-publication days, she helmed Northwest Prime Time’s Writing and Poetry Corners; then, when we became an online-only senior publication in April 2022, she started her SHARING STORIES section on the site. SHARING STORIES has included Ariele’s monthly Writing Corner column along with her curated selection of reader-submitted stories and poetry.

Ariele’s experience in the field is long and impressive. She first published at the ripe old age of 12. Since then, she’s had a lifetime career in writing, with thousands of published articles and columns as well thirty-plus books. She has been editor of more than a dozen periodicals, including newspapers and magazines. She also worked as an acquisitions manager at a publishing house. “Teaching, writing and editing other people’s work has been a satisfying addition to my love of words and the power they have,” commented Ariele.

On top of the breadth and depth of her experience, Ariele proved to be a willing sounding-board and giver-of-advice to Northwest Prime Time. Believe me, in those early days I called her every time we were in the throes of publishing a new edition. She was always generous, patient and kind, and provided invaluable guidance.

Her latest communication did not come as a shock since she recently confessed her plan to cut back. But it means her life as editor of our SHARING STORIES section has come to an end.

At 75, Ariele remains very busy, and while some manageable chinks have developed in her remarkably good health, she said that her decision is mostly about needing more time to relax.

Who can argue with that?

We both know it’s not goodbye. She may continue to contribute articles when a topic grabs her, and I may continue to call on her for advice.

“I’m 75 and have written and taught professionally for a bit over 55 years,” Ariele shared in her letter. “I have a writing group that has been going for 50 years, so I’m keeping that.” She also plans to ease out of the heavy schedule of classes and groups that she’s kept all these years.

She’s been in the biz for well over half-a-century. I’d say her decision to relax is well-deserved.

Thank you for everything, Ariele. I wish you the very best and look forward to hearing from you soon.