Category Archives: Publications

Hey 2017 — Later, As in, Later Much

Gratitude, Listen To Your Mother, Month in Review, Multiples Illuminated, Nevertheless We Perisisted, Publications, Recommendations, The Sun Magazine, Writing, Year in Review

2017 should not let the door hit it in the ass on the way out. I think most people feel this way. The world feels depleted right now.

A friend of mine posted this fun cover on her Facebook page recently, and I admit to watching it with something close to obsession. It’s a little hit of joy each time.

The last week of each year, I hunker down and reflect on the past year. Here are some random thoughts:

  • I didn’t knit enough.
  • I baked more than enough cookies.
  • The nice thing about being the age I am is how much more I respect myself and my boundaries. “No” is a complete sentence and one I owe it to myself to say as needed. I gave love as freely as I could to the wonderful family and friends in my life who took that and held it dear.
  • I have writing ideas now, which for the longest time I yearned for. Now I just yearn for time, and, when I have that, skill.
  • Professionally it’s been a wonderful year, although I still crave quiet and regularity in the process. Soon enough. Soon enough.
  • This year I co-wrote and produced a short film (you can see the trailer below). Never has such a steep learning curve been so much fun. I know for sure that when you work with quality people, work doesn’t feel like a burden.
  • I read 53 books this year – I’m probably going to add one or two more by year’s end. Many were significant and important. My favorites were a slim volume called Heating and Cooling by Beth Ann Fennelly and Circadian by Chelsey Clammer. Both are literary rides that challenged and delighted me.
  • I read a lot of nonfiction. I am cycling back to fiction now, for no reason other than I want to.
  • I have a deep affection for John Oliver. I have an equally deep and entirely different affection for Gumball.
  • Have you seen this Ted Talk with Joshua Prager?
  • Indecent, one PBS’s Great Performances, should be required viewing. I am haunted by its truth and its form and its beauty weeks later. Unfortunately it does not seem to be available on the PBS website any longer, but if you can catch it on demand or indeed live, please do so!
  • My husband and I are in the middle of The Zookeeper’s Wife (I fall asleep during almost every movie we watch at home, no matter how great the film.) It, too, should be a reminder to any fool who forgets that Nazis are the bad guys.
  • My writing had an acceptance rate of about 20%, which is pretty great. I am proud of all the publications which honored me by including my work, especially the second Multiples Illuminated anthology and The Sun magazine’s Readers Write section.
  • One of the highlights of my year (and a true bucket list item) was being part of the Chicago Listen to Your Mother show. When I was submitting and auditioning, I was told that being cast would be life-altering. And indeed it was.

 

2018 holds promise. I am attending the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop this spring, another bucket list item. My film will be screened publicly. There are some announcements I cannot yet make, but you know that I will return and spill the beans here.

I’m going to start working on a book. Terrifying, that. But it’s time.

And I will continue to enjoy my friends and family, all of whom have wrapped their arms around me this year as needed and have honored me by trusting me with their hearts and experiences as well.

I wish you all a happy remaining 2017 and a joyful, peaceful 2018. I’ll see you here soon!

In the immortal words of Colonel Potter —

 

I’m in the Readers Write Section of This Month’s The Sun Magazine

Creative non-fiction, Publications, Recommendations, The Sun Magazine, Writing

When I began writing professionally about two years ago, I told myself that if I ever got into the Readers Write section of The Sun magazine, it would signal a transition to the next level of my career. So here I am. Next level. And perhaps my next milestone will be having an actual feature in it.

You can find a hard copy of The Sun by checking out the list of B&M stores here.

You can scroll down and read my piece (and the other magnificent essays) here.

Also, treat yourself or a loved one to a subscription to the magazine. It’s part fiction, part non-fiction, all quality.

Nevertheless We Persisted

Books, Creative non-fiction, Gratitude, Nevertheless We Perisisted, Poetry, Publications

Weeks ago, there was a call for submissions to a special audiobook-first publication of essays and poems. The project was called Nevertheless We Persisted, and I submitted my work for consideration.

I am proud to say that my essay, “The Myth of 15 Minutes,” was selected to be part of that anthology, and the incredibly talented Lauren Ezzo narrated my piece to perfection, catching every nuance and infusing it with humor and warmth.

Blunderwoman Productions described the process and the project on their website:

BlunderWoman Productions collected thoughts on love and loss, on struggle, or how you’ve overcome hardship. These are poems, stories and essays from writers across the country and in India and Britain. Some are funny. Some are sad. All them have heart and a deep truth. 

Each piece has been paired with a talented narrator (or performed by the author themselves) to bring their story to life. 

Original music provided by Jennie Knaggs and Nick Shillace of Lac La Belle.

Original cover design provided by Kim Hindman of 10 Digit Press. 

We hope this piece will encourage and inspire others to fight the good fight, keep on keeping on, and celebrate a little more of the joys in life. 

 25% of the proceeds (after publication costs) will be donated to Planned Parenthood.

Nevertheless We Persisted is now available to hear (the project may eventually also be available as a book).

Here is a sample of one of the pieces, a poem written by Kass Hillard and read by Janina Edwards, “Women Rise Up.”

You can now purchase the anthology on Audiobooks, Audible, or borrow it via Hooplah.