I’m overdue to overhaul this site and continue posting. I know, and I’m sorry about the delay. I’ve gotten caught up finishing the first draft of my novel-in-progress. And now I’m probably not going to get back to the site … Continue reading →
Readings are part of a writer’s life. Some love them, some complain about them, but we all need them. Readings are the one real chance we have to personally connect with complete strangers through our work. Yes, we count on … Continue reading →
In moving to Portland at the end of last year, I wound up living less than a mile away from Carmen Bernier-Grand, an accomplished author and my professor for the Craft of Young Adult Fiction class I took last semester. … Continue reading →
Back in August 2010, the extremely cool Janet Buttenwieser brought the Polar Bear Plunge to our NILA residency at Camp Casey on Whidbey Island.* Janet excels at infectious enthusiasm and, accompanied by a few like-minded individuals, she organized more than … Continue reading →
After about thirty-one months of writing, revising, commenting, critiquing, reading, outlining, formatting, laughing, singing, fretting, missing sleep, pushing, organizing, and double-checking, I was presented with my Master of Fine Arts degree on Saturday, August 11th, 2012. They also presented me … Continue reading →
In two days I leave for my final MFA residency. Beyond the normal fun, craziness, and learning, this residency will include a couple of special events: Graduation. By the end of the residency, I will have a graduate degree, and … Continue reading →
I went to my first writers conference this past weekend, put on by the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. As I made the drive up I5 from Portland to Seattle,* Scottish folk music blaring because it was that kind of day … Continue reading →
Everyone who has ever overcome shyness knows that it takes work. For me, that work began in earnest when I started the MFA program at Whidbey. I promised myself that I would volunteer for everything. I would speak up in … Continue reading →
—————————————————————————————– Newsflash: my poem “Society” has been accepted by 42 Magazine! —————————————————————————————– When I was an undergraduate in Religious Studies* I ran across the word “liminal” and fell in love. Who knew that there was a word for that in-between … Continue reading →
Today I thought I’d give you a break from the writing discussions and show you video from a live reading I did this past January on Whidbey Island. Feel free to comment or share it around. —– Submissions Update: Since … Continue reading →