Caught Between Places
One of the panels I went to at the Southern Festival of Books was titled Our Feet May Leave, But Not Our Hearts – Stories of Home and Place (I know, kinda cheesy title, but it was YA novelists so I was hooked), and the panelists were Silas House and Meg Medina. I’d heard of Silas [...]
I’m the Preacher’s Kid
My soul is so full. I am coming down from the high after hanging out at the Southern Festival of Books for three days. No, not a vacation, not a retreat, but three days that were for me. Poet me, writer me, reader me. There is so much to reflect on, so I’ll have to [...]
Afraid of Nothing, As Though I Had Wings
Today in Nashville the Southern Festival of Books began! I hadn’t been in a few years, and I was pumped to be on Fall Break and have the chance to get down there this afternoon. I got to hear poet Mark Jarman read and speak and I bought his newest collection, Bone Fires. Now that’s [...]
Wanted: A Best Friend Forever
Searching for female BFF for thirty-something married mother of two. Must have at least average intelligence and above average wit. Must be able to take phone calls from me at any time of day or night, and give me the appropriate pep talk for whatever my current crisis is. Must be available to meet me [...]
Joy Comes In The Morning
Today would have been my brother’s 30th birthday. A year after Will’s death, my mom and I traveled to Sewanee to attend a day conference on Centering Prayer. We learned that Centering Prayer is a meditation-like prayer time in which you let go of conscious thoughts and focus on a word or a phrase that [...]
Writing Creative Non-Fiction = Insanity
So you probably read this post about how I’m writing more creative non-fiction than poetry now. I’m finding that working with a CNF manuscript is like – well shoot it’s 8 PM and I can’t think of a metaphor. Anyway, it’s harder and more confusing than I expected. I have this amalgam of essays that [...]
My Kids, Readers
This is not a how-to post. I can’t be that mom. I can’t take credit because most of the time I’m far less intentional than I intend to be. (Yes, pun intended.) But there’s this amazing thing that’s happened in my family: My kids love books. And I love them for that. (And for many, [...]
Hello! Welcome to Crazytown.
In Crazytown this week: The Mars rover Curiosity showed a burst of intellect this week. It stopped to observe . . . wait for it . . . a rock. My friend Chelsea had a rat in her bird feeder. Goodyear is offering Celebrity Driving Classes now. Only available for celebrities named Amanda Bynes or [...]
It Was Life . . . .
I’ve hit a little rut in my spiritual memoir manuscript. I’ve got a lot of stuff about Orthodoxy, but not enough about Thailand, so I decided to drag out all my old journals tonight. The first one I opened began in May of 1996, which was right before I graduated from high school and left [...]
The Boring Truth About Adoption
Dear Friends, There hasn’t been too much adoption news of late. My impression of adoption so far is this: Three years of completing 189,905,389 pieces of paperwork. And then you get a child. Click here to continue reading . . .
