On September 11, 2001, my husband and I were camping on Dungeness Spit in Washington State when we heard the horrible news of the day. We felt lost and terrifyingly alone. We’d already been traveling for a couple of months and planned to keep traveling for a couple more but in those moments, nothing seemed more important than getting home. But we couldn’t get home. … Read More The Bee-Loud Glade, by Steve Himmer
Last year, I lost a sweet friend. She was someone who believed wholeheartedly in the power of the coincidence. In fact, she often commented on coincidental events that occurred in her life. It did seem like she had a lot of them, but as I was thinking about her this morning I wondered if she did have more coincidences occur than the average person … Read More nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
Yesterday morning I watched a robin bathe itself in our bird bath. It splashed itself with the water over and over. Shook out its feathers and perched on the lip of the bath in the sunshine. By the time the bird flew away I was nearly in tears. There was something deeply moving about this small creature taking a moment of pleasure. I realized … Read More shaking out my feathers
Like Siddartha, who left behind all that he knew and loved, who left behind all that comforted him in order to gain insight, Cheryl Strayed walked into the wilderness with only an outlandishly heavy pack on her back, carrying everything she believed she would need to sustain her in between pit stops on the Pacific Coast Trail. She even left her old name behind … Read More Wild, by Cheryl Strayed
Earlier this week, I was 18 again. Someone posted a photo of me circa 1986. At first, I laughed about the photos, but quickly my laughter turned dark. I saw myself as I’d never seen myself before. I try not to look at photos of myself from those years. When I do, I see someone who is furious and alone. I see someone who is sometimes … Read More Back to the Future: blasted back to 1986, only to discover who I really am in 2012
Originally posted on hotpanthers:
Just One Question is a new series in which I pose just one question to a Hot Pants author about their work. In the past, I have featured Myfanwy Collins and Ethel Rohan. In this episode, I ask Scott Garson about his collection American Gymnopédies. Recently re-issued by Lit Pub Books, the book was praised by Jim Heynen as a “wonderfully original work.” Jennifer:…
Originally posted on Boston Writers Review:
Newtonville Books opened its doors at its new location a week ago, and the local independent bookstore at its grand opening this past Thursday night was packed even before the advertised 7pm celebration start date. Boston-area literary notables, emerging writers and the general public intermingled at the new gorgeous space. Read on for photos of a few of…
Lately, everything I’ve done has gotten me closer to my roots–roots as tight and intertwined as the roots of grass. Typically, a person uses the term “grass roots” to describe a type of political campaign, one coming from a local level and from the people as opposed to from an enormous political machine. I’m using grass roots to talk about my Echolocation launch. Since … Read More Roots, grass, roots, grass, spreading roots, spreading
The title, Together We Can Bury It, of Kathy Fish‘s remarkable collection of fiction comes from one of my favorite stories of the author, “Blooms,” which is a story I’ve read at least a half a dozen times if not more. As such, I cannot pretend that I am coming to this collection unbiased. In fact, I not only love Kathy Fish’s work, I … Read More Together We Can Bury It, by Kathy Fish
Matthew Quick is my friend, but that’s not why I love his books. I love his books because they are beautiful, and soulful, and full of heart. In fact, they heart they are full of is enormous. Here in Quick’s third novel, BOY21, that big heart grows larger still. As I neared the end, I felt I was living out that seen in the … Read More BOY21, by Matthew Quick
May, 1978. My father had been dead for less than a week. It was a Saturday night and then next morning I would be on a plane for the first time. Even before my father died, I sensed that something big and scary was happening. That something irreparable was about to happen. Earlier in the spring, I’d looked up at the sky and seen … Read More Nostalgia Saturday: Chuck E’s in Love, Rickie Lee Jones
On Monday, I learned that the final draft of my thesis was complete. I also received my grade, which I’m delighted with. Two days ago the finished copies were delivered to the graduate department office. Relief. I’m done. The thing is that I have been so busy for so long that now I hardly know what to do with myself. So I’ve given myself … Read More Zou bisou bisou: an ending, a new beginning, a kiss
myfanwy collins 