free creative nonfiction workshop

I’ll be teaching a free two-hour Introduction to Creative Nonfiction workshop in conjunction with The Loft Literary Center at the Prior Lake Library on May 12th as part of Scott County Libraries’ Inkslingers: Writers in the Libraries program. Come try your hand at creative nonfiction. We’ll be discussing the basics of creative nonfiction, doing a few writing exercises,…

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an update and an essay

Thank you all for your thoughts and good wishes for my grandpa. He has done the seemingly impossible and bounced back at 102 years old. On Friday afternoon he had a pacemaker put in, and he felt so good after the surgery that he wanted a plate of BBQ ribs. “I know I’m talking too…

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grandpa update

Thank you all for your warm wishes for my grandpa (and me). I went over to see him yesterday afternoon, and if you can believe it, he HAD bounced back, just as I had hoped he would. He was sitting in his recliner, talking a mile a minute. Seriously, he covered the food he’d consumed;…

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cocooned

I’m sorry I’ve been quiet the last week. (And I’m sorry I was late on drawing names for the autographed copy of Hot (Sweaty) Mamas. I just had one of my fine coffee shop friends pull a name from a bowl, and it’s Cath C! Cath, send me your address, and I’ll get the book…

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a note about the Vanda and patience

My favorite plant is the Vanda Rothschildiana. It hangs in the window of our dining room, its long stem twisting around itself, as if it’s reaching for the sun. When it blooms, its huge buds open to reveal lavender petals the size of a child’s hand. I inherited this plant from Mimi, with whom D…

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hot (sweaty) mamas giveaway

I had a wonderful time at the book launch for Hot (Sweaty) Mamas on Saturday night. What could be better than helping friends (and a former student!) celebrate publication? But the next day I started coming down with strep throat, and between that and all my teaching and editing, I haven’t been able to post…

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hot (sweaty) mamas!

I never set out to be a runner. Sure, I ran cross country in high school, but most of the time I hated it. I tried to trip myself during races when the exhaustion became unbearable, and my friends and I often took short cuts on long practice runs. We hid in the bushes or…

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what’s in a moment?

I’ve been thinking a lot about the moments that I don’t want to forget—moments with my children and other family members, especially my grandpa, who defies the odds at 102, but who won’t be able to forever. (He would give a disgusted grunt at my lack of faith, I know.) Working from home is tricky—I…

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inspiration and work

I am currently teaching three classes–two online Mother Words classes and a prose revision class at the Loft–and I’m busy, especially when you add the girls and Stella’s spring break last week and writing and editing and family and friends (well, you get the picture). There isn’t enough time in the day to keep up.…

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thank you!

Thank you to everyone who commented on my de-lurk for Japan post and also to those of you who linked to it from your blogs. What an amazing community! I feel so fortunate to be a part of it.  I’ve been a little scattered lately. This weekend D turned 40! (Happy birthday, babe!) We had…

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