Motherhood & Words

spring flurry

April 22, 2013 / Kate /

I’ve been MIA here for the last couple of weeks, and I’m sorry about that. Stella, Zoë, and I were all sick—laid out!—a couple of weeks ago, and then I was traveling. Then last week I was trying to catch up from the sickness and travel.

Two weekends ago I was in Denver to lead a workshop at the Writers Studio Literary Festival at Arapahoe Community College, which is a wonderful event. Check it out next year if you are nearby. The students were fabulous, talented, brave. And Kathryn Winograd, who coordinates it, is a superstar.

On Saturday after the workshop, I headed up to Boulder to spend time with my dear friend, Emily, who I’ve known since 2nd grade. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since we last saw each other; as soon as we’re together it’s as if no time has passed. I love that kind of friendship. So much history.

On Sunday, Emily hosted a book reception for me at her house, and I got to meet many of her Boulder friends and hear a little of their lives. We talked writing and motherhood, both the gorgeous and the hard stuff. We laughed a ton.

And now that I’m back, I feel like I’m living in a time-accelerated movie. Too much to do to get ready for upcoming readings and panels, not to mention teaching and editing. All exciting things, but add my development job and family and exercise, and well, it’s a lot. So I’m trying to practice deep breaths and hoping for my new prescription glasses to arrive soon, so I don’t get a headache every time I sit down at my computer.

I’d love to see you at one of these readings in May:

7th Annual Motherhood & Words Reading – Saturday, May 4, 7 pm at the Loft Literary Center, Open Book, Minneapolis. I’ll be joined this year by Katrina Kenison and Caroline Grant. It’s going to be a wonderful evening, so please come if you can. Free and open to the public. Wine reception to follow the reading and Q & A.

Listen To Your Mother – Twin Cities – Thursday, May 9, 7 pm at the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis. This is going to be so much fun. There are 14 of us reading (3-5 minutes each), and I can tell you how fabulous the pieces are. We had our first rehearsal on Saturday and we laughed, cried, laughed again. And the special guest for the event is the wonderful Lorna Landvik. You can learn more and get your tickets here.

Join me if you can!

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Kate

I have been teaching creative writing for almost twenty years. Reading about other women’s lives and experiences has expanded my world. To be able to walk in someone else’s shoes, whether it’s for a moment or an hour or a few days, is an incredible gift, providing me with insight into the human experience. It takes courage to write your truths, especially if it doesn’t seem as though anyone cares, as though anyone is listening. Let me tell you: your stories matter, I’m listening, and I’m here to help you find the heart of those truths, to get them down on the page, to craft them, and to send them out into the world. Together, we will change the world, one story at a time.

2 Comments

  1. Nina on April 23, 2013 at 11:20 pm

    So glad to be in the show and be working with the likes of writers like YOU. I wrote a bit about our rehearsal too this week.

    See you soon!



    • Kate on April 25, 2013 at 11:21 am

      Me too, Nina!! And I love your post about doing it even though it’s outside your comfort zone!