why the river teeth conference is the best writing conference out there

I spent the weekend of May 18-20 at the inaugural River Teeth Nonfiction Conference at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio, and let me tell you: It was the best conference I’ve ever attended. Why? Well, I’ll tell you. Here are the Top Ten Reasons that the River Teeth Conference Rocks: 1. It’s small. (Seriously, have you…

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day 11: bump life

Thank you to Megan Flatt at BUMP Life for hosting today’s stop on the Use Your Words virtual book tour! I love Megan’s post about realizing that she’s a real writer and that writing is her passion. Megan is the founder of BUMP Life, a blogger, a pre- and postnatal fitness expert and most importantly,…

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5 minutes for mom: don’t miss this

I am honored to have 5 Minutes for Mom be the Day 7 tour stop for Use Your Words, and I urge you to head over there and check out these amazing posts right now. And I say posts (plural) because there are three!! First a little about 5 Minutes for Mom: 5 Minutes for Mom…

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Women Writing on Family

It’s not always easy to write about the people in your life, but as a memoirist, it’s part of my job. When I first began to write, I struggled to get accurate portrayals of my family members onto the page. I worried what my mom and dad will say when they read certain essays or…

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Benjamin

I feel lost these days, bumbling around, going through the motions of life. I go into the office and I get my work done, but I’m not really there.  I have a pulsing headache that begins somewhere in my shoulder and snakes its way up into my jaw, which I must be clenching at night.…

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journaling telechat tonight!

Join Sheila Bender and Ruth Folit for a 30-minute free telechat tonight! I am currently reading Sheila Bender‘s wonderful and heartbreaking memoir A New Theology: Turning to Poetry in a Time of Grief, about dealing with grief and renewing her commitment to life in the wake of her son’s death. And I hope to have Sheila as a guest…

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a double life: discovering motherhood

I’m so pleased to have another author interview to post this week. Today, I have the pleasure of introducing Lisa Catherine Harper, whose debut memoir, A Double Life: Discovering Motherhood, won the 2010 River Teeth Literary Nonfiction Prize. This is a lovely, meditative memoir that takes the reader through Harper’s first pregnancy and early motherhood.…

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responses to memoir prompt

Head over to The Red Dress Club today and check out all the wonderful responses to the memoir prompt I provided last week. I’m in heavy-prep mode for the Mother Words Retreat, which starts this Thursday, but I’m going to try to read all of the responses by the end of the week. If you…

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memoir prompt

I’m over at The Red Dress Club again today. I’ve provided their weekly memoir prompt. Check it out and feel free to link to your response on Tuesday. I’m going to read as many responses as I can. Happy writing!

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the red dress club

Happy Valentine’s Day, friends! D and I don’t do much to celebrate–this year we decided to splurge and exchange cards–but the girls are beside themselves with excitement. We got them Valentine’s pencils and chocolates and those musical cards (which they adore). This afternoon I’ll brainstorm a festive chicken recipe (any ideas?) and maybe my dad…

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