Where to begin? I seem to keep taking too long to post new blog entries. Sorry. This has got to be one of the slowest summers — as far as (paid) work for me — I’ve ever had but still I find myself busy, frazzled, distracted. So, first, Fishtrap. Got back from my 8-day writing [...]

Posted in Fishtrap, cute photos of me, fiction, my writing, travel, writers, writing residencies 3 Comments »

Today I head out to Northeast Oregon for a writing conference and retreat at Fishtrap. I’m one of the five fellows (that sounds funny… but I mean myself and four others have a fellowship for the week)– and I’ll be taking a writing seminar/workshop/class three hours every morning with the writer of one of the [...]

Posted in Fishtrap, books, my writing, poetry, travel, writers, writing residencies No Comments »

Wonderful last week. School ended, I turned in my grades, and then we celebrated Ted’s Birthday on Memorial Day. Tonight we’re heading out to NYC; two weddings in Brooklyn in one night (Saturday) and at the same time– it’s going to be like the Keystone Cops but I  can’t wait to see old friends and [...]

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It’s been over a week, sorry, since my last post. Lots going on– school is coming to a close– I finish teaching the last week of May. I cannot wait. I’ve rented an office with a co-worker of mine–it’s beautiful, pics to come! So I plan on spending my summer writing–especially since I have literally [...]

Posted in books, fiction, my latest man-crush, my writing, nonfiction, poetry, travel, writers No Comments »

So I found out a few days ago that I’ve won a full fellowship (even a travel stipend!) to Fishtrap– a week-long conference, workshop and mini-writing residency in the northeast corner of Oregon. I’m thrilled. It’s a week of conferences, readings, and writing workshops–especially this cool one I’m registered for on writing historical fiction (as [...]

Posted in my writing, travel, writers, writing residencies 8 Comments »

“To write well, to write passionately, to be less inhibited, to be warmer, to be more self-critical, to recognize the power of as well as the force of lust, to write, to love.” ———John Cheever (from The Journals of John Cheever) Been back from my residency in Vermont for two weeks now. Ooof, talk about [...]

Posted in Vermont Studio Center, books, cats, fiction, hermia, my writing, ted, travel, writers 1 Comment »

Wow. I can’t believe it’s over. My last day at Vermont Studio Center. So much to say but my head is utterly pounding and the thoughts in my brain a-jumble — anxiety about travel tomorrow, the strange ritual of packing up after 5 weeks away, the  goodbyes to dozens of wonderful people. What is there [...]

Posted in Vermont Studio Center, art, books, cats, collage, cute photos of me, my writing, ted, travel, word of the day, writers 3 Comments »

“Every death is violent.” So began Amy Bloom’s reading of her story “By and By” from her new book (out this month) of stories: Where the God of Love Hangs Out. The story was dark, haunting. About a missing/murdered girl–and those she left behind. About the body and what happens to it in death, after [...]

Posted in Vermont Studio Center, books, fiction, my writing, travel, writers 1 Comment »

Lordy, I can’t believe tomorrow, 7:45 a.m., I leave for my January residency in Vermont at VSC. Can’t believe the day is already (almost) here. The photo on the left is one of the buildings  but imagine it with snow and the river frozen. Fun! I think i’m ready. Today we went out and bought [...]

Posted in Vermont Studio Center, shopping, travel 1 Comment »

In Boston until Sunday, when I go to Vermont. Lovely here– snow fell yesterday and we went to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. I misread the website for the museum– thinking that the Costumes of Edith Head was an exhibit, when in fact it is a film series. So we walked around the [...]

Posted in Vermont Studio Center, books, fiction, my family, ted, travel, writers 1 Comment »