Poet and memoirist Sascha Feinstein was my mentor during the last stretch toward my MFA. He helped me pull disparate pieces on memory hunting together into a cohesive thesis and, while doing so, pushed me to rethink language and expand moments I’d been avoiding. Later—years later, after I’d written much more—he helped me shape the…
Last night, I received a generous welcome to Westport Writers' Workshop, where I am now teaching nonfiction workshops. With fellow VCFAer Liz Matthews directing WWW, I'm instantly at home among these amazing writers and teachers. Linda Gibson, me, Doug Moser, Jessie McEntee, Charles Rafferty, Laura Pochintesta Even a 25-minute drive to an evening event can…
To travel (anywhere) unencumbered by small children is extraordinary: outside the normal, different from the daily. To travel knowing those small children are tracking each mile and fascinated by each hotel room and proud of each presentation is pure joy. J and the boys wave long goodbyes and hug long welcome-backs. In between, I immerse…
"Does a book remember it once was a word?" —Nina Laden
I wrote the first bit of The Memory Sessions 13 years ago this month. It's a teenager now, so time to throw it a little party. With music, drinks, food, hearty people, and conversation about childhood, we will toast this memoir without memory. Special thanks to Caitlin Leffel, author and editor, for lending her grace…
