Lara Ehrlich, author of the short story collection Animal Wife (Red Hen Press, 2020), has a deep narrative investment in the ways the world denies women power and agency. In October 2020 that commitment took a new shape with the first episode of her podcast, Writer Mother Monster, a much-needed balm for those of us balancing mothering and writing in the midst of a global pandemic. Aimed at dismantling the myth that women can “have it all,” her podcast is a series of interviews with mother-writers working in all genres, at varied points in their careers, who candidly discuss the joys and complications of that dual identity. Ehrlich, herself a mother-writer—her daughter turns five this year—spoke about what she has gleaned from these exchanges and how they’ve influenced her own approach.
Read the full interview here!
Our hopes are reborn in spring, and as winter’s cold winds morph into April’s warming breezes, we may experience a quickening of our pulses, a lightening of our steps. But have no doubt: We’re aware of the preceding dark months through which we’ve suffered, of the myriad sorrows our nation’s endured during our still ongoing pandemic, with its attendant economic and social upheavals and our personal losses.
But humans are deeply resilient beings, and Californians are particularly adept at dealing with sudden perils and localized crises, whether freeway accidents, wildfires or power outages. Yet, despite weathering hard times, we still turn toward the horizon with hope.
April is National Poetry Month. Writers from around our newsroom share the poems they’re turning to as the nation defrosts…
One day above me / men with bony shoulders came and built the barracks, Brynn Saito writes in “Stone,” a poem that bears witness to Japanese internment from the perspective of a rock. Saito often explores Japanese American history through a personal lens, but here, she uses an inanimate object to help readers access the pain—and resilience—of those interned. This year, I’ve felt that the country has started to reckon more fully with its legacy of racism toward Asian Americans. Like the stone in this poem, I hope that more people will see themselves not as a bystander, but as a listener and an empath.
— Morgan Ome, assistant editor
Click here to read Brynn’s poem, “Stone.”
ArtNight Pasadena, the city’s signature cultural event produced by the Cultural Affairs Division in partnership with partner organizations, will take place online with links going live at 6:00 pm on April 16, 2021.
Read the article here!
The dates for Skagway’s 12th annual North Words Writers Symposium are now Sept. 3-5. The move from its usual time in late May to Labor Day weekend will enable North Words to be in-person. Last year, the symposium was held virtually due to COVID 19.
Read the article here!
Jennifer Risher, a beneficiary of the dot-com boom and author of We Need to Talk: A Memoir about Wealth, joins Judy Spalthoff, Head of Family Advisory and Philanthropy Services, to break down the stigma around talking about wealth. While wealth can make it easier to support a family, open communication is what makes a family flourish. In this episode, Jennifer talks about her book and her own experiences as a means to navigate relationships and demystify wealth. Featured are Judy Spalthoff, Head of UBS Family Advisory and Philanthropy Services, and Jennifer Risher, Author, We Need to Talk: A Memoir about Wealth
Take a listen here!
Jennifer came into significant wealth in her early 30’s. Over the years, her wealth has grown to a number she never could have imagined. She chose to write her memoir to share her story, and encourage others to talk about wealth…
Click here to listen!
Take a look at the cover! It may share some resemblance to the cover of A Gypsy’s Book of Revelation!
Also don’t forget to read the in-depth interviews with the authors below, Cécile Barlier, David Campos, & Maceo Montoya.
As a reader and native North Carolinian, I love finding books that are set in NC and/or written by fellow NC folks. Since becoming a bookseller, I’ve been astounded by just how many Carolina authors there are to celebrate and promote! When I started compiling my list for 2021, I quickly discovered that I would need to split the list into multiple parts just to highlight as many as possible. I’m sure there are some books I’ve inadvertently missed, as well as those independently published, so please share any extra titles in the comments.
Read the full list here!
Rex Wilder, author of BOOMERANGS IN THE LIVING ROOM and WAKING BODIES reads “Dolphins on Glass”
Listen to the poem here!
“Poetry leaves room for silence. And poetry makes room for questions that are unanswerable and for them to sit there.” —Richard Blanco
April is National Poetry Month — an annual event created 25 years ago by the Academy of American Poets that has grown into an annual celebration for poets, poetry lovers, schools, libraries and their communities.
Read the full article here!
Each month, Beyond The Page: A WGBH Book Club features a notable author, who takes part in a live Q&A with a WGBH personality to discuss the intricacies of that month’s novel. With each monthly book selection, we also ask the author for a list of reading recommendations. For its March edtion, Beyond The Page selected Marjan Kamali’s The Stationery Shop, a beautiful and timely exploration of devastating loss, unbreakable family bonds, and the overwhelming power of love.
Read the full list here!
Now that spring weather has graced us with its mild temperatures, daylight has been saved, and the vaccine will soon be available to all adults in Massachusetts, there are plenty of reasons for your mood to be on the sunnier side. This past year has provided plenty of opportunities for intense personal reflections, so these 10 books by New England authors are fitting food for thought as you’re waiting for the lucky ticket on the vaccine scheduling website. With topics ranging from magical cults to internal superhuman strength, from the many faces of grief to hopeful self-discoveries in the midst of burnout, there are many ways these authors remind us of how much we all have in common, whether we’re still at home or finally re-emerging in the world with the first bloom of spring.
Read the article here!
Read Promiscuous & Thanking My Breasts below!
