Can you believe I never heard of Neil Gaiman until I sent a friend the copy of Mythic Delirium I was in? Neil Gaiman was the featured poet. I was pretty low on the totem pole--but because he was in it--it's still being sold. That means my name is still getting out there for "Myth." Thank Neil. Now--I have taken him on. I obviously didn't challenge him to a duel. I haven't purchased my Ivanhoe yet--but believe me--it's coming! Neil Gaiman wrote the poem "The Mushroom Hunters." I respect and admire the poem and what he was prompted to do. Now, the challenge. In AHF Magazine "We Weren't Just Mushroom Hunters" appears--Issue 11 for those keeping score. I believe that women would do anything for

So what does this mean? Well, I and poets and readers everywhere, are going to read a collection or chapbook every day for all of August! I admit it took a lot of soul searching for this one. I mean, I pretty much only clean and write--SOOOO this is a big commitment. I'm going to do it. Maybe not perfectly. I invite anyone to join me. Read my chapbook! ; ) Or, anyone you love. You can do this. Let's get through difficult times with literature and language. Learn a new style, write yourself. Be inspired!

I know that we are all anxious tired--most of us have sore hands from cleaning and sanitizing. I know mine are dreadful. The point is--those aches and pains are eased when the pen is lifted. If you really want to use a computer--do it. The point is to write. Keep a journal. A fun one--coffee filters, bookmarks, post-it notes--just write. All those scary thoughts--all those great ideas. It doesn't matter if you are a writer or not--writing soothes me. I assure you, even if it is a small change--it will help. Use colored pens or font. Write fiction from your strange tales of the world right now. I wrote about my cat Max drinking out of the toilet in a Covid-19 world--writing can be funny. Some

We are living in times not seen by our generation. So what do we do about it? All over the world, the answer is to write. To chronicle our experiences. As I hold space for the world, and the people suffering, I propose writing as a form of therapy, a gift of love to the generations to come, and to keep literature alive. Write on a post-it note, a coffee filter, a receipt from the drive-thru--and keep it. Tell yourself affirmations daily, and aim to believe them. I am struggling with that at the moment. That is why I am telling the world to do so. This is a time to grow. If you feel stuck, alone, that's okay. If you feel energized and manic, panicky, I hear that. Everyone handles stress diffe

I feel like the Wheel is Turning and I'm not helping much! I pretty much spend my time disinfecting and washing. I do have three pets, 2 cats and 1 bird--but the tasks seem endless. I think everyone can relate to this. I feel "stuck." Oh, I'm writing still--but I just want the darkness of my room and crashing onto my bed. That can't be quite right. I've started listing to podcasts during the morning or late and night--poetry/writing related. Grace Cavalieri, the Maryland Poet Laureate, has done much to inspire me. She has lots of podcast introducing poets I should know and even theories I should know. Listening is one of the highlights of my day. I've needed a sanctuary to get me through. Po