Linda K. Sienkiewicz's Blog, page 19

Courageous Memoir of a Restless Life

Self examination isn’t easy.

Writing about it is even harder.

Nancy Owen Nelson was an army brat whose military father struggled with depression and alcoholism. She says about her family constantly moving from army base to army base, including Alaska, Indiana, Texas and Oklahoma: “I was angry and sad. I don’t think I really blamed anybody. Why should I? It was always like this. I had to go wherever I was told to go, whenever the orders came.”

No wonder she felt a need to exert con...

How to Blow it at an Author Fair

Don’t be that author:

She didn’t approach possible buyers at the author fair; she accosted them. She didn’t talk to people, she talked at them, rapid fire, on and on, yakkity yak yak, sometimes hauling out a huge foam core poster of all her books. When things got slow, she walked clear to the other side of the venue, handouts clutched to her chest, and attempted to lure shoppers to her table.

And it backfired. People rounded the corner, saw her table, and then went out of their way t...

What, Why, How Laura Rueckert

What:

I’ve just released my debut YA fantasy novel A Dragonbird in the Fern. I’m usually inspired to write by “What If” questions: in this case, what if a princess had to marry someone and they didn’t share a common language? And then because my children were struggling with dyslexia while growing up bilingually, what if this princess who was thrust into investigating a murder while learning a new language also had dyslexia?

In this case specifically, Jiara’s portrayal drew heavily on ...

Donald H. Rumsfeld, America’s Poet Lariat

Found poetry:

The recent passing of Donald Rumsfeld, the former Secretary of Defense, reminded me I’d found a book of his poetry that at a garage sale years ago. Well, it’s not actually Rumsfeld’s poetry. Rather, it’s “found poetry” composed from his talks, speeches and Q&A answers, as compiled and (brilliantly) edited by Hart Seely, published in 2009.

In found poetry, poets refashion existing texts and present them as poems. It’s the literary equivalent of a collage, often culled fr...

What, Why, How: Kim Peters Fairley

What: 

My second book, Shooting Out the Lights is my first memoir which will be out on July 27 through She Writes Press.

I began as a visual artist. As a child I enjoyed drawing and photography and was encouraged to continue in art by teachers when I won various art awards in elementary school and high school. Most of my art focused on my family. For instance, I won first prize and free lessons at the Cincinnati Art Museum when I created a poster that said “Drugs and alcohol will only ...

puppy love is real

Stony Creek’s Downtown CowboyMore than just pets

If you believe that the love you feel for your four-legged bestie is real, science has your back. Studies show dogs affect our oxytocin levels much the same as human babies do, so the bond we feel is just as great. Our pets are more than companions. They are truly family.

Our ten-year-old fur corgi baby, Clementine, helped us through a tough spot in life, and I love her dearly for that, yet we wish we’d had her as a pup. She’s sweet ...

Your Writing Matters, by Colleen M. Story

Colleen M. Story is an author, motivational speaker, freelance writer, and an advocate for writers. In addition to her comprehensive website, blog and newsletters, she hosts a terrific website called Writing and Wellness, where she empowers writers to be their best, which includes not only the writing itself, but aspects such as marketing, finding meaning in our creative lives, and our mental health. Colleen and I connected on Twitter years ago, and was immediately impressed with her support...

Cynical: A Writing Prompt

Hope and Desires fine art print by Maria Pace-Wynters. Available on Etsy (click on image)From Jamie Cat Callan

If you’re a writer and you haven’t subscribed to Jamie’s marvelous weekly newsletter for writers, do so right now, here.

I met Jamie at the Stonecoast MFA residency when she was teaching and I was a student. She is a marvelous teacher and true creative, the kind of person who bubbles positivity with the understanding that life isn’t always sunshine and roses. I love her weekl...

Dream Poetry

“Still Dreaming,” by Anka ZhuravlevaDream Journal

Dreams offer a fascinating insight into our psyche. I believe they reflect our deepest concerns or worries, and that much of the imagery in our dreams is personal. You and I might both dream of a horse, but the meaning of that horse would be different.

For many years, I kept a dream journal. I found the act of writing out a complete dream when still in bed worked the best. If I waited until later in the morning, many of the details slip...

What, Why, How: Poet Sara Ryan

What:

My most recent publication was my debut book of poetry, I Thought There Would Be More Wolves, which came out this February from University of Alaska Press. It was the winner of the Permafrost Book Prize and was chosen by Elizabeth Bradfield. It’s been difficult to have a book be released during the pandemic, but I’ve been grateful for the support I’ve received and the virtual readings I’ve been able to do. Perhaps it was fitting for this book to come out during the pandemic, as it i...