Two prose poems from my new "seed coat" series are in the current issue of Bramble. Fun fact: the author photo was taken by my young son! These poems are inspired in part by my struggle with trying to protect myself from situations that make me anxious while also recognizing that it is necessary for us all to step out of our comfort zones in order to grow. The poems also take inspiration from some recent attempts to plant and grow lavender. The titles may or may not come from real and imagined coats.  

I'm grateful to have several of my {anxiety monster} poems in Hummingbird Magazine of the Short Poem (Volume XXVIII, Number 1). These poems came about in the summer of 2016 during a time when I experienced quite a bit of anxiety. Sometimes it helped to weed the flower gardens. I savored the bleeding heart's vibrant pink blossoms and inhaled the scent of lilacs. The rusty but trusty Hamilton Hauler was by my side as I tended to fuchsia roses. 

I'll be reading poems from sections of mother-mailbox that engage with Karen Laudon's artwork. Does the painting below look familiar, by the way? Laudon's Fireflies, Between Here and There is the cover art for mother-mailbox. The poetry reading will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018 at Gallery 211 in Madison, WI. The opening for Laudon's Transmutations will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Feb. 1. (Scroll down for gallery info.)

I'm thrilled to have my poem "Pathways" included in Issue 6 of Firefly Magazine. This feels like an appropriate venue for the poem--it's inspired by Karen Laudon's painting, Fireflies.

Another poem is in the new issue of The Novice.

My first full-length collection, mother-mailbox, is forthcoming later this year from Misty Publications. It's such an honor to be chosen for the Arsenic Lobster Poetry Prize! With this exciting news I'm reflecting on all the friends, family, and teachers who have encouraged me over the years. 
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More details to come, friends! I'm looking forward to sharing more about the collection soon.