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Q&A: The Year of Dan Palace

This interview was originally published on the now-absent website Indie Bookworm, hosted/written by Cathy Murray. It’s short. Enjoy! P.S. Because I was working on this novel during a heavy time (my dad was admitted into the ICU not long after I started writing it), I had feelings about it later, association feelings, that made me … Read more

The Slow Burn of an Empty Nest

“I don’t want them to go. Seriously. I love them to death. But once they are gone, won’t it be kind of nice to have fewer complications, fewer interruptions?” These are the things you say before they go, before they’re gone. Up until the second it happens, their leaving is still theoretical, so it’s safe and easy … Read more

Society and a Middle-Aged Woman Meet at a Diner (and have an honest conversation)

SOCIETY is already seated when MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN (MAW) enters the diner. Society watches as MAW approaches and sits down. SOCIETY: I’m pleased we’re doing this. I know you’ve been wanting to get something off your chest, and —Oh, yes, it is a bit of a crepey situation, isn’t it. MAW: Sorry? SOCIETY: (reaching across the table to … Read more

A Hopeful Author Apologizes to a Literary Agent for an Email Error

From: JessicaSmith@mail.com To: JessicaVale@agentmail.com Sent: Saturday, 11:07 PM Dear Jessica Vale, In my recent email to you requesting representation for my literary novel Letters Lost, I neglected to include my telephone number. I apologize for the oversight. You’ll find the number in my signature below. I hope this minor error won’t tarnish your opion of my … Read more

We Women Know our Value (Especially when an abortion ban threatens to kill us)

On March 7, Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC’s Morning Joe commented in a telling way on the five Texas women suing the state after being denied abortions that would have reduced the risks to their lives. About 15 minutes into the program, after the standard political-stuff opening(s), Mika and co-host Joe Scarborough moved into a conversation with All In Together CEO … Read more

My dad’s death made me explore the idea of childfree “regret” & “dying alone”

But I didn’t change my mind about kids One of the questions childfree people are most often accosted with is a two-parter: “What if you regret it? Aren’t you afraid of dying alone?” It took a drastic event for me to give that question serious thought. The answer didn’t change, but my understanding of both … Read more

Obitogy for Steve / Dad Tsetsi

Steve Tsetsi was not born a dad, though it felt like he could have been. Instead, he was born a regular baby. .   The first of five kids, he was a big brother to (in order of life appearance) Christine (Chris), Larry, Linda, and Mark. “He was the coolest big brother ever,” Chris says. … Read more

kristen j. tsetsi