After taking the summer away from teaching, I have to keep it real… I missed y’all! I was able to move some personal projects forward…

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I’m back! Fresh from my digital detox and ready to dive in! I missed you, too!

I like acknowledging the midpoint of the year. Maybe it’s the former athlete in me remembering what it was like in the locker room at halftime, knowing that the game can still be won or lost, that half a game is still a lot of game left…

The registration for Shake Rag Alley’s annual spring writing retreat, Mining the Story, featuring yours truly, Christine Rice, and Patricia McNair has been extended to Monday, May 16th! My workshop, Digging In: Research for Writers, is nearly full, but I could make room for a couple more writers. Come write with me in the beautiful, inspiring, and very magical-looking Mineral Point, Wisconsin.

And by “getting busy” I just mean doing a lot of stuff, you know, lots of activities in these streets. If you was thinking of the other “getting busy,” you nasty and I’m telling your mama!

Though my spring schedule is packed with opportunities for expanding my teaching practice and connecting with community, trust that I’m also creating and holding space for things that bring me relaxation and joy…

Growing up, we weren’t allowed to say someone was lying. Instead, we were encouraged to say that someone who was being dishonest was “telling stories.” My mama tried to get “telling untruths” to catch on, but it didn’t have the same ring as “Nuh-uh, you tellin’ stories!”

First, FUCK COVID. But more to the point, I made it a point to ring in 2022 doing what I love most, what brings me the most joy, and what I hope to be doing with increased frequency in the days to come…

It’s really easy to get caught up in rushing about during the last couple months of the year. I remember kicking into high gear like some kind of sprint as November made way for December, my mind racing about making holiday plans, shopping, finishing what I could of the never-ending “To Do” list…

The end of the year usually has me bugging out. I’m usually stressed and anxious, frustrated and nervous. I don’t know if I’m feeling less pressured and more secure because I’ve been putting some of my recent decisions into action, which is really the only real way to make a decision or if I’m just over it.

I’m learning that when I am my authentic, messy, been-hurt-have-hurt-but-healed-and-healing self on the page, my writing is stronger than it’s ever been. I used to think being vulnerable meant being weak, but I know the opposite is true.

July finds me leaning into my writing… I got THREE big projects in progress… but it also finds me linking up with dear friends for a few select events!

This summer is primarily devoted to all this new hotness I got going on, this website, my patreon, and my publishing company, but I’m also making time to do a few things out in my community. Here’s a summary of my upcoming events, including a KITCHEN TABLE LITERARY ARTS memoir class especially for Black women and women of color writers, webinars with Free Expressions, and retreat and conference appearances…