We were exploring the old Spanish Quarter in St. Augustine when it happened. We had just stepped out of a quaint clothing shop and back into the Florida sunshine when my cell […]
A Meditation on Crying, Margery Kempe, and the Gift of Tears
Suzanne Heagy
Suzanne Heagy is a writer, teacher, and the fiction editor of Kestrel, the art and literary journal at Fairmont State University. Her first novel, Love Lets Us Down (2015), was recognized as a finalist in the 18th annual Foreword Reviews’ INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards. Her short stories have appeared in The Anthology of Appalachian Literature, Schuylkill Valley Journal, and Pleiades, among others. Her story, “A Liberating Effect,” was nominated for Best of the Net 2017 by Schuylkill Valley Journal. Suzanne is a member of the women’s collective, The Gloria Sirens, and writes a monthly column for their blog at https://thegloriasirens.com/.
Build It and They Will Come, One Woman’s Dream
For the past twenty-five years, my mother has been manifesting her dream to build a Christmas wonderland farm. On five acres on the outskirts of Dallas, just across the Fannin County line, […]
“What You Watching, Willow?” TV Recommendations for Your Viewing Pleasure
The third most popular Google search this year is, what should I watch on TV tonight? So many possibilities are available on streaming sites, it’s difficult for a woman to make up […]
Confessions of an Old Pothead
There was a time in life when I couldn’t smoke pot because I had too many troubles. Instead of weed on the weekends, I preferred a six-pack of cheap beer because beer […]
Back to School, 2023 Style
The cicadas have just begun to sing in West Virginia, yet for many students and teachers in the U.S., it’s already “Back to School” time. In some ways, getting ready to go […]
Care is Just a Click Away
The beauty of therapy is having someone to talk with when our problems, conflicts, sadness, insecurities, and general unhappiness overwhelm us. My ideal therapist would be someone with compassion who can lead […]
The Pleasure of Typing Fast
When I type, my fingers fly across the keyboard making musical clicking sounds. My task this time is to transcribe an eight-thousand-word printed manuscript into a Word document for editing. My fingers […]
Witnessing and Waiting in “The Sound of Holding Your Breath”: A Book Review
Natalie Sypolt’s standout collection of short fiction, The Sound of Holding Your Breath, was published in 2018 by West Virginia University Press, and I regret not reviewing the book sooner. The heart […]
Scammed and Spammed by Mystery Mail
When you live in an Age of Scams, it’s hard to know who or what to trust. Opening an email, or answering a phone call, or accepting a social media invite could […]
Living in the Marigny, February 2023
If you’ve ever wanted more parades in your life, New Orleans is the place to be, especially during Carnival season. I personally love parades and consider myself somewhat a parade expert. I’ve […]
The Gloria Sirens 