REPUBLISHED: It’s been over five years since I wrote this post, and my new book, Our Bodies Are Mostly Water, about my sister’s life, death, and my grief, just came out. A […]
Spending a Life: My Sister, Cancer, and the Present Moment
Things Nobody Wants to See That Are REAL
Why do electrical wires look so messy and dangerous? An unvarnished pole of treated wood rises like a mast against the sky, a pole strung with taut wire, with slack wire that […]
How Not to Lose Heart: Sustaining Mental Health in the Writing Life | Led by Britt Tisdale, LMHC
At every level, writers face disappointment, rejection, and failure. Developing wellness practices to manage challenges like envy and comparison, imposter syndrome, addiction, social media rumination, and work/life balance makes all the difference.
I Had a Moment
A Mother’s Firsthand Experience of Protesting With Hands Off
by Jess Gilman
Before the protest, I had a moment. A moment where, as I was getting ready, I felt overwhelmed with fear—for our country, for my family, for my friends. I ugly cried before pulling myself together, enlisting my son Emerson’s help to make a sign, and heading out to try to make a difference.
If You Want My Vote, It Will Cost You
This is a message to all yous billionaires out there. You know who you are. If you want to buy my vote in a highly contested Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice election, or […]
Empowering Voices: Diane Masiello’s New Blog Launch
Twelve years ago, The Gloria Sirens formed to elevate women’s voices in literature. Inspired by VIDA’s gender counts in publishing, the group became a supportive platform for women writers to experiment and connect. Diane Masiello, a dedicated contributor, is now launching her own blog, Every Grace and Blessing, to share her unique Catholic insights.
Some Truth, A Rant, and Talking Back
Since the inauguration on January 20, 2025, following the news in the good, old U.S.A. is like having pins pushed into my voodoo doll brain. Please, stop torturing the nation, you horribly, […]
Killer Cupid: A Must-Read for Cozy Mysteries and Dog Lovers
Laurien Berenson just released the twenty-ninth cozy in her popular Melanie Travis Canine Mystery Series, Killer Cupid. What a sweet gift it would make for cozy-loving lover or anyone you’d like to […]
Trivia Night is Not Trivial If it Makes You Happy
My friend Suzanne Heagy competed in Trivia Night in her new town last night. Her group won second place. She used to play trivia in her old town. I was jealous (in […]
Writing on the Wall, or Why I Envy Herman Melville
American’s whale-sighting author, Herman Melville, would be 206 years old if he were alive today. His life has always had a kind of symmetry for me because he was born in 1819 […]
The Gloria Sirens 