Dear Reader, Writing has always been my way of saying, I was here. This mattered. When life fractures us, language becomes a bridge between what we feel and what we can survive. Poetry, especially, allows room for truth without explanation—it lets us speak without apology. Lately, I’ve found myself leaning into that more than ever. I am metabolizing grief and transmuting it into art—poems, songs, fragments of feeling that don’t always make sense until they land on the page.

Spring always feels like a quiet invitation—to begin again, to soften, to step forward in ways we may have been holding back from all winter. As the days stretch a little longer and the light lingers just a bit more, I find myself reflecting on both where I’ve been and where I’m going. My music playlist has been steeped in melancholy these days. I’m going through a tough time and feel like I’m back in the liminal space . Back at book # 1! I can remember a little over a year

Many of you may know Brené Brown from her TED Talks and books—especially her work around courage and vulnerability. She teaches that it takes immense courage to be vulnerable, to love, to risk being seen. And she’s right. But when I fall in love, I don’t usually think, How courageous of me. I don’t think, What a risk this is. I think, This will be worth it. Because when I’m with the right person, love doesn’t feel like a brave performance. It feels like relief. Like exhaling.

I’ve been quite busy and there are a lot of great changes going on in my life. Most importantly, I am almost done with my third book of poetry entitled, Shadow Work. I’m working with my editor Simon to put the finishing touches on it and then it’s off to the printer! My daughter Sydney has created a beautiful and enchanting cover again for this book. It’s really a dream I never thought I could dream to come true.

Dear Reader, I’m sorry I haven’t blogged recently. Sometimes in life, there is a lot brewing, but I am choosy about what I pick to share with you. Not everyone wants to hear about home repairs, the stresses of my world or what I’m watching on Netflix. Or do you? 😁 In late February, I did a poetry reading for the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets at Café Coda in Madison. It was great to listen to fellow poets and make new connections! I have so much to be thankful for as I’m ver

I’ve had the opportunity to do a lot of fun things this last month or so. One thing that I’ve been doing more of the last couple of years...

I had a great weekend! On Saturday, I meandered on The Covered Bridge Art Studio Tour in Ozaukee County with my friend Kelly. My parents...

Hello Dear Reader! It’s been a hot minute since I've blogged. I’ve had some ups and downs (mainly ups) and I thought I’d share some of...

Time seems to be flying by! I have a few things coming up in 2024 that I thought I would share with you. Soon I will be heading to my...

It's hard for me to put into words how much my trip to Steffen Middle School meant to me and my family. My dad Jerry worked at Steffen...

Hello Dear Reader, I hope everyone had a chance to relax over the long weekend. I know for some, it’s a trigger holiday, but I hope you...

I had an interesting week last week. On Thursday, I had a table setup to sell books at the very successful Grown Up Book Fair sponsored...

I am busy working on Book #3 (currently untitled). I thought I would share with you a little bit about the process I go through to...

I had two wonderful events last week. On Thursday, I had my first TV appearance on CBS 58 Milwaukee - check out the interview here. It...

I was talking with a friend recently about the things people say to us and what we remember. I don’t always remember the kind or...

I think if you asked me at almost any point in my life, ”Do you see yourself spending a lot of time in solitude?” I would have given you...

We have heroes among us. I rely on them every day. I always say, “it takes a village” when someone asks me how I keep up my vast land and...

I love to cook! I think I’m a decent chef-in-the-making and it’s a terrific artistic outlet for me. I don’t always take the time to make...

I had an incredible week! On Tuesday, I visited the beautiful Sun Prairie Public Library to talk about my poems and the inspiration...

It’s a full moon today! The Worm Moon. The Worm Moon gets its name from the earthworms that come out when the soil warms up. According to...