A conversation about her recently published memoir, Afterglow. Over ten years ago, Kirby joined my Journaling workshop and became my first client.  I’ve been fortunate to be her writing coach as she wrote three children’s books, various short stories, and a novel.  Recently, after the sudden loss of her husband, Bill, in 2009, her journaling…

As if Frankenstein himself is busting down the door, many writers are freaked slap out by the deadline.  The writer will cower and bargain with the monster, begging for more time to explore and re-work.  Any argument tempts nature like a rooftop experiment in an electrical storm ultimately making the writer feel crazy-mad, defeated and,…

Through planning and packing for a group beach holiday, Gale was both large-and-in-charge and a nelly nervous wreck.  Even in the overstuffed minivan, out of the driveway and on the interstate, she remained anxiously edgy until our gang was far enough away to make it completely idiotic to turn back. However, like the eye of…

After my morning ritual of journaling the cobwebs from my head, stretching the cricks from my joints, then feeding my body tea, fruit and grain, I felt jaunty, ready to go. As I passed my desk, I noticed a text from an inner circle friend sharing that a mutual friend had suddenly passed away. Instinctively,…

Jessie Hayden’s classroom can get loud.   Very loud. Her teaching style doesn’t require students to sit up straight, face the board and remain quiet.  Relaxed and approachable, she doesn’t mind if students put their feet up and chill. In Jessie’s English as a Second Language (ESL) classroom at Georgia Perimeter College, every student brings his/her…