"Responsive Collaboration"

 It was very gratifying to be able to put my own experience and knowledge of the school system to good use for my interview with Albert Johnson-Mussad and Laurel Peltier about their book “Responsive Collaboration for IEP and 504 Teams." I hope that the piece brought some clarity as well as empathy to the community at large. It is so important that we dismantle stigma that potentially holds back our young people and build bridges to help them excel! Thank you, Albert and Laurel, and thank all teachers and school staff for your hard work!

https://www.recorder.com/Johnson-Mussad-education-book-47370991

Poetry Book "Leave No Wake" by Marie Gauthier

Marie Gauthier's new poetry book, "Leave No Wake" is a wonderful and very relatable exploration of an array of human emotions and experiences. She ties grief, parenthood, womanhood, and more to every day moments and routines. I'm looking forward to more of her work!

https://www.recorder.com/Shelburne-Falls-poet-explores-grief-motherhood-in--Leave-No-Wake--46512662

Author Photo of Marie Gauthier

"Trail Running" by Ben Kimball

 This was a new one for me! I interviewed a very enthusiastic Ben Kimball about his second jogging trail book: "Trail Running: Eastern Massachusetts." He jogged, wrote, and even photographed it all himself. I'm definitely inspired to check out some of those spots now!

https://www.recorder.com/Greenfield-resident-combines-passions-with-books-on-trail-running-45937648

Ben Kimball relaxing by a Running Trail

Winter Miller's "Not a Cat"

 I had a fascinating conversation with Winter Miller about her new children's book "Not a Cat." She's a very interesting person and I hope her book inspires many children!

https://www.recorder.com/Greenfield-native-thinks-outside-the-box-with-new-play-children-s-book-45500697

Winter Miller with Gato

Reliving Childhood and Exploring Immigration with Elaine Reardon in her chapbook "Look Behind You"

 I had a delightful conversation with poet Elain Reardon about her chapbook, "Look Behind You." In her writing, she explores family and culture through the lens of a child of immigrants from Armenia. Her book is sensual, bright, and relatable to most "melting pot" Americans.

https://www.recorder.com/Elaine-Reardon-Chapbook-32286723

Elaine Reardon with her chapbook at McCusker's Market

Amy Gordon's Chapbook "Deep Fahrenheit"

Here is a link to my article reviewing Amy Gordon's new chapbook titled "Deep Fahrenheit."

Amy was a complete charm to interview and I'm very pleased that she was pleased with how the article turned out :)



https://www.recorder.com/Amy-Gordon-Book-Review-28194674

Amy Gordon

Chapbook Cover

Poet's Seat Poetry Contest Winner Bob Barba

The Poet's Seat Poetry Contest Ceremony was a blast last week! So many great poets in the Valley, and so much enthusiasm for the craft in one room--it's just amazing to be around all that creative energy.

Here is my article on the winner, Bob Barba, who is a really nice guy with an interesting perspective on life and the arts--and, hey, he writes pretty well too!


https://www.recorder.com/Despite-modern-world-s-demands-Bob-Barba-keeps-coming-back-to-poetry-25285283

Bob Barba sitting in the Poet's Seat after winning the contest.
Photo by Paul Franz with the Greenfield Recorder

Libby Maxey's first poetry collection "Kairos"

Had a wonderful conversation with poet and mother Libby Maxey! She's a well-educated, funny, and insightful woman. Her poetry is just the thing for anyone yearning for a little old-school rhythm and rhyme with a new-school take on contemporary and timeless issues.


https://www.recorder.com/Valley-Verses-Conway-resident-to-release-first-poetry-collection--Kairos%E2%80%9D-24905879

Libby at the Conway Inn

"Poetry by F. L. Oakes" Book Review

It was such a pleasure talking to Fred Oakes about his poetry--such a nice, polite, and funny guy. Imagine taking up a new art form at the age of 81! That's what I call inspirational.


Read my article on him and his first collection of poetry here:
https://www.recorder.com/Valley-Verses-Greenfield-poet-reflects-on-nature-s-beauty-human-experience-24170283

F. L. Oakes at the Greenfield Co-Op

Warwick Writing Workshop

Here's the link to my article about the Warwick Writing Workshop! It was fun and inspiring to be around so many people dedicated to their craft and so supportive of each other!

I hope that Elaine Reardon hosts another one soon--closer to me :)

https://www.recorder.com/Valley-Verses-Writers-create-together-through-Warwick-workshop-23606690

Beverly Ketch's Play "The Maiden, the Hunter, and the Stag" featured in The Recorder

My article about Beverly Ketch's Play "The Maiden, the Hunter, and the Stag" came out in The Recorder today!

It was such a pleasure talking to Ketch (who is such a delightful person). It was also fun to visit the Root Cellar for the first time (I know, I know, I've only lived in the area how many years?). 

https://www.recorder.com/Music-play-23200632

Ketch’s play will be staged again on Feb. 14 at 8:30 p.m., as an introductory act for The Heartbreak Ball at The Root Cellar, 10 Fiske Ave. in Greenfield.

https://www.recorder.com/getattachment/eb3b4472-6705-461c-9422-537240a01bd4/LIT-Ketch-Play-020719-ph01
Beverly Ketch, right, sings in her one-act play at The Root Cellar in Greenfield. She is joined by Wednesday Knudsen on guitar and Sarah Lanzillotta, who plays the young maiden at left. Staff Photo (Greenfield Recorder)/PAUL FRANZ

Slate Roof Press Feature Article

Check out my feature article for the Recorder about the local publishing group Slate Roof Press:

https://www.recorder.com/Northfield-based-Slate-Roof-Press-connects-poets-and-community-22168022

It was so much fun interviewing the poets and listening to them talk about their passion for writing.

Seeing the students warm up to the poets was amusing--if you look at the photos, you can see that they avoided the front row of seats entirely. By the end of the reading, however, they were really into it. Some read their poetry to the poets, and others were fully inspired to submit their work to the press as well as to the Poet's Seat Contest next year.

Also, Abbot Cutler (pictured below with fellow poets Cindy Snow, Amanda Doster, and Janet MacFadyen) used to be my adviser and poetry professor at MCLA, so it was awesome to see him again and catch up. 

Great Falls Word Festival

Check out my first article in the Recorder about the Great Falls Word Festival!

https://www.recorder.com/Great-Falls-Word-Festival-is-back-with-four-days-of-diverse-voices-21293077