THE RUMPUS Features “WHAT THEY NEVER TOLD ME, WHAT I NEVER ASKED: REFLECTING ON ROOTS AND WRITING”

While the miracle of analyzing your DNA can inform you of the origins of your ancestry, it will not offer you much about what they experienced, what they thought, what they felt, learned or endured in their lifetimes. Historians surely understand the pangs of such a loss and must rely on those who bore witness […]

HUFFINGTON POST Features “Reflections on Balancing Family Life While Pursuing My Career as a Writer”

As a committed writer of imaginative fiction for virtually my entire life, I have often wondered about the effect my obsessive conduct and allocation of time to pursue such an occupation has had on my relationships with family, friends and others who need and crave my attention. What is the ultimate effect of a writer’s […]

Jennifer Brown Banks

Growing up as an awkward, shy teen, words provided refuge. Whether it was getting lost between the pages of a steamy romance novel, or penning my thoughts through poetry. When I was hurt, I wrote. When I had questions of life, I wrote. I kept journals. Lots of them. In every color, size and shape. […]

Carol Zielinski

I write because I have to. I must breath and write to live! I write because the muse calls out to me in the middle of the night. He refuses to take no for an answer. I write because it makes me feel all the emotions previously locked up in my very soul! I write […]

What Will Happen Tomorrow

No one can predict tomorrow If you’ll encounter joy or sorrow Don’t look into a crystal ball It will tell you nothing much at all Things happen that we can’t predict Sudden changes will often interdict Our future’s certainty is a mere illusion And what happens next is an empty delusion Life’s journey is in […]

Choices

“Choices” as read by Warren Adler Don’t despair at the present state of affairs Our country simply needs emergency repairs We made some errors in our past elections And need to make some urgent corrections So next time you get to cast your vote Of this idea you must take note Don’t re-elect your last […]

Talking Politics

Talking politics is a dangerous game People are too quick to ascribe blame And often are moved to a terrible rage At others who are not on the same page It is not easy to stay calm When we know they hold us hostage in their palm But then it was always thus Democracy thrives […]