1. Tell us about your writing! What genre do you write and what subjects do you tend to write about?
I am currently working on edits for my debut novel, which was a departure for me since I’ve spent most of my writing career creating short stories and flash. The novel straddles literary and women’s fiction and has been such a labor of love over the years. For my short stories and flash, I tend to primarily tell the stories of women; I’m eternally inspired by the women in my life, and have found that writing short stories is almost a way to pay homage to the heartbreak and heroism of women. There is something so magical about creating a character and, despite having to potentially hurt them or create hardship for them fictionally, I’m also given the opportunity to build them back up and help them to move forward. I love exploring family dynamics and our hidden quirks and behaviors.
2. Do you have a writing routine or rituals?
I’m such a creature of habit when it comes to my writing. I’m very particular about the setting and environment I need for each piece. I have a special spot in my house that I love, and I always need to create a new playlist for any piece I’m writing. Music has always been so helpful in terms of opening a portal for the worlds I want to create and then it becomes almost Pavlovian! I hear a particular song and immediately want to start writing about that character and world!
3. What inspires you?
Intersections. I’m slightly obsessed with how things are connected: people, places, experiences. I’m so inspired to find the unique and, perhaps, odd ways in which our lives are linked. To hear a song lyric that magically connects to something a loved one once said to you, the color of a shirt that reminds me of my sons’ eyes, the surprise of smelling my mother’s perfume at the grocery store; all of these things are so intoxicating to me and I can’t wait to get them down on paper.
4. Why do you write?
I love words so very much – the endless permutations of them. The world operates on words – it’s why we learn to read and write as one of the most fundamental skills in our culture. And this world of words is still being written and I love that I can contribute in some small way to that fabric of our collective experience.
5. What do you want people to know about this retreat? What makes it unique?
I’m so thrilled to be leading this retreat because I think writing can be a way of healing ourselves. I really want this to be a place for people to come and feel supported in their stories and their creativity. Rockvale is such a magical place and my hope is to give people an opportunity to put their experiences into words in ways that feel authentic and transformative.
6. Healing (and writing!) can be pretty intimidating subjects. What inspired you to create this retreat?
Writing has helped me through many experiences in my life and I actually wrote a personal essay while at Rockvale that was very difficult for me to put on paper. It has since been published and it was so therapeutic to process that experience and then put it out into the world to perhaps help someone else who has experienced something similar.
7. The final workshop is focused on music. What’s your go-to feel good song?
This is such a difficult pick! I’d have to say that my current go to is “This Will Be Our Year” by the Zombies. My son played it for me and it instantly became a favorite.
8. What do you love about RWC? Do you have any special memories here?
I first discovered RWC when I was researching possible residencies and retreats in Tennessee, as part of my novel takes place there. I immediately found Sandy and Heather to be so kind and informative and so I applied immediately, and was so delighted to come for my first residency in the Summer of 2022. From the minute I drove up that gorgeous driveway, I knew I was in for something truly special. I wrote almost 100 pages during that week – the atmosphere of warmth and creativity was so inspiring for me and I knew I wanted to make this a place I come again and again to recapture that same sense of peace and productivity. Since then, I’ve come for another week-long residency and this retreat will be the second I’ve led! I’m so excited to be back in one of my favorite spots in the world!
9. What are you reading right now?
My summer treat to myself is to reread all of the Louise Penny mysteries in order. I love the world of Three Pines and feel like I get a little vacation there every summer with this wonderful cast of characters. I also just reread Ann Patchett’s Truth and Beauty, which is one of my favorites. I was also so surprised to enjoy Patrik Svensson’s The Book of Eels – it’s a gorgeous examination of eels and their amazing behaviors and origins, but also gives such a heartbreaking and beautiful look at family and love.
10. And just for fun…What is one thing on your bucket list?
I would love to write a country music song. I have drafts and drafts in my notebooks and would love to see one come to fruition!