Mama’s Writing is Raising Mothers’ monthly interview series, curated by Starr Davis. What recent writing accomplishment(s) are you most proud of? Was this accomplishment shared and supported by your children? I have a personal essay titled “Humming for a Hero” in the upcoming inaugural issue of Gladiolus Magazine. My son is only five years old, but he is the center of the essay, and it covers our music listening sessions, which are a source of joy that powers my ability to mother, work and write amid living with major depression and anxiety disorder.  Tell about a time mom-guilt emerged (or emerges) in the midst of your writing process. Mom guilt encapsulates my existence– it’s 76% of my therapy sessions. My writing process is non-linear and never has been. I jot down ideas and piece together bits of my life weeks, months, and even years out. I feel the guilt most when I am in one of my rabbit holes and reading pages on pages of references that may amount to one sentence in a piece. I …

Mama’s Writing is Raising Mothers’ monthly interview series, curated by Starr Davis. What recent writing accomplishment(s) are you most proud of? Was this accomplishment shared and supported by your children? I recently signed a major two-book deal for my next two non-fiction works with Flatiron Books and I feel so proud because it really feels like I’m officially a writer now, I don’t only have one book out there but this is now my career. It means I make enough to just focus on my writing and to have the flexible schedule I have always wanted. My children are very young so it’s hard to say that they “support” my accomplishment but they are certainly very adaptable and understand that when I head out to my studio, I’m doing my work and that my work contributes to the life they get to live. Tell about a time mom-guilt emerged (or emerges) in the midst of your writing process. While I love my flexible schedule I also have a hard time prioritizing my writing as a result. …

Mama’s Writing is Raising Mothers’ monthly interview series, curated by Starr Davis. What recent writing accomplishment(s) are you most proud of? Was this accomplishment shared and supported by your children?  My children are my biggest supporters, my biggest fans. When I don’t feel motivated, they’re always like, “You can do it, mom! You are amazing!” Over the years, I took them to many of my readings. We all have to make choices about how we spend our time, and I have always worked full time. Sharing my writing with the public and spending quality time with my children could never be an either/or thing–it was always both/and. It was like, I’m going to do this reading and you’re going to come hang, especially since child care was not cheap. I’m sure–even if by osmosis–they got something positive out of the multiple readings they’ve attended over the years. And they are also a lot of fun to hang with. Awesome young humans. Recently, I’ve been participating in the national book tour for the Black Fire—This Time anthology …

Mama’s Writing is Raising Mothers’ monthly interview series, curated by Starr Davis. What recent writing accomplishment(s) are you most proud of? Was this accomplishment shared and supported by your children? My children always tell me I don’t share my accomplishments with them. It’s actually a joke in my house because my youngest son always Googles me to see if I have anything new going on. For the longest time, I didn’t think that they were interested in my work. Now, I’m better at including them in my “writing world.” Most recently, we celebrated my completion of a book project titled: No One Can Arrest Our Dreams. My kids are teaching me how to appreciate and celebrate every milestone.   Tell about a time mom-guilt emerged (or emerges) in the midst of your writing process. There are times when I have a good writing weekend. In those moments, the natural breaks don’t happen, and I seize the moment just to write. But that also means that I have to make up for the time lost with my children. …

Mama’s Writing is Raising Mothers’ monthly interview series, curated by Starr Davis. What recent writing accomplishment(s) are you most proud of? Was this accomplishment shared and supported by your children? In 2021, I began my journey as an MFA student in Randolph College’s low-residency program. I will be graduating this June.  It’s been challenging balancing my studies and work outside the home with mothering. But, it’s been a worthwhile, enriching investment. I’ve learned how to craft stronger essays and have connected with life-long friends within my program. Most importantly, I’ve found my voice and confidence as an artist and writer.  At first, my son, who was seven years old at the time, had difficulty adjusting to the changes in our household as I studied and wrote. It took encouragement and firm, loving boundaries to help him understand the importance of my MFA studies.  However, over time, he began to tell others: “My mom is a writer.”  He’s also began working alongside me in my home office: I’d be on my computer, and he’d be drawing comics …