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 …

Mama’s Writing is Raising Mothers’ monthly interview series, curated by Starr Davis. What recent writing accomplishment(s) are you most proud of? I have a satirical horror story titled, “Fuckboy Museum” in a forthcoming anthology, Peach Pit: 16 Stories of Unsavory Women. Was this accomplishment shared and supported by your children? My youngest daughter (age 19) read the story and, sadly, found it to be relatable. Tell about a time mom-guilt emerged (or emerges) in the midst of your writing process. My daughters are 19 and 24 now, so it’s been a minute. I don’t remember feeling a lot of guilt around writing, but I think that’s for several reasons. First, I co-parented during 99% of my writing career. So I had regular times when my kids were away with their dad, and I tried to get as much writing done as I could at those times. The other reason I didn’t feel much guilt is because too often I prioritized my kids and other obligations over my writing time. I frequently wrote at night, after everybody …

Mama’s Writing is Raising Mothers’ monthly interview series, curated by Deesha Philyaw. Are there days when you feel like a mother who writes, and others when you feel like a writer who is a mother?  I always feel like a writer who is also a mother. I think it’s funny because my first book and my first baby were born in the same year, 2001. But the book (Hair Story) came first in February and my son was born in June of that year. And while I’ve always known I wanted to be a mother, I claimed my identity as a writer when I was eight years old.  Who are your writer-mama heroes?  I remember sitting on a panel talking about this topic and I had two young children at the time. I was completely at a loss for what I could add to the conversation about being a competent writer and a good mother so I Googled “writers with children” or something like that and discovered Jodi Picoult had three kids. At the time that …

Mama’s Writing is Raising Mothers’ monthly interview series, curated by Deesha Philyaw. Nurturing a healthy relationship with my children requires a lot of me. This is not a complaint, it is an observation, and I’m absolutely up for it, though I’m surely not always clear on what “it” means. I don’t get much clarity in my parenting walk, what I do get are clues and cues, which lead me to recognize, and sometimes change, my old patterns. One pattern I notice is that I sometimes find myself reacting to my own reaction far more than I’d like to admit. Let me explain. Inspired by true shit in my real life, told vaguely (so as not to put y’all all in my children’s business)… One of my daughters says something that offends me.  Part of me knows not to jump to conclusions, and to mind my power, because I know that as Mother, I can change the entire weather in the house with my feelings. The other part of me is blasting the words “No. She. Didn’t?!” …

Mama’s Writing is Raising Mothers’ monthly interview series, curated by Deesha Philyaw. What three words describe you as a mother?  Devoted, self-flagellating, evolving. What surprised you about motherhood?  I was surprised by how much work I needed to do on myself, because of my own childhood, in order to be the best mother I can possibly be for my son. How has parenting influenced your writing? My best parenting has come out of what I’m able to extract from within the nuance of any given situation, and I find that my best writing comes from doing the same. Knowing that your children will read your work at some point, how does that impact your candor when writing? I don’t ever write with my son in mind, so it rarely impacts the writing process. Interestingly enough, I’ve decided to hold a copy of my book for him to read for when he’s older than he is now (14), because I’m not sure if he’s ready to read it just yet. What fictional mother do you most admire?  …