EVENTS

This new collection of stories on sibling loss edited by Lynn L. Shattuck and Alyson Shelton includes essays from me, Lisa Cooper Ellison, Judy Lipson, Ona Gritz, Susan E. Casey, and many more. Contributors will read excerpts of their work on Zoom here.

The book is available here.

19 Union Street / Easthampton, MA

Loss happens to everyone at some point — through death, divorce, illness, dislocation, estrangement, miscarriage, and the like. Writing through the experience of loss and its accompanying grief can offer us clarity and consolation. We can take what is trapped inside our heads and hearts and shape those emotional experiences on the page, receiving in return a sense of catharsis and control over something we had no control over at the time. Doing it with others who ‘get it’ can provide a sense of community.

In this three-week workshop led by instructor Anne Pinkerton, we’ll discuss methods to approach writing about these challenging topics and ways to take care of yourself through the process. Twice a week, participants will read relevant samples of other writers’ work followed by related prompts designed to help inspire your writing. You’ll receive regular written feedback from Anne and responses from other members of the workshop. Once a week, we’ll have an opportunity to meet and talk through the process together.

@ In-person: Central Library, Springfield, MassachusettsSupport Local Authors: Discover the wealth of talent right in your own community. Buy a book directly from the author and help them continue their creative journey. Find Your Next Great Read: Explore a variety of genres, from captivating fiction to informative non-fiction. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a mystery buff, a history enthusiast, or a lover of poetry. Connect with Fellow Bookworms: Chat with authors about their work, get your books personalized with a signature, and mingle with other book lovers who share your passion for reading.

@ In-person: Onion River Press, Burlington, VT, $40/person

Loss happens to everyone at some point—whether it’s through death, illness, breakups, estrangement, miscarriage, or more. Writing through the experience of grief can offer clarity and consolation to ourselves and our readers, taking what is trapped inside our heads and hearts and shaping those emotional experiences on the page.

In this master class, we’ll discuss ways to approach writing about these difficult topics and how to take care of yourself through the process. We’ll also read relevant samples from other writers and from the instructor’s memoir, Were You Close? A Sister’s Quest to Know the Brother She Lost. Participants will then be provided prompts designed to help you navigate your own experiences with loss through writing. Come and address your grief in a community of writers who might be going through similar things.

Sibling Loss Book Club — Loss of a Lifetime

On May 13, 2024, I was honored by being the first guest for Loss of a Lifetime’s book club. Listen to our conversation here.

“Stories of Family Grief” – Reading and Discussion with Melanie Brooks & Mary Plouffe

April 27, 2024: @ In-person: Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland, ME, FREE

Surviving Siblings Summit: Writing Though the Loss of a Sibling Workshop

April 20, 2024: Keynotes and sessions were crafted and selected to ensure that attendees leave feeling connected, inspired, and uplifted even after the devastating loss of a sibling. List of events.

“Writer’s Block” with Megan Zinn

February 5, 2024: @ Listen: WHMP, 101.5FM / 1400AM

“The Fabulous 413” on New England Public Radio

January 25, 2024: I had an amazing conversation with hosts Monte Belmonte and Kaliis Smith! Listen here.

Straw Dog Writers Guild Author Showcase

January 20, 2024 | Virtual Reading

Boston Book Festival panel: “Shaping the Ache of Grief Into the Beauty of Art”

October 14 • 11am – noon EST
Copley Square, Boston

With Melanie Brooks, author of A Hard Silence: One daughter remaps family, grief, and faith when HIV/AIDS changes it all; Alysia Abbott, author of Fairyland: A Memoir of My Father; and Laura Carney, author of My Father’s List: How Living My Dad’s Dreams Set Me Free.

“Writing Through Loss” with Iota Short Forms : Online Workshop

September 23 • Virtual

Loss happens to everyone at some point—through death and illness, breakups, estrangement, employment, homes left behind, and more. Writing through these experiences can offer clarity and consolation to ourselves and our readers.

Anne will discuss ways to approach writing about these difficult topics, read relevant samples from her new book, Were You Close? A Sister’s Quest to Know the Brother She Lost, and provide prompts to get you started.

Hippocampus Magazine Night of Nonfiction: Debut CNF Author Readings & Discussions

August 12 • 6-8pm EST
Virtual

An evening of readings from debut CNF authors followed by a special guest reading and then a panel discussion.

• Alyssa Graybeal (Floppy: Takes of a Genetic Freak of Nature at the End of the World)
• Anne Pinkerton (Were You Close? A Sister’s Quest to Know the Brother She Lost)
• Anthony J. Mohr (Every Other Weekend: Coming of Age With Two Different Dads)
• Sean Enfield (Holy American Burnout!)
• Athena Dixon, special guest reader (The Loneliness Files)

Writer’s Night Out with Straw Dog Writers Guild

July 11 • 6-8pm EST
Forbes Library, Northampton

First part of the evening is open mic, then a reading from Were You Close? and a Q & A.

Book Talk & Reading

May 11 • 1–2pm EST
HerStories Project, Virtual

Anne will read from her memoir and we’ll talk about her publishing journey, her thoughts about writing about grief and loss, and her writing experiences.

Author Talk

May 24 • 6–7pm EST
South Hadley Public Library, South Hadley, MA

BOOK LAUNCH PARTY!

April 14 • 6–7pm EST
Luthier’s Co-op, Easthampton, MA

Thanks to the many, many friends who came out to celebrate my book’s birthday! We enjoyed cocktails, readings from Were You Close?, and musical interludes from Peyton Pinkerton and Bob Pernice, along with book signings and lots of mingling. You can watch it here!

We’re All in This Book: Memoirists Writing About Family

March 29 • 7–8 p.m. EST
Hatch Library @ Bay Path University

Debut authors and Bay Path MFA alums Kim Livingston and Anne Pinkerton read from their forthcoming books and discussed the joys, perils, and anxieties of writing about family.

Kim R. Livingston writes what she calls “brain memoir,” sharing stories of ADHD, schizophrenia, addiction, depression, and anxiety because she believe they help us understand each other better. Her book, Walks Like a Duck: How a Mom with ADHD Led Her Neurodiverse Family to Peace of Mind will be published by Touchpoint Press in May.

Anne Pinkerton is an essayist, memoirist, and poet whose work often circles around grief and loss, revealing the ways we find to cope with the most painful moments in our lives. Her memoir, Were You Close? a sister’s quest to know the brother she lost is forthcoming from Vine Leaves Press in April.

Writing Through Loss workshop: HerStories Community Summit

We can utilize writing both therapeutically and to share our stories with others who are experiencing similar things. Loss includes not just the death of a loved one, but also romantic breakups, friendships gone wrong, former homes we miss, lost jobs, estranged family members, and the like… Putting our experiences of loss on the page can provide clarity and consolation to ourselves and our readers, as well as forge meaningful connections. But it can also be taxing to address these issues in writing, and sometimes it’s hard to begin.

Emerging from the Darkness: Creative Writing about Loss and Grief

Bay Path University

Losing a loved one is an inevitable part of life, but for some of us, it happens sooner than we had ever thought, or in sudden and unexpected ways. These losses can send us reeling, but creative writing can offer a path through grief, a way to translate our loss into language that can help us heal and offer hope to others as well.

In this intimate conversation, MFA Director Leanna James Blackwell talks with MFA graduate and published writer Anne Pinkerton G’16 about her memoir-in-progress, Were You Close?, a story about the death of her brother from a fall in the mountains. The conversation will touch on topics including “forgotten mourners,” the individuality of the grieving process, the role writing plays in acceptance, and the experience of publishing personal essays about loss that reach readers in direct and powerful ways.