EVENTS

A weekend away in a beautiful home in Vermont where you can spend your time processing and healing in the company of others going through similar experiences of loss. Facilitated by Shelly Bathe Lenn, bereavement specialist at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, the getaway will include walking, talking, expressive art, and a number of writing sessions with me, focused on gaining perspective, clarity, and meaning by working through loss on the page.

19 Union Street / Easthampton, MA

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.

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.