Welcome to Virgo season in North Carolina (otherwise known as Hell’s Front Porch). Many of us couldn’t bear the ninety-nine degrees in the shade with 70% humidity and no rain enough to be outside to water the tomatoes, so we’ve decided it’s time to move on. I say — bring on the root veggies and pumpkins.
This wheelbarrow is full of cleaning-out metaphors I need right now. Here is what’s happening in my little world.
Writing Updates
After Medium Day came and went, I focused on opening my classroom for the 2023–2024 school year. That has taken all of my attention, for the most part. The kids came back last week, and I am full of joy. Now comes the hard part: the rhythm of the school year. More about that later.
The writing news comes in four parts:
I have a new book coming out next month. It is a reworking and revision of Soon We’re All Gone to Seed, which is no longer in print. This new book is titled Don’t Tell Your Grandma, and I am fluttering with nerves. (As the title suggests, you’ve been warned.) It’s a collection of stories and poems about trauma, sexualization, relationships, and healing. Part magical realism — part realism, as that’s my way.
I am continuing my editing work at Scrittura on Medium with my fabulous team: Zay Pareltheon, Marilyn J Wolf, and Viraji Ogodapola. And, of course, I will continue writing on Medium as often as possible!
The two publications I own, Sky Collection and Inspired Education, are being put to rest. I may revive them someday in new clothes, but I have many new projects on my doorstep and the horizon to keep up with anything unfulfilling. I have loved these two publications and all the contributed writing. If you have been a writer for these pubs, please take note.
I am planning some virtual writing groups and classes. Stay tuned for this! Medium Day was so much fun, that I realized I need to gather with my writing fam more often!
Teaching
As most of my readers know, I am a full-time teacher. I live by the school year calendar, and this is the liminal space between being ready to go and zooming off into whatever this year will bring.
The main subjects I teach are for 5th graders: writing, social studies, reading, and science. I lead an art club for upper elementary students. I am also the service learning and community coordinator for my school. Planning and implementing these projects takes a lot of passion and energy. I’m not in my twenties (or thirties) anymore. I have to pick and choose where to put the passion and energy I have in limited amounts. Luckily, I still have a lot of passion and energy, but I tend to take on more than this distracted, artistic, green-witch mama can handle.
Thank you for reading! Stay inspired!
Samantha Lazar 2023