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Author: The Refresh

Flowers of Summer 2020: A Scavenger Hunt for Beauty

Flowers of Summer 2020: A Scavenger Hunt for Beauty

by: Lauren Jonik “Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.” ― Anne Frank The summer of 2020 has proven to be a strange time– one in which terms like “quarantining” and “social distancing” have become a familiar part of the cultural lexicon. But, despite pervasive uncertainty, beauty still abounds. This year, I have opted to make greater attempts at seeing it– at discovering it in the unexpected places where it resides. And, to my delight,…

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Author to Author: Chelsea Biondolillo and Heidi Czerwiec

Author to Author: Chelsea Biondolillo and Heidi Czerwiec

In our latest Author to Author interview, Chelsea Biondolillo and Heidi Czerwiec get deep about the structural elements of their work: how poetry informs prose, braiding essays, visual essays and more. It’s an English major’s dream of a conversation! Chelsea Biondolillo: Heidi, I was so struck by the decisions you made regarding form in Fluid States, and specifically the way you have applied different poetic forms to your essays. I will admit that before I read your book, I read…

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Photo essay: Garden inspiration

Photo essay: Garden inspiration

By Faith Pineo Enjoy these colorful blooms captured by the photographer who brought us this gorgeous essay on the language of flowers, and get some inspiration for your current or future garden!   At her home in rural Maine, Faith Pineo can often be found puttering outside amongst the flowers and wildlife. She tends to talk with chipmunks and birds far more often than is likely good for her, but nevertheless finds them to be excellent conversationalists.

Author to Author: Judith Sara Gelt and Julie Zuckerman

Author to Author: Judith Sara Gelt and Julie Zuckerman

Both Judith Sara Gelt’s memoir, Reckless Steps Towards Sanity, and Julie Zuckerman’s novel-in-stories, The Book of Jeremiah, deal with Jewish families, and both are being published by small presses, but nearly everything else – the way they began writing, and particularly their paths to publication – were vastly different. They found plenty to talk about, though, and their conversation went on for about five times longer than we have space! Judith: How did you begin writing? Do you have an…

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Author to Author: Marcia Butler and Elise Levine

Author to Author: Marcia Butler and Elise Levine

A conversation between authors can have the delightful familiarity of friends gathering to talk about other friends – the characters in their respective works – and when Elise Levine and Marcia Butler connected, their characters took center stage. If you’re interested in how fictional humans can take on a life of their own in literature, as well as the importance of a well-loved setting, the blending of genres, and much more, you’ll love getting lost in their dialogue. Marcia’s debut novel,…

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