We are nearing the end. Soon we will have to bid farewell to wide plank floorboards, the leaky kitchen sink, the view of lounge chairs in the sun (on which we do not sit becuase we are writers writing), the quiet, the peace, the stillness. But I am not leaving empty handed. And while it’sContinue reading “How To Make the Most of Your Writing Retreat in Maine”
Author Archives: andi
Missing
I’m slightly more than halfway through my Maine escape. And just a few minutes ago I was nearly laid flat with the missing of my family. I’m not a sentimental person. I do not weep easily at sunsets. I know the value of alone time and I use it wisely. But. For a moment justContinue reading “Missing”
It’s Raining in Maine
Part of the writing process, at least today, has been watching robins suck worms from the front lawn of this rented house in Maine. B and I are here for the week to write. The house is old and exposes much of its raw wood. The stove is gas and tricky, and the beds areContinue reading “It’s Raining in Maine”
Last Chores
Since we moved here, nearly exactly 16 years ago, we’ve always had Last Chores. Dogs to be walked, horses to be fed. Chickens to count and close in. Stars to marvel at, comets to spot, an unfamiliar sound to pause against. An open-air bracket at the end of the day, before we climbed stairs andContinue reading “Last Chores”
Trying to Inspire
I write and edit children’s nonfiction books and I’ve been wondering lately–am I, are we, so focused on functionality that we’re missing the chance to inspire? Most of the conversations around the office have to do with how to make our books easy for teachers to use “right out of the box.” We provide essentialContinue reading “Trying to Inspire”
Lazy Saturdays look great on paper.
Yesterday I realized that, despite a broken dryer, several blank tax forms, and three music lessons, our Saturday was basically empty. One long stretch of nothing lay ahead for us to fill however we wanted. This hasn’t been the case in a very long time. Usually there are birthday parties, concerts, visitors, previous engagements–all ofContinue reading “Lazy Saturdays look great on paper.”
Sick Daze
Not me. My kids. Two of them are wandering around the house in various states of moan. Nobody is vomiting–this is what luck feels like. They ache, they leak, they cough, and they remind me of sweet, listless zombies. Poor dears. The house feels small and tight, not because of sick zombie children but becauseContinue reading “Sick Daze”
Book Woes
I’m reading a very terrible book. It’s a review book, so I can’t tell you what it is or who wrote it. I can’t even warn you not to waste your time! Not yet, anyway. But please know, I am suffering for the sake of readers everywhere. I am taking on the unpleasant task ofContinue reading “Book Woes”
Happy Birthday to me. And to Rebecca, and to Barbara Kingsolver.
“High tide! Time to move out into the glorious debris. Time to take this life for what it is!” -Barbara Kingsolver It’s raining today, and cold, and birthdays are great. Even this one, which is mostly marked by leaving work to pick a sick boy up from school. Luckily, he’s not that sick. And aContinue reading “Happy Birthday to me. And to Rebecca, and to Barbara Kingsolver.”
Sunday Afternoon and Life Is the Opposite of Malaise
We aren’t an active family. I mean, we do stuff. Just not a lot of stuff. Sometimes it feels like a lot of stuff. But usually it feels that way because it’s a lot of stuff at the same time. But today, oh, today. Today is…fine. It isn’t great, it isn’t bad, it’s just aContinue reading “Sunday Afternoon and Life Is the Opposite of Malaise”
Andi Diehn 