I want to address the terrible, gut-wrenching news of this past weekend: the murder of six hostages held in Gaza for over 300 days.   Most people know of Hersh. He’s the one on the top left of this picture. He’s also the one US citizen of the six. Hersh was kidnapped at the Nova…

I love when I meet someone and fall in love with their energy, their smile, their genuineness! That is exactly what happened when Ann Kathryn Kelly and I met at the ELJ Editions table at AWP (huge writing conference–don’t get me started)! I knew of Ann for quite some time. I knew “her story.” (She…

Eileen Vorbach Collins is an amazing woman, who has survived every parent’s nightmare: her beautiful teenaged daughter Lydia died by suicide. While Lydia has been gone for over 20 years, grief remains. Although grief looks and expresses itself differently, the loss will always weigh on Eileen’s heart. Eileen has written a powerful and heartbreakingly beautiful…

I wrote a blog post about hope in May 2022, when I was feeling deeply the anger and divisiveness in our country and world. Who knew I’d feel the need to revisit the post two years later?   Friends … Until (very) recently, I’ve felt like I’ve been walking a tightrope.   I wanted to…

It’s the middle of January. First month of a brand-spanking-new year. Resolutions have been made—and, if you’re anything like me—some of them have been broken.   Yes. I know. Already.   You may be disappointed with yourself. Frustrated. Maybe even a bit—or a lot—angry. But before your disappointment/frustration/anger unleashes a trickle or avalanche of mean…

I first met Kathryn Silver-Hajo in a Facebook writing class at the beginning of COVID. It was run by a lovely writer—and person—Meg Pokrass, and I so very much appreciated the chance to connect with other writers during that lockdown time. What a joy it was to read Kathryn’s work in the class! I have…

The body! The Body! THE BODY!   Read those three short sentences again. Maybe read them aloud this time.   Take a breath.   How do you feel?   For many people, reading, saying, or hearing the words “the body” brings up feelings of joy, gratitude, and a desire to move, stretch, run! For others,…

I rarely post an interview to the blog that was previously published elsewhere (you can read those on my publications page). I am making an exception today! Jill Talbot, a gorgeous essayist whom I have long admired, has put together a wonderful collection, The Last Year: Essays, about a unique moment (or year, rather) in…

Sarah Freligh! How I admire her writing! And what an honor and a joy to speak with her this past April about her latest book A Brief Natural History of Women and about archetypes, teaching, waiting tables, swimming in cold water, and so much more! Diane: Sarah, I’ve been dying to interview you forever, but I…

Valentine’s Day, like many holidays of cheer, can sometimes be fraught with mixed emotions. Sure, Valentine’s Day provides a wonderful opportunity to stop and appreciate our loving relationships with partners. But it can also lead to negative self-judgments if we are not living the Hallmark dream.   Maybe it’s best to think of Valentine’s Day…