My review of Trader Joe's Unsulfured Three Flavor Guava (Sweet/Hot/Salty) is up at McSweeney's today.

I thought I should put my mailing list sign-up window closer to the top of this page again in case any one is looking for it. I had a fantastic time at the Southern California Writers Conference this morning; thanks to everyone who attended my "Embodying Your Characters" workshop.

It was quite an amazing day--I went directly from there to the Johnston reunion, where I taught a Fruitflesh workshop and caught up with wonderful old friends. Johnston made such a huge difference in my life; if you know any college-bound kids who would thrive in a very self-directed, creative program, check it out (it's the alternative program within the University of Redlands. I created my own degree program there--"Poetry and Movement: Arts of Expression, Meditation and Healing.")

If you'd like to stay caught-up about my events, sign up for my "Live Birds" list, and I'll keep you in the loop...

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Because I've been having trouble breathing for the last couple of weeks (due to a seemingly never-ending bout of asthma and bronchitis), I thought now would be a good time to highlight Drawing Breath, my piece on the connection between breath and writing.

I am hoping to find some inspiration from this current state of breathlessness, but it is getting pretty old. I hope everyone is breathing freely (and I hope I'll be breathing freely enough to attend the events below!)

Hi everyone! I wanted to let you know about some events I have coming up.

This Thursday, February 12, The Corona Public Library will be hosting a discussion of The Book of Dead Birds at 7pm. I did an event with their writers' group last month; it's a beautiful library.

Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14, I will be at the Southern California Writers Conference in San Diego , teaching a workshop on "Embodying Our Characters." We'll really get under the skins of our characters, and should have a lot of fun.

I'll be teaching a similar workshop, and giving the keynote address, at the National Association of Women Writers Conference in Arlington, Texas on February 28

March 9, I will be speaking at the Author/Celebrity Luncheon sponsored by the Brandeis University National Women's Committee Desert Chapter at the Marriott Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Palm Springs. Even though I am not related to Brandeis University in any way, it tickles me to be doing one of their events. The Brandeis Used Book Sale was always a pilgrimage for me when I lived in Chicago; it was great fun to whip out my checkbook and wait for the response when someone saw "Brandeis" written there. For more information, contact Carol Fryer at
760.360.8166.

I will be also be teaching at the Early Spring in California Conference sponsored by the International Women's Writing Guild from March 12-14 in Santa Cruz. It should be a lovely retreat; Ellen Bass, whose poetry I deeply admire, will be teaching there, as well

The paperbacks for both Fruitflesh and The Book of Dead Birds are coming out May 1st. I'll be touring in Chicago, Denver and Southern CA, and will share my schedule when I know it myself.

I hope to see some of you as I make my rounds!

I am cover mama of the month over at The Philosophical Mother. Click on the "current issue" link (it's a pdf file, so you'll need Adobe Acrobat to read it.) The photo of my family was taken about a year and a half ago, during the trip I talk about in my essay. It's amazing how much my kids have changed since then, especially Arin. Now he's taller than me, a lanky, long-haired, teenager. How does that happen so fast?!