Writing is Healing ~ Writing is Power Writing workshop with Kristen Caven We’ve all experienced bullying in our lives, from the personal to the political. This 6-week workshop at The Liminal Center in Oakland provides a structure for both writing through our experiences and learning new ways of being. Zorgos is esperanto for “I will take …
Please share with your networks! 3,000 Free Books for Oakland Parents Last fall, Oakland Parents Together (OPT) was the recipient of a generous donation of over 3,000 copies of The Bullying Antidote (Hazelden/Betty Ford Foundation) by Oakland authors Dr. Louise Hart and Kristen Caven. Bully Prevention through Positive Parenting Unlike other books on bullying, The Bullying Antidote …
In my novel, The Souls of Her Feet, the downtrodden protagonist’s life changes, as in every Cinderella story, when a Fairy Godmother appears in her life. But in this version, the “godmother” is also her real-life, legitimate godfather — the former best friend of her deceased parents. I chose to make this traditionally female character …
I crossed this off my bucket list: choreographing a dance number with The DecoBelles historic dance troupe, famous for their waving beachballs, flying footwork and bright red lipstick smiles. The “water ballet.” was in honor of the unveiling of the new mural, “Birds of Lake Merritt,” by Cleo Villet of OMCA fame, which now grace the pool of the …
In Beth Barany’s weekly live #askaWritingCoach chat on BLAB, she interviewed me about adaptation of creative works into different media. It was great to have a chance to sit down and think through how many media The Souls of Her Feet has morphed through in its long development. (As the first in a trilogy!) Why, if I’d been …
I am usually crazy confident about titling my works, but coming up with a title for my winning work in the 2016 Lake Merritt Flash Mob Play Festival was harder than writing the play itself! After two weeks of midnight musings, rushing rhymes and crazy creative processes, I came up with over 50 ideas,narrowed it down … Continue reading
My epic western adventure, my spiritual tale of meat-reckoning, my tongue-in-cheek bromance, Ted’s Tender Trophy, was published this week by Full of Crow Press. “A yellow October moon rose enormous over the high Rockies and gazed on the parking lot of the Shooting Star Saloon, where trucks lined up like saddled horses dozing at the rail. … Continue reading
The first thing I should post on this shiny new website is something that everyone wants to know: how do you say my name? It really is the biggest secret about me. It’s not obvious what kind of “a” that vowel sound is there. Here’s a clue: well-meaning people, both in person and in print, guess … Continue reading
Come find me on “Writers Row” at the Bay Area Book Festival on Sunday! I will be holding down the fort…and if there’s a wind, all of the leaflets and flyers at the California Writers Club booth right off of Shattuck Avenue, from 10 to 12 on Sunday, June 5th! I’ll have piles of The … Continue reading
A book of mine is never truly launched until I’ve read at my neighborhood bookstore! Perfectly Revolting at Laurel (twice)! The Bullying Antidote at Laurel The Reason She Left at Laurel’s “Local Literary Lights” event! Laurel Bookstore is no longer in my neighborhood; they’ve moved ‘up’ to downtown Oakland and have become the city’s new … Continue reading
I almost forgot to post… about my party TOMORROW, March 19th, at SoleSpace on Grand Avenue! This will be my second The Souls of Her Feet SHOE SALON™ and hopefully not my last! I will also be reading around brunchtime at Liminal Space with a bunch of other cool writers. Come on out and play! Continue reading
Now scheduling readings through 2017 because…. There’s no business like SHOE BUSINESS! Host or attend a Souls of Her Feet SHOE SALON™ …featuring: An engaging reading of The Souls of Her Feet by the author Music from the soundtrack Books for every guest Champagne, chocolate… and YOU! Invite everyone to wear their favorite shoes, and be … Continue reading
Bullying does not have to be “a normal part of childhood,” nor do kids “grow out of it naturally.” Parents have the power to change the world by teaching kids how to create positive power dynamics. “The Bullying Antidote focuses on solutions. Parents will evolve.” — Dr. Laura Markham The Bullying Antidote is a well-researched resource for practical … Continue reading
It’s been two and a half years since The Bullying Antidote hit the shelves, and we are finally launching discussion groups! It really is a book designed to create change in groups. As a matter of fact, the stickers on the Zorgos Project books read, “Don’t read this book alone!” Would you like to discuss … Continue reading
I was stopped in my tracks this morning when my clever and funny husband pointed to the top of a car we were passing on our walk. The beads of water that had collected after last night’s kiss of needed moisture were crazed with ice, and a thick layer of frost grew up all around. … Continue reading
