My local hospice volunteer organization, Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area, recently asked me to put together a little something about surviving Valentine's Day when you are grieving. Sometimes "special" days like Valentine's Day and other holidays are the hardest, sometimes it's the regular old days that get you. Regardless, please be gentle with yourselves as best you can.

I am so thrilled to have an essay in the latest issue of Taproot, Issue 43 :: Roots. Taproot's editorial team was a dream to work with, and the artist took great care with the illustration accompanying my piece. I've been a subscriber for years, as every issue is filled with great writing, recipes, knitting patterns, and other artistic or adventurous projects. You can order or subscribe to Taproot here, or you can find a list of local stores that carry Taproot by state/country here.

I've decided to start an occasional newsletter (aiming for every other month for now), so if you'd like to receive updates on publications, hear about other writers and artists and their projects, and learn cool science facts from my fourth-grader, please sign up! You can find the sign up form here.

You can read the first issue here.

Thanks in advance!

A couple months ago, a friend posted about Complete Sentence, a new literary magazine where everything they publish is composed of a single sentence. I was intrigued and thought it was a cool concept. Not long after, I had a rough night with the kids and wrote this piece, Summer Heat, in a flurry.

Writing Through Grief
 
Please join Sarah Kilch Gaffney for “Writing through Grief,” a virtual workshop and discussion through the Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area, on September 28, 2020, at 6 pm. We will talk about different ways of writing as a way to help us navigate grief, as well as the benefits of keeping a journal. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to take home some writing prompts, discuss books on grief and loss, and connect with others who are experiencing grief. Any level of participation is welcome, even if you just want to sit and listen, and no writing experience is necessary. To register, email jroy@hvwa.org or call 873-3615 ext.19.

Ever wondered what intrahepatic choleostasis of pregnancy (ICP for short) is? While rare, it's the most common pregnancy-related liver condition and the hallmark symptom is intense itchiness without a rash. While itching during pregnancy might not seem that dangerous, ICP can cause major complications for mom and baby. Learn more about ICP here at Motherfigure.

After writing an essay about my personal experience with preeclampsia as I headed into the final months of my third pregnancy, the folks at the Mothership asked if I would be interested in writing an article about preeclampsia for those looking to learn a little more (and to include all of the extra information I wished I could fit into the essay but didn't have room for).

I was excited to dive in and see what more I could learn, and the article was published earlier this month. You can find it here.

I wrote the essay, "A Geography of Grief," many years ago, a few months after my first husband died from a brain tumor, and it is still one of my favorites of all the essays I have written. It was originally published in Hippocampus Magazine, was recently included in the Grief Becomes You anthology, and now is featured on the gratefulness.org site. You can find the essay here.

I recently had an essay published with The Mothership about my personal experience with preeclampsia during my pregnancies and what I've learned and am keeping an eye out for as we await the arrival of baby #3. The biggest takeaway? Oftentimes there are no outward signs that anything might be wrong. You can read the essay here. Also, apparently I need to work a little harder on getting photos of myself together with the girls, because the accompanying photo is an old one, from just after L was born!