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.

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.

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.

In early 2019, I saw a call for submissions for an anthology about grief. That, I thought, was right up my alley. I reached out to the editor, Maya Stein, and eventually submitted a couple pieces for consideration. After much hard work on Maya's part, Grief Becomes You is now a beautiful testament to grief and loss in book form. Through compiled poems, essays, and photographs, our many narratives and experiences of grief are explored. You can learn more about the Grief Becomes You project here and you can purchase a copy (both digital and print copies are available) here.

I'm pleased to announce that I have a poem, "Scaffolding," and a slightly different version of my previous essay, "A Geography of Grief," forthcoming in Maya Stein's new anthology, Grief Becomes You. To learn more about the project, visit Maya's site here.

I'm pleased to have a flash nonfiction piece, Ischemia, published in Issue #93 March/April 2019 of Hippocampus. It delves into widowhood, cold water, and the fickleness of the circulatory system.

Last month, I was thrilled to be featured in the January 2019 issue of Brain Injury Hope Magazine, which highlighted their 2019 Hope Heroes (I was honored to be selected as one) and featured essays from brain injury survivors and caregivers who are making an impact on the brain injury community. You can read the issue here and find more about the Brain Injury Hope Network on their website.