The January meeting of Writers on the River will be Monday the 18th at 6:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church in Corvallis. Our topic is "The Writer Online," presented by Larina Warnock. We'll be discussing everything from personal web sites and blogs to Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites to answer questions like:

Why should I have a blog and what do I write on it?
What should be on my personal web site?
How do I use Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn to promote my work (and why should I)?
I haven't published a book. Why should I be thinking about my online presence?

The next Writers on the River meeting featuring Peter Sears will be Monday, October 19 at 6:30 pm at First Presbyterian in Corvallis. We'll be talking chapbooks, readings, and critique groups.

Writers on the River, a local writers organization of which I'm the chair, is meeting Sunday, September 13 at 2:00 pm at the Old World Deli in Corvallis. We'll be focusing on the critique group experience--ranging from breaking the ice to introducing new members to an existing group, from basic guidance to in-depth, leveled critique. Hope to see many of our local writers there!

I have three poems in Touch: The Journal of Healing, Issue 2. Two of these poems were written during Zachary's major illness last spring. The third focuses on a different kind of healing - social/emotional healing from domestic violence. All three are very personal and mostly outside the realm of my usual more externalist writing. I hope you enjoy them.

You can now read the essay I submitted and presented at PRESS: a cross-cultural literary conference. This essay explores the concepts of literary activism, disability rights, mental health, and experimentation in literature. It includes snippets of other work I've written in all genres, including what I consider to be one of my best poems, "Manic."

Thoughtful reading,
L.

My short story, "Not Broken," has been published at Wheelhouse Magazine as part of the PRESS Anthology of contributors. I presented on disability, literature, and activism at the PRESS literary conference in May 2008. The essay I presented will be available soon.

I'm proud to be associated with this group of folks who are both artistic and socially conscious, and I encourage you to explore the whole anthology, as well as the latest issue.

Thoughtful reading,
L.

I've posted a new blog entry over at S & I called "108 Degrees of Living Low Income." Enjoy!

My analysis of the social commentary in "Up" is available at Significance & Inspiration. Enjoy!

Usually, he lies on a blanket in front of the television. His hair is short, surrounding his face in chestnut tufts. Almond-shaped eyes of a deep brown hue glance to and fro, often moving before he can muster the strength to turn his head. When the grey and white drapes in the living room are open, and the sun casts its rays down upon his face, those eyes sparkle and gleam, as though nothing in the world is horrible or sad. During these times, he moves himself closer to the window, to look up at the sky.