March 2022

“Related: Adoption Stories for the Stage”

A monologue I wrote is part of “Related: Adoption Stories for the Stage,” to be performed at San Diego’s North Park Vaudeville Theatre from Friday April 1 through Sunday April 3, 2022. I’m thrilled for my work to be included in a production that feels original and necessary.

Featuring stories by 13 writers interpreted by 10 actors, this new theatrical event and staged reading is the culmination of an open call for submissions across the U.S. and internationally. Co-created and curated by Lauren Bergquist and Samantha Goldstein, two San Diego-based writers and veteran theater professionals, “Related” weaves together monologues, scenes and short plays to create a varied, thought-provoking and hopeful reflection of the lived adoption experience.

Tickets go on sale Monday, March 28 through North Park Vaudeville Theatre’s website and are $25 each. Net proceeds will be donated to Promises2Kids, benefitting current and former foster youth in San Diego for more than 40 years.

If you’re close to San Diego, please check out! I’ll post the link to buy tickets closer to the date.

“Related: Adoption Stories for the Stage” Read More »

Wisdom of Garth Greenwell

I subscribe to emails from LitHub and every day receive wisdom about writing in my inbox. (LitHub collects great essays, interviews, podcasts and book reviews and provides links to them.)

Today’s wisdom was culled from an interview with American novelist, poet, literary critic, and educator Garth Greenwell. Here are sentences that resonated with me:

“The structure of workshop can suggest that success as a writer means appealing to the largest number of readers. I just don’t think that’s true. I don’t think there’s any strong book that is pleasing to everyone. Many of the books that I love best are books that seem to be pleasing to quite few people…. [M]ore emphasis should be put on the idea that your peculiarities and your eccentricities are the things you write into.”

Amen.

Subscribing to LitHub is free. Check it out for your own daily wisdom.

photo credit: Garth Greenwell on LitHub

Wisdom of Garth Greenwell Read More »

Joy

I came across this picture of Tim and Olivia from almost ten years ago and it made me smile.

Sharing it with you.

Joy Read More »

Alice Neel at SF’s de Young Museum

A bright spot last night, when I attended the preview of the Alice Neel exhibition at SF’s de Young Museum. Alice Neel: People Come First has garnered rave reviews from the New York Times and Washington Post and is the first retrospective of the artist’s work on the west coast. The show is dazzling, with paintings, drawings, watercolors, and media exclusive to the San Francisco presentation. How life-affirming it felt to be immersed in Neel’s bold, vibrant vision of humanity.

Admission is free on opening day, Saturday, March 12. A lecture by the curator at 2 pm is not to be missed. (Go early to get a seat!) Alice Neel: People Come First was organized by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and remains on view through July 10, 2022. San Francisco is the last venue.

Alice Neel at SF’s de Young Museum Read More »

Story collection by Kevin Fisher-Paulson

Our adoption book group will meet on Sunday for the first time since the pandemic began—two years!

I loved the book so much I’m sharing the title: How We Keep Spinning…!, a selection of columns from the San Francisco Chronicle by Kevin Fisher-Paulson.

Kevin and his husband Brian are adoptive dads to two sons, Aidan and Zane. In addition to parenting kids and writing his column, Kevin is the Chief Deputy of the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department, while his husband Brian is an accomplished dancer who has performed on Broadway and beyond.

Here’s a blurb from the book’s back cover: “While telling his stories, Kevin has stumbled over more than a few truths about foster care, gay marriage, interracial family, rescue dogs, and cupcakes.”

The chapters are short, with titles like “Sometimes the parts that don’t match make the best family,” “Love as hard as you can for right now” and “Sometimes the detour is the journey.” Every piece made me think, in a good way. Or if “think” isn’t the right word, maybe “reflect.” As in: reflect on my own small personal universe and reflect on the big picture of this thing called life.

Fisher-Paulson’s writing is honest, funny, sharp, and observant. If you’re like me, by the end of the book you’ll want to meet Kevin and his family and be their best friend.

I’m not on Twitter, but if you are, find Fisher-Paulson @kipcap1213.

On Amazon: How We Keep Spinning! By Kevin Fisher-Paulson.

Story collection by Kevin Fisher-Paulson Read More »