From the Editor, April 2016

Welcome to the April issue of Literary Mama! We’re excited to usher in spring with a fresh and inspiring selection of work from some very talented mother writers.

Creative Nonfiction features Irene Keliher’s “People in Your Situation,” an authentic take on that nameless state of being neither mother nor father to a child; and Kristina Moriconi’s “What’s Left,” a measured account of what a single mom learns while camping with her two young daughters.

Brianne M. Kohl’s clever and timely story “Rhonda’s Fitbit Field Notes” follows a mother who decides to make a real change in her life, and ends up running a marathon.

In Literary Reflections, there’s Kathye Fetsko Petrie’s essay “On Depression and the Drive to Write,” which makes a compelling case for the need to fulfill one’s artistic dreams. We also have a diverse list of staff recommendations for “National Poetry Month,” compiled by Literary Reflections editor Libby Maxey.

April’s poems dwell in language and the writing process with “Alphabet for the Stay-at-Home Parent” by Jennifer O’Grady; “The body’s deepest structure, dancing” by Crystal Ellefsen; “Signature” by Linda Parsons Marion; “Motherese” by Lesley Jenike; and “Sylvia Plath’s Last Motherly Acts” by Heather Kirn Lanier.

We have “A Conversation with Carrie Snyder” by Marianne Lonsdale, in which the two discuss Snyder’s childhood writing ambitions, adult successes, and how she manages to be so productive while raising four children.

There are three thought-provoking reviews: Jennifer Massoni Pardini’s “Motherhood Denied: A Review of Poor Your Soul“; Kelly Fordon’s “Pinch of Sugar: A Review of Know the Mother“; and Letitia Montgomery-Rodgers’ “A Blue Planet: A Review of Little Spells.”

And keep an eye on our Blog for up-to-date information on Calls for Submissions; guest posts for our After Page One series; a Writerly Roundup of articles related to craft and the writing life, and a special shout out to our Literary Mama team of volunteers!

We are always grateful for your comments, and hope you can share all this good writing with your friends via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

Cheers and cherry blossoms,

Maria