From the Editor: October 2018

The first issue of Literary Mama went live in the fall of 2003, the result of many months of collaboration between more than a dozen mother writers on calls for submissions, writing and editing, site design, and publicity. The founding editors sought to create a place where women could talk honestly about motherhood. They wanted to share stories about the all-encompassing joy and love mothers feel for their children, yes, but they wanted the harsher realities, too. Stories of remaining sane when your days revolve around diapers and nursing, stories of a single mother’s struggles, stories of managing small children while also caring for ailing parents, stories of divorce, co-parenting, and step-motherhood.

The founding editors have all moved on to other projects, but what was started fifteen years ago is now more important than ever. Women’s voices need to be heard; we must remember that we are not alone on our journey. At Literary Mama all the faces of motherhood and all emotional truths are welcome. Here, we believe each other.

Literary Mama has remained true to the original vision. The twenty-seven women currently on our staff continue to seek out and publish evocative, intelligent, powerful writing by mothers, would-be mothers, children of mothers. This month is no different.

With the theme of Desiring Motherhood, the October issue includes stories of protecting children not one’s own, moving forward after a loss, how the death of a child affects a sibling, and more. While you’re here, flip through the archives as well, because I can assure you that you’ll find a story that echoes your own.

As we celebrate Literary Mama’s fifteenth birthday, I thank you for spending time with these stories. I encourage you to make your voice heard and share your own.

Amanda
Editor-in-Chief

Columns
The End of a Circle: Hi, Luke by Jennifer Golden

Creative Nonfiction
A Space for Hope by Lyndsay Knowles
Stampede by Wendy Bilen

Fiction
Baby Steps by Sharon Frame Gray
Lost by Jo Goren

Literary Reflections
Poetry of Prose: Writing and Motherhood by Dara Barnat
Essential Reading: Desiring Motherhood compiled by Nerys Copelovitz

Poetry
In Fertile Circles by Alisha Goldblatt
Cetrotide by Nicole S. Piasecki
Week Forty-One by Michelle Tooker
Wordling by Rachel Bower
Schoodic Point, Maine by Loralee Clark

Profiles
A Profile of Susan Glaspell by Laurie Paravati Phillips
A Conversation with Marjorie Maddox by Rhonda Havig

Reviews
A Review of Motherhood Reimagined by Jamie Wendt
A Review of What She Was Saying by Rhonda Havig

Images
By Dara Barnat, Danilo Batista, Jenna Christina, Megan Holmes, Jerry Kiesewetter, Arthur Osipyan, and Pikwizard.