It's Been A Summer
Of Surprises, Successes, and Some Other Stuff
Hello. Yes, it’s me again after avoiding this Substack for months then realizing that it has been months and oops, I should probably pay more attention to this space. Since April (yes, April was the last time I posted…yikes), I’ve had a lot of things occupying my time and my mind, so consider this a catch-up post. Although most of this post won’t be about writing/creating, I am always thinking about how my experiences shape my creative life, so I’ll attempt to elaborate.
Reading (Listening)
Summer for me is filled with audiobooks that accompany me on long walks, drives, and while doing yard work. I use Hoopla and Libby to access books from my local library, and here are a few of my favorites.
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin. Listening to this book of advice from one of the most prolific producers in the music business about keeping your creative practice alive was a treat. Well-read and peaceful, each chapter is separated by a chime, giving it a meditative quality that was perfect for long walks. I will seek out a physical copy so that I can take notes.
Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart and Other Stories by Gennarose Nethercott. One of the most captivating books of short stories I’ve read in a long time. Formally inventive and full of surprises, I highly recommend it. (Some of the stories are read by the author.) This one was my favorite: https://theamericanscholar.org/a-diviners-abecedarian/
Frank: Sonnets by Diane Seuss. I read it when it came out, but listening to Diane read the poems herself built them as a cohesive narrative in a way that silently reading the book as separate poems did not.
Live Music
Spring/summer means festival/concert season in full swing, and this one hasn’t disappointed. Vegas in April for Sick New World, a nice 90s throwback rock fest with some great industrial bands that never tour (Front 242, Nitzer Ebb) and an engaging set by Danny Elfman as highlights. Then California for Cruel World Fest, where college days were relived with Gary Numan, Ministry (playing all old stuff), Blondie, Adam Ant, and Duran Duran (who didn’t disappoint by going deep cut early with “The Chauffeur.”) I got to see my second favorite band The Decemberists twice, each set different enough to make me happy. Caught the infectious pop of MUNA at Summerfest, but for the first time in years, I skipped volunteering at Lollapalooza and didn’t miss it. I did see the Thompson Twins/Tom Bailey and Thomas Dolby at HOB Chicago, and it was a blast. Although I still listen to new music regularly, I find that I’m really enjoying seeing the bands from my younger years where I know all the words and can just have fun. And September is RiotFest in Chicago…this year I’m looking forward to Fall Out Boy, Waxahatchee, Beck, Spoon, St. Vincent and The Offspring playing Smash.
What can I take from this into my creative life? That old themes and ideas are not necessarily bad to revisit. That looking back can sometimes lead to interesting ideas or just be fun. That not everything has to be new and hip to be valuable.
New Places
This year marked our 40th wedding anniversary, and we had planned a trip to Costa Rica. Little did I know that my husband had spent a year wrangling 14 friends and family to join us and surprise me at two different airports before spending the week together. What a blessing to have so many people I love in one place, some who knew one another, some who didn’t, and to have them all enjoy each other and the beautiful country with us. We saw a plethora of indigenous wildlife both on land and water. (I got to see a SLOTH in the wild only about 4 feet away, and I can now check that off my bucket list.) We spent time enjoying the weather and the water (on the beach and on a sailing cruise). We ate our meals together in the evening after sometimes going our separate ways during the day. It was truly magical.
In contrast, I also got to have a little mini writing getaway with four friends on a lake in the middle of Indiana - peaceful, quiet, fruitful, and a fun reconnecting time both at the house and on the road trip. (And I wrote ten new drafts in a day and a half after not writing much of anything all summer!)
What can I take from this? That sometimes the grand gesture is the most intimate. That disparate parts can so easily come together as a whole if linked in the right way. That sometimes a change of scenery can ignite the embers that have been cooling. That whether the experience you have is big or small, connection is what matters most.
Art Stuff
I was lucky enough to jump into visual art under the guidance of Lanecia Rouse a few years ago at Shakerag Workshops. I was tentative and unsure, and she helped me find the confidence to try new things that were out of my comfort zone. So when I saw that she was teaching at The Glen Workshops this summer, I signed up immediately. Over the past two years, my confidence (and I think style) has started to emerge, and I couldn’t wait to see what a week in the studio with her guidance would push me toward. To make it even better, I got to go with one of my best friends and have some vacation adventures as well that included Mt. Ranier, public art, and Chihuly Glass.
I will be entering my first gallery show later this fall...stay tuned.
What can I take from this? That being a perpetual student is rewarding. That I can always learn something new. That seeing and studying the work of others informs and solidifies my own preferences and choices. That not all things I try will work out and that’s fine.
Oh, Yeah, Writing
Drumroll, please…after four finalist nods, one runner-up designation, and many rejections, my manuscript Unrivered was accepted at Sundress Publications for a late 2025 release! This one is important to me. Stay tuned for lots of information as we roll things out. We are currently beginning the editorial process and I’m dreaming big for sharing this book—my last collection came out during lockdown, and I’m ready to support this one as well as I can.
What did I learn from this? To persevere if I believe the work is worth sharing. To not give up on myself, even in a publishing landscape that is PACKED with writers who all believe just as firmly in their work. To celebrate my successes. To keep going.
Congratulations, Donna! My last collection was March 2020, the new one will be March 2025, and I’m facing it with the same mostly hopeful but mixed emotions.