Atelier26 Books to publish my story collection People Like You

Dear Reader:

The most remarkable thing has happened - Portland press Atelier26 Books has announced it will be publishing my debut, a collection of fiction, PEOPLE LIKE YOU.

I am ecstatic, crazy happy, over the moon with joy to be counted among its authors.

M. Allen Cunningham, who owns and runs Atelier26, has turned out to be a person who takes great care and enthusiasm with his authors and their work. It is truly a dream come true to be working with someone who shows such consideration in all aspects of publication, from press release to editing to the profound importance of the look and feel of the book itself.

I'm sure I'll have loads more to say as this process goes on over the course of the next year or so, but for now know this: whoever you are, thank you. If you read this blog (and there are likely only a handful of you readers since, as noted in the name, I confessed right up front that I probably wouldn't be blogging much, if at all), then you are probably in some way part of making this happen. You might be a writer, a reader, a listener, a teacher, a stranger, a mentor, a friend; whoever you are, I think a little piece of this is because of you. So, thanks.

More as it happens...

Love,
Margaret
xo

"Sunday Night"

Make use of the things around you.
This light rain
Outside the window, for one.
This cigarette between my fingers,
These feet on the couch.
The faint sound of rock-and-roll,
The red Ferrari in my head.
The woman bumping
Drunkenly around in the kitchen...
Put it all in,
Make use.

                 - Raymond Carver

The Things We Know Nothing About on Nailed

Hi Reader:

I'm tickled to announce that Nailed Magazine has published my short story The Things We Know Nothing About on their site. Many thanks to all the folks at Nailed, Carrie and Matty and Colin. As always, I'm grateful to have my work out in the world.

I'd like to say something witty and charming now about writing and life and connecting with readers, but I am tired. I've been alone with my two tiny kids all day and it's all I can do to drink this beer before passing out in a haze of demented exhaustion.

Know this, I love you. And thank you for reading. Keep on!

M

The Anthology is here! And I'm reading at Powells!

Reader:

If you're a writer, what you really hope is that someday you can read your work at Powells City of Books, and I, lucky lady that I am, will get to do just that on Tuesday, May 6th, 2014 at 7:30 pm for the launch of a new anthology called The Night, and the Rain, and The River from Forest Avenue Press. Also reading that night are Joanna Rose, Scott Sparling, and Sage Cohen.

You can BUY THE BOOK and learn more about the reading HERE

Many thanks to all the hardworking folks who made this anthology possible, especially Laura Stanfill (the founder and head badass of the press), Liz Prato (the editor), and Gigi Little (who designed the cover). I am so proud to be included with you all in this project.

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for your support.
xo
m

I'm Back! - And a Reading, To Boot

Hello Reader:

You may have noticed, since I'm such a prodigious blogger, that I've been absent of writing posts for some time. Here's why:

Now that's she three months old, I'm going to attempt to return to my normal life (ha! - this will only be funny to you if you know how mercilessly children beat you into submission with their constant demands and ferociously big hearts - the combo results in you being willing to do anything they ask of you, even as you watch your formerly reasoned peaceful life drift away into the sunset while the old you pities new you from the deck of the yacht, waving goodbye with one hand, a mai tai in the other).

I'll be reading at Portland at Heart this Sunday, April 6th at 5pm at the Blue Monk alongside some of my favorite folks who write:

Kathleen Lane
Colin Farstad
Kevin Meyer
Charles Dye
Brad Rosen
Liz Greenhill
Edie Rylander
Matthew Robsinson
Michael Sage Ricci

Thanks to Colin Farstad, home from NYC for a few days, for putting this lovely event together.

I hope you can make it!

Sincerely,
Margaret
xo