The March/April 2023 issue of Literary Mama
“We’re all here because of the mamas who originally got the gumption to create this journal and those who have kept it moving—online, free, and still powered by multifaceted mamas and mama supporters.”
Amanda Fields, Editor in Chief
Read the Complete Letter From the Editor
Creative Nonfiction
The Blue Duffel Bag: A Journey from Beirut to America
by Della Cassia
Fiction
Birdless Dawn
by Noriko Nakada
The Cottage
by Barbara Summers
There Are Always Hugs
by Katia Wish
Literary Reflections
Inflection Point: The Birth of a Mother Writer
by Andrea Lani
Mantras for Motherhood and Revision
by Amanda Lewan
Poetry
At My Son’s Tennis Lesson
by Julie Ebin
Dahlia Lament
by Laurie Kuntz
Silhouette Matins
by Steph Sundermann-Zinger
Impractical Gifts
by Luca Salerno
Two Births
by Evelyn Digirolamo
Port of Call
by Kate Falvey
The Weight of You
by Gail Snyder
Equation 65
by Karen Arnold
Non sequitur as metaphor
by Patty Ware
Profiles
Good Moms Know Themselves: Zibby Owens
by Tess Clarkson
Home Isn’t a Place: Brenda Janowitz
by Jennie Wexler
Queer Parenthood and Activism: Dr. Francesca Royster
by Victoria Clayton
The Many Selves: Cinelle Barnes
by Jennie Burke
The Mother of MomCom: Lisa Roe
by Holly Rizzuto Palker
Reviews
Balancing Art and Babies: The Baby on the Fire Escape: Creativity, Motherhood, and the Mind-Baby Problem
by Rhonda Havig
Facets of a Mother’s Life: The Long Devotion: Poets Writing Motherhood
by Crystal Rowe
How to Scream on the Outside: Screaming on the Inside: On the Unsustainability of American Motherhood
by Brianna Avenia-Tapper
Literary Mama at AWP 2023
What an amazing event! Were you there? Did you follow us on Twitter or Instagram during the event? Now you can read Publisher Cindy DiTiberio’s diaries from her first AWP conference experience! And keep an eye on the blog for more insights from the conference.
Check Out Our Blog
Pitch-o-Rama April 29
Visit the blog for details on Women’s National Book Association-San Francisco (WNBA-SF) Chapter’s Twentieth Anniversary Pitch-O-Rama!
100 Words of Writing Advice | Community News | Calls for Submissions | Meet the Staff
Celebrating 20 Years of Literary Mama!
Literary Mama is celebrating 20 years of publishing the work of mama writers in an open-access online journal. Check out our 20th anniversary page to read highlights of our history and view an interactive timeline.
Hosting a Virtual Write-In
Literary Mama did last week and we had a great time! Thank you to everyone who attended. Lots of words were generated during the hour that flew by. If you plan to host your own virtual write-in, here are a few tips:
Provide an optional prompt, like the March writing prompts.
Ask everyone to keep their video on and mics muted.
Set a timer because time will fly.
Have fun!
Keep an eye on this newsletter and social media to join us the next time Literary Mama hosts a virtual write-in.
Submit Your Writing
Literary Mama seeks top-notch creative writing, as well as book reviews and profiles of mother writers and artists.
Please see our submissions guidelines for more information. We want to read your writing!
Is Your Bio Current?
We invite former contributors to update their bios and submit a blog post sharing what being a part of Literary Mama has meant to you, like this post from Sara Weiss.
Learn more on the blog then send your info or submission to lmblogeditor@gmail.com.
Literary Mama Is Here Because of You
Literary Mama is an all-volunteer non-profit organization and we are here because of readers like you who subscribe to the newsletter, engage with us on social media, buy books from our Bookshop.org store, and make tax deductible gifts of any size. Your support makes this publication possible!