Riehlife Poem-of-the-Day:”A Child’s Regret,” by Adele Richter

Adele Richter, Eden Maxwell’s mother, wrote “A Child’s Regret” in 1976. It’s timeless and universal. I met Eden Maxwell in 2008 when I read and reviewed The Artist Empowered:Define and Establish Your Value as an Artist. Eden’s book contains everything needed to sustain creativity over a lifetime. He is a man of soul intent on…

Part 2: “Who owns the story?” by Riehl & Farrow on www.womensmemoirs.com

Women’s Memoirs runs part 2 of “Who Owns the Story?” as a writing prompt. Who Owns the Story? You’ve decided that yes, you’re going to do the scary thing. There in the mirror of the written page you’re going to expose yourself—warts be damned. Read on to find out what our really fun writing prompts…

Riehlife Poem-of-the-Day: “Diversity,” by Hal Manogue

I’d known Hal Manogue for years as a blogging buddy. Hal became a flesh-and-blood friend when I went to Nashville first to record my audio book “Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry and Music,” and later to celebrate its release. With typical generosity Hal read the preface to the project. Hal is a poet,…

Free Premiere Screening: Against All Odds: A Story of Courage, Community and Spirit in East St Louis, Illinois

RED CARPET PREMIERE SCREENING of the documentary film: Against All Odds: A Story of Courage, Community and Spirit in East St Louis, Illinois The film tells the important story of East St Louis – past and present. It brings new hope and a new kind of image to a misunderstood city. Two important screening dates…

Prose? Poem? “A certain amount of attention,” quote from William Stafford

In thinking about the sometimes fine line between poetry and prose, I appreciate William Stafford’s observation: A Certain Amount of Attention It occurs to me as I travel to campuses for readings that many of the people I meet have the feeling that there is a mechanical ability involved in the making of poetry. That,…

“Meet Me: Writers in St. Louis,” by Catherine Rankovic

CATHERINE RANKOVIC’S fourth book, Meet Me: Writers in St. Louis (Penultimate Press) was published April 9. Meet Me collects 13 in-depth interviews with prominent St. Louis creative writers including HARPER BARNES, CARL PHILLIPS, NTOZAKE SHANGE, GERALD EARLY, KATHLEEN FINNERAN, and QIU XIAOLONG. This marvelous book features excerpts from the writers’ work and includes author photos.

Riehlife Poem-of-the-Day: “Sparta, Illinois–1963” by Maurice L. Hirsch

We have Maurice Hirsch’s mentor and friend, Catherine Rankovic, to thank for today’s Poem-of-the-Day. Welcome! He joins us from Chesterfield, Missouri. Here’s some background he’s shared on his poem “Sparta, Illinois–1963” We lived and worked in Sparta from 1962-1964. It was a tipping point in the transition of this town/area from segregation toward integration in…

Riehlife Poem-of-the-Day: “Small Machine,” by Ernie Wormwood

Ernie Wormwood is a dear friend of my dear friend and collaborator, Stephanie Farrow. Ernie is a mother, animal lover, transformative meditator, and poet. She lives in Leonardtown, Maryland. Recently, she published in Poetic Voices Without Borders 2 and in The Poet’s Cookbook. You can hear Ernie read “The Poet and the Poem” on Grace…