Congratulations to my mentor and dear friend Judy Reeves for her recent publication of Wild Women, Wild Voices – Writing From Your Authentic Wildness.

It’s a beautiful book filled with research on others who have written wild before us and inspirational notes for nurturing wild voice. Completing the explorations in the book is like going back in a time machine to relive special memories from the past. It is a must for every woman who wants to remember her past so that she can live a fuller future and for the men who love them to buy the book as a gift. Another great thing about it is that it isn’t just for writers but for all women who want to learn more about themselves. You can order it at your favorite indie bookstore or through Amazon.

On April 11 San Diego Writers, Ink co-hosted a launch party for Judy’s book at NTC, Liberty Station with over 100 in attendance.

I got to read my poem “Tiny Dancer” written at a Wild Women, Wild Voices workshop with Judy two years ago. The memory is from a dance concert at the University of San Diego in 1978. Talk about a time machine!

Tiny Dancer

The audience is invisible
in the blackness,
even so I know they’re there.

Vivaldi springs forth,
lights on my body hot as summer
thick makeup, eyeliner and red lipstick on,
tulle tutu fluffed.

I’m in another world,
transformed to another time.
I cross the stage with leaps and bounds

I hold them closer
in my soul
as I turn, twist, twirl and fly.

First published in Wild Women, Wild Voices: Collected Writings from the 2012 Wild Women Writing Workshop. San Diego: Lively Muse Press, 2013. 23. Print.

Congratulations again, Judy! I’m so happy for all the women in the world who can now learn to write wild too with the publication of your book. I’m very excited that Judy will be facilitating a Wild Women, Wild Voices day-retreat at the J & J Ranch in Descanso on August 2nd. Perhaps you’ll join us!