I love that imagination gives us access to certain kinds of truth that don't exist in the factual world. There is sometimes way more truth we can explore in fiction than we are able to in our very limited lived experiences.
Jul 7Liked by Kimberly Warner, Gail Marlene Schwartz
I adore you both, this was so moving to hear you both speaking from the heart - and about so many different important issues - pain, choice, anxiety (raising hand ;) Just delightful. ❤️💜💙
Jul 7Liked by Gail Marlene Schwartz, Kimberly Warner
Remarkable conversation. I so agree about "listening" as we write and about what nobody wants to talk about "death". As usual, Kimberly does a sensitive and remarkable interview with you, Gail. I do hope you'll read my interview with Kimberly and let's see if we can connect. What a powerful exchange.
Jul 7Liked by Kimberly Warner, Gail Marlene Schwartz
What a lovely interview! And several books I need to read... :)
I love the story of going to therapy and using the easel to not have to look at Dr. Sulky. I worked with a therapist who (also) works with kids and teenagers who have oppositional defiant disorder, and she's had several clients on whom their earlier therapists had just given up. And so she's sat on the call with them while they don't say anything for an hour, or they talk about everything except for feelings or arguments or the "real" issues. She is not going to give up on them, because that's the very worst. I love that, and I'm glad you had a therapist who did not give up on you.
Thank you for taking the time to listen/read and share your thoughts Heather. I, too, loved the story about the easel. How comforting to know there are other therapists out there with patient, compassionate hearts who trust the innate timing of a child’s unfolding.
"...the bottom line, we need to get more comfortable with death. We need to see death. We need to talk about death. We need to integrate death into the normalcy of living." Well, obviously that gets the biggest of Amens from me 🙌 Such a beautiful conversation. As always, Kim, your line of questioning is brilliant, so astute. And what a joy to be introduced to Gail. You're both such bright lights!! ✨
Thanks so much, Chloe. I'm THRILLED that Kim introduced me to you and your work which I'm loving. So appreciate your presence here as a witness to this beautiful uplifting conversation.
Another wonderful, touching conversation. It's been great getting to know both your hearts. I also lived in Canada most my life until I moved to USA. I was lately shocked by how abortion and euthanasia are normalized. They don't want to invest in humanity although everyone deserves a chance at life and living, whatever the challenges. I'm glad there are people who band together to help others and resources that give free ultrasounds and support to expectant mothers. It gives me hope!
I so enjoyed this conversation and took notes again! At the beginning, "walking the cat," I like how you talk about the embodiment of all the elements. We were walking the dogs, prior to my husband leaving for work today, and all I could think of was "garbage." It had been a topic and one I began to write a flow piece of poetry about as soon as I got home. (we pick up garbage as we walk and yet, some of what I read this weekend, observed as we drove, all contrasting life and garbage!). So taking a break to "do life" is a big part of writing. Also, anxiety fueling writing or living with it, not having it define you. I am more creative with it so it's a friend in a way. Love the idea of fiction (which I am a terrible reader of and have embraced several fiction writers here, so that's amazing) as a vessel for truth in lived experiences. Wow. What struck me most, being that I have deeply desired "family" as an immigrant, is how in the book, Audrey's family was right there under her nose. This gave me tears as I have rejected some of the blessings in my life due to the want of "real" family - which is so stupid. It's right there and I saw my parents doing their best to make family. Ahhh tears. Also, what you went through in pregnancy, in a system that is so throw away with no appreciation for individual discernment and calm open thinking. I became a Christian late in life after having children, but prior in all three of our pregnancies, we said no to the tests for downs, because we made a decision to keep our children no matter what and recently, in an interview, I expressed that that was more than likely inherent from my immigration status. I longed for family. I just plain wanted. My decisions weren't owned by society and never will be. It's private. I want to thank you both for this sweet and inspiring interview. My youngest son is gay, came out when he was 12 and he's quite brilliant, writes very well. Wrote for his university publication. He has chosen to work in the mental health and drug addicted field and has a lot to say. Perhaps someday he will be able to pick up this fictional idea of writing out his life and thoughts through characters. He's an avid fiction reader. I am the little voice in his head (like my mom was in mine for years) that tells him he should write. You have given me a lot to think about. But mostly, it continues to boil down to love and understanding. Bless you both. ox
Thank you so much for these beautiful words and stories, Deborah. There's so much emotion in all of these experiences. Having been an immigrant, and now contemplating immigration once again, I'm so much more sensitive to what it means to be located outside of the world that made us. Creating an inside becomes necessary. Looking forward to exploring your work on Substack and thank you so much for reading and commenting!
Yes, it's not easy to be an immigrant and live in a different place to your own sense of being. I have discovered that the most important thing to my survival is the ability to be creative and to speak. That's what art is about and I respect everyone who takes that journey or has that living inside of them. It comes from an innate place of gratitude and uniqueness. Thank you for the interview again. I appreciate all the people and life lessons that Kimberly puts into her sphere.
Another wonderful interview, Kimberly. Your skill as an interviewer is clearly improving with each guest. And how lovely to meet Gail. The two of you touched on some very important topics, in beautifully honest ways.
Nice to meet you too, Michael. I so agree re: Kim's skills and how they're growing. Such a privilege to be her guest. Looking forward to checking out your work!
Yes, he did pass. My husband is a chiropractic physician, and I ran the office. Zack came in as a patient, and one of the few barters we had in 38yrs of practice, was with Zack.
So much fun eating there. Good memories, of a wonderful man. Oh wait! I just remembered his famous quote he told us all those years ago.
( Ode to Zack) are you ready?
“ You is who you is. Cuz if you ain’t who you is than you is who you ain’t “
I can’t believe that just surfaced from the archives of my mind!
Really! My home is in Williston, but I spend mid May to the end of October in the NEK. Sitting outside on the deck right now in the NEK ,the Big Dipper above, enjoying the cool breeze. My husband and I retired early, bought a camp about 16yrs ago. Used to come up on the weekends when we were working, now we mostly ‘play’ like kids. I hope your home stayed dry during the big flood, speaking of, we are almost one year from the day. I hate to call it an anniversary…
I love that. I have two sisters , I’m in Vermont, one is in North Carolina and the other, in 🔥Florida. Though we are each well past the time of growing up,
( except for me) the dynamics are the same as when we were children. They both have a tendency of hanging up right in the middle of a conversation.
Thank you for having an interest in my writing, alas, I am just a reader, and look forward to reading more of your work.
Kimberly, your talent as an interviewer continually improves with each guest. You really are at the top of your game. You have a wonderful ability to turn an interview into what seems like a casual conversation with a new friend. Though it is obvious, a great amount of preparation and hard work goes into each one. Hi Gail, a pleasure to meet you. I took some time to take a walk through some of your posts. By the way, I have zero tolerance for anyone who is considered my friend or family, hanging up on me. I know it was fiction , but in reality, I find it impossibly rude. And ultimately, a ‘time out’ is required.
And just pondering, how did a box of disgustingly pleasing Kraft Mac and cheese become a ‘go to’ comfort food. Is it the squishy sound ? Can’t be the taste. Oh, that’s right, fiction.
“I love that imagination gives us access to certain kinds of truth that don't exist in the factual world.” Great quote , I totally agree.
Thank you both.
And Kimberly, you are scared to write fiction? I believe you can do absolutely anything you put your mind to. Maybe a better way to say it, don’t put too much mind to it and it will come.
Nice to meet you and thanks for the lovely comment, Lor. I'm excited to get to know your work a bit. Interestingly, in my middle grade novel, My Sister's Girlfriend, my mc has a bff also, and the protagonist, who's angry, stops talking to her. The bff comes over to the mc's house, punches her in the shoulder, and tells her that when you're close to somebody, you talk things over. So-I'm totally with you!!!
One more thing. I hope you have had the chance to read Kimberly’s Unfixed preface, and all that comes after. The most emotion packed , riveting, true story, I have ever read.
I adore you both, this was so moving to hear you both speaking from the heart - and about so many different important issues - pain, choice, anxiety (raising hand ;) Just delightful. ❤️💜💙
Right back at you Troy. I had so much fun connect with Gail, she’s such a vibrant spirit. I could’ve spent hours with her!
You were our Matchmaker, Mr. Ford, and I will be forever grateful. xo
Remarkable conversation. I so agree about "listening" as we write and about what nobody wants to talk about "death". As usual, Kimberly does a sensitive and remarkable interview with you, Gail. I do hope you'll read my interview with Kimberly and let's see if we can connect. What a powerful exchange.
Thank you dear Mary. I love the idea of you and Gail connecting!
Hi Mary! I'm excited to listen to the interview and get to know your work. Many thanks for your support.
What a lovely interview! And several books I need to read... :)
I love the story of going to therapy and using the easel to not have to look at Dr. Sulky. I worked with a therapist who (also) works with kids and teenagers who have oppositional defiant disorder, and she's had several clients on whom their earlier therapists had just given up. And so she's sat on the call with them while they don't say anything for an hour, or they talk about everything except for feelings or arguments or the "real" issues. She is not going to give up on them, because that's the very worst. I love that, and I'm glad you had a therapist who did not give up on you.
Thank you for this beautiful interview.
Thank you for taking the time to listen/read and share your thoughts Heather. I, too, loved the story about the easel. How comforting to know there are other therapists out there with patient, compassionate hearts who trust the innate timing of a child’s unfolding.
Thank you, Heather, so lovely to read these reflections. I'm looking forward to getting tok now your work!
"...the bottom line, we need to get more comfortable with death. We need to see death. We need to talk about death. We need to integrate death into the normalcy of living." Well, obviously that gets the biggest of Amens from me 🙌 Such a beautiful conversation. As always, Kim, your line of questioning is brilliant, so astute. And what a joy to be introduced to Gail. You're both such bright lights!! ✨
Thanks so much, Chloe. I'm THRILLED that Kim introduced me to you and your work which I'm loving. So appreciate your presence here as a witness to this beautiful uplifting conversation.
So lovely to meet you. I can’t wait to watch your conversation with Troy!
Another wonderful, touching conversation. It's been great getting to know both your hearts. I also lived in Canada most my life until I moved to USA. I was lately shocked by how abortion and euthanasia are normalized. They don't want to invest in humanity although everyone deserves a chance at life and living, whatever the challenges. I'm glad there are people who band together to help others and resources that give free ultrasounds and support to expectant mothers. It gives me hope!
Thanks, Nadia. It’s really complex…so grateful you stopped by, and I will check out your work too!
Thank you, Gail!
Kimberly and Gail,
I so enjoyed this conversation and took notes again! At the beginning, "walking the cat," I like how you talk about the embodiment of all the elements. We were walking the dogs, prior to my husband leaving for work today, and all I could think of was "garbage." It had been a topic and one I began to write a flow piece of poetry about as soon as I got home. (we pick up garbage as we walk and yet, some of what I read this weekend, observed as we drove, all contrasting life and garbage!). So taking a break to "do life" is a big part of writing. Also, anxiety fueling writing or living with it, not having it define you. I am more creative with it so it's a friend in a way. Love the idea of fiction (which I am a terrible reader of and have embraced several fiction writers here, so that's amazing) as a vessel for truth in lived experiences. Wow. What struck me most, being that I have deeply desired "family" as an immigrant, is how in the book, Audrey's family was right there under her nose. This gave me tears as I have rejected some of the blessings in my life due to the want of "real" family - which is so stupid. It's right there and I saw my parents doing their best to make family. Ahhh tears. Also, what you went through in pregnancy, in a system that is so throw away with no appreciation for individual discernment and calm open thinking. I became a Christian late in life after having children, but prior in all three of our pregnancies, we said no to the tests for downs, because we made a decision to keep our children no matter what and recently, in an interview, I expressed that that was more than likely inherent from my immigration status. I longed for family. I just plain wanted. My decisions weren't owned by society and never will be. It's private. I want to thank you both for this sweet and inspiring interview. My youngest son is gay, came out when he was 12 and he's quite brilliant, writes very well. Wrote for his university publication. He has chosen to work in the mental health and drug addicted field and has a lot to say. Perhaps someday he will be able to pick up this fictional idea of writing out his life and thoughts through characters. He's an avid fiction reader. I am the little voice in his head (like my mom was in mine for years) that tells him he should write. You have given me a lot to think about. But mostly, it continues to boil down to love and understanding. Bless you both. ox
Thank you so much for these beautiful words and stories, Deborah. There's so much emotion in all of these experiences. Having been an immigrant, and now contemplating immigration once again, I'm so much more sensitive to what it means to be located outside of the world that made us. Creating an inside becomes necessary. Looking forward to exploring your work on Substack and thank you so much for reading and commenting!
Yes, it's not easy to be an immigrant and live in a different place to your own sense of being. I have discovered that the most important thing to my survival is the ability to be creative and to speak. That's what art is about and I respect everyone who takes that journey or has that living inside of them. It comes from an innate place of gratitude and uniqueness. Thank you for the interview again. I appreciate all the people and life lessons that Kimberly puts into her sphere.
Another wonderful interview, Kimberly. Your skill as an interviewer is clearly improving with each guest. And how lovely to meet Gail. The two of you touched on some very important topics, in beautifully honest ways.
Thank you :)
Nice to meet you too, Michael. I so agree re: Kim's skills and how they're growing. Such a privilege to be her guest. Looking forward to checking out your work!
Likewise :)
Yes, he did pass. My husband is a chiropractic physician, and I ran the office. Zack came in as a patient, and one of the few barters we had in 38yrs of practice, was with Zack.
So much fun eating there. Good memories, of a wonderful man. Oh wait! I just remembered his famous quote he told us all those years ago.
( Ode to Zack) are you ready?
“ You is who you is. Cuz if you ain’t who you is than you is who you ain’t “
I can’t believe that just surfaced from the archives of my mind!
OMG, it's so so so good, and SO him! That's amazing that you got to know him personally through the office. What a legend!
Really! My home is in Williston, but I spend mid May to the end of October in the NEK. Sitting outside on the deck right now in the NEK ,the Big Dipper above, enjoying the cool breeze. My husband and I retired early, bought a camp about 16yrs ago. Used to come up on the weekends when we were working, now we mostly ‘play’ like kids. I hope your home stayed dry during the big flood, speaking of, we are almost one year from the day. I hate to call it an anniversary…
Ohhh the NEK is gorgeous! I used to live in Montgomery and taught at CCV Newport. The camp sounds peaceful-perfect. Enjoy every minute!!!
I love that. I have two sisters , I’m in Vermont, one is in North Carolina and the other, in 🔥Florida. Though we are each well past the time of growing up,
( except for me) the dynamics are the same as when we were children. They both have a tendency of hanging up right in the middle of a conversation.
Thank you for having an interest in my writing, alas, I am just a reader, and look forward to reading more of your work.
Wait...I'm in Vermont too! Whereabouts? I'm in Montpelier. That's incredible that the dynamics haven't changed. The hanging up would slay me.
Kimberly, your talent as an interviewer continually improves with each guest. You really are at the top of your game. You have a wonderful ability to turn an interview into what seems like a casual conversation with a new friend. Though it is obvious, a great amount of preparation and hard work goes into each one. Hi Gail, a pleasure to meet you. I took some time to take a walk through some of your posts. By the way, I have zero tolerance for anyone who is considered my friend or family, hanging up on me. I know it was fiction , but in reality, I find it impossibly rude. And ultimately, a ‘time out’ is required.
And just pondering, how did a box of disgustingly pleasing Kraft Mac and cheese become a ‘go to’ comfort food. Is it the squishy sound ? Can’t be the taste. Oh, that’s right, fiction.
“I love that imagination gives us access to certain kinds of truth that don't exist in the factual world.” Great quote , I totally agree.
Thank you both.
And Kimberly, you are scared to write fiction? I believe you can do absolutely anything you put your mind to. Maybe a better way to say it, don’t put too much mind to it and it will come.
Nice to meet you and thanks for the lovely comment, Lor. I'm excited to get to know your work a bit. Interestingly, in my middle grade novel, My Sister's Girlfriend, my mc has a bff also, and the protagonist, who's angry, stops talking to her. The bff comes over to the mc's house, punches her in the shoulder, and tells her that when you're close to somebody, you talk things over. So-I'm totally with you!!!
Thank you both, what a rich and moving conversation....
Thanks, Bertus. It feels so good to be received! :)
One more thing. I hope you have had the chance to read Kimberly’s Unfixed preface, and all that comes after. The most emotion packed , riveting, true story, I have ever read.
Thanks for bringing that quote to the surface!
And , way past my bedtime last night, but fun. If you ever paddle Crystal Lake,
send an email. ( I just subscribed).
And stop at the dock to say hi.
Did you ever eat at Zack on the Rocks?
Yes, but many years before we lived there. I think he passed away fairly recently. Amazing and magical place!