Suzanne Edison, MA, MFA

Poet • Educator

By

Poems in the World, Readings, Teaching

It’s been a minute since I’ve written. But I’m here to share some links to poems and other work and opportunities.

Poetry:

First, a poem out very recently in MER Folio. Spells and Prayers Before Antimatter. Lots of great writing here too.

And in the recent journal Naugatuck River Review, my poem, Blood of the Peony Bed, was a finalist in their narrative poetry contest. Please buy the journal as it’s quite wonderful too.

I have a few more poems coming out soon that I’ll link as they arrive.

Teaching:

I’m teaching 4 workshops in collaboration with a visual artist, Carol Rashawnna Williams, for kids living with an autoimmune disease and their caregivers. Autoimmune diseases include but are not limited to: Juvenile Arthritis, Juvenile Myositis, Crohn’s, diabetes Type 1, Lupus, IBD, etc.  The first one is coming up Saturday, March 18th at SandPoint Learning Center (affiliated with Seattle Children’s Hospital) and more to follow in May and June. I made a little video about the workshops too. See it here and please register . It is called The Kaleidoscope of Autoimmune Disease workshop.

Reading:

I’ll be reading poems in support of Donna Spruijt-Metz’s new book, General Release from the Beginning of the World, along with Heidi Seaborn, on Monday, March 20th at Elliott Bay Bookstore starting at 7 pm.

By

Interview: Health Central–Expressive Writing for Caregivers

I am grateful to Anna Kaufman for this interview opportunity.

My workshops at UCSF are open to any parent with a child living with an ongoing mental or physical health issue.  Contact Bhupinder Nahal at UCSF for registration information. Bhupinder.Nahal@ucsf.edu

By

Writing Workshop for Parents of Kids Living with a Chronic Illness

For any parents of kids living with a chronic illness, I’m teaching a 3 series writing workshop via zoom, beginning this month. See following for details.
• Managing trauma, stress and grief
• Building resilience
• Finding hope and gratitude
Through these workshops participants will:
• Explore
• Engage
• Creatively replenish themselves
• Find peer support
Expressive writing workshop UCSF Chronic Illness Center is partnering with Suzanne Edison, a writer, a parent, and a former psychotherapist to offer 3 virtual expressive writing workshops. When: Saturdays from 10:00am-12:00pm, February 26th, March 26th, and April 23rd How it works: You will have the opportunity to explore different aspects of your experiences with your child’s medical journey. Each workshop will involve reading selections in poetry and brief prose, writing prompts and homework offerings. Who can come: Parents/caregivers of children living with chronic conditions https://redcap.link/cicwriting Questions Contact us anytime: Bhupinder.nahal@ucsf.edu 
Testimonials:

“The workshop was so well designed and facilitated. I LOVED and benefited greatly [from] the variety of activities – the mindfulness and body scans, the writing prompts and sharing, the poems, and the reflections. Suzanne, your warmth and experience and organization are so appreciated.”

“It was great to share what we had bottled inside- and see it transformed into an art form.”

“I liked the poetry and how relatable it is.  Suzanne always does a great job.”

“…thank the host, she did an amazing job.  It was such a healing class.”

By

The Words To Say It: Reading and Writing Poems about Illness, Trauma, & Healing

I’ll be teaching 2 sections of this 6 week course at Hugo House starting September 14th and September 15th. All of it on Zoom.

Registration is open.

The Words to Say It: Reading & Writing Poems about Illness, Trauma & Healing (ZOOM) Section I

The Words to Say It: Reading & Writing Poems about Illness, Trauma & Healing (ZOOM) Section II