Suzanne Edison, MA, MFA

Poet • Educator

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All things Books, Poems, Teaching/Workshops etc.

Book cover with teal background and a face mask collage

Dear Arthritis: A Conversation

Dear Arthritis is the newest addition to books about illness and healing.  Sponsored in part by a grant from 4Culture of King County and The Arthritis Foundation, it was the result of a workshop that I provided with writing prompts, in tandem with my collaborator, visual artist Carol Rashawanna Williams. The recipients were families who have a child or young adult living with juvenile arthritis. They wrote Dear Arthritis letters based on the prompts I gave them to help them describe what it is like living with JA or caring for someone, or being a sibling to someone, with JA. Carol then offered them a wealth of art materials from which they could make super hero masks; eg. images that reflect what helps them cope with JA. The book can be purchased here.

WORKSHOP/READING

On February 3rd, 2024 I offered a free writing workshop at Book Tree in Kirkland, WA based on the theme illness and healing. 15 wonderful people (mostly poets) engaged with the writing and visual prompts to produce poems and drafts of their own. This was followed by a reading of my work from Since the House is Burning and The Body Lives Its Undoing, as well as a wonderful reading from Tamara Kaye Sellman from her book Intention Tremor. Tamara lives with multiple sclerosis and writes in many forms: (fiction, poetry, journalism) about her life and other topics.

POEMS

“Owl” was published in the Whale Road Review.

A recent poem of mine, “Imagined Conversation with My Daughter After Roe v. Wade Is Struck Down” was a finalist in the narrative poetry contest of the Naugatuck River Review and the journal can be purchased here.

“All Night I Wrestle” is forthcoming from Lily Poetry Review.

CONTACT ME!

And because it’s been so long since I’ve written a blog post or updated my website, feel free to contact me with any questions about teaching workshops, poetry in the world, or just to say hello. I’ll be busy doing these things but always welcome emails. se*********@***il.com

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Reading & Conversation at Town Hall Seattle-Sept. 18, 2019

Save the Date–The Body Lives Its Undoing

Wednesday, September 18, 2019         7 pm

As part of Town Hall’s reopening, I’ll be reading from The Body Lives Its Undoing and conversing with visual artists and scientists who contributed to the book. We will all respond to questions from the audience as well.

Get your tickets now. I look forward to seeing you there.

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Upcoming Reading & Past ones: The Body Lives Its Undoing

 

On a sunny Saturday morning in Burien, WA, about 20 residents of Merrill Gardens, along with a half dozen more friends, gathered to hear me read poems and discuss the project upon which my recent book, The Body Lives Its Undoing, is based.

They were attentive listeners and asked great questions about the poems and about autoimmune disease in general. One question was about the difference between infections and autoimmune disease. Another person was curious if there were any “bright spots” that emerged from people living with pain. I said I heard often about people letting go of things that no longer seemed important and learning to live in, and celebrate each moment.

We also showcased some of the artwork and Anna Hooser, artist, book designer and BRI Tech Assistant, was also on hand to talk about how her artwork was a reflection of the interviews I conducted and which she videotaped.

Next Reading: Friday, November 16, 2018

Optimism Brewing, 1158 Broadway, Capitol Hill  (come early to get a seat)

4:30 – 6:30 pm

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New poems & a book coming soon

Please find the poem, “On a Scale of 1 -10” online at SWWIM, published in August.  It is one of the poems in my soon to be published poetry and visual art book dealing with autoimmune diseases called, The Body Lives Its Undoing.

Other poems included in the book, are forthcoming in the Michigan Quarterly Review and the Canadian Medical Association Journal.  “Sick Girl in the Wilderness” was published online by Isacoustic in July.

( above- beta cell circus, by Shelley Lowenstein)

 

                                                                                                                      (man, by Anna Hooser)                                                                                                                                                                                                         

The book, published in conjunction with The Benaroya Research Institute (BRI) has been almost 2 years in the making. The visual art is stunning, with contributions by Julie Trout, Anna Hooser, Shelley Lowenstein, and others, some of whom are scientists that work at BRI.

 

(art at right by Julie Trout)