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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March 2022- Autoimmune Awareness Month

I somehow missed this shout out about some of my work by TAB journal in March. The Body Lives Its Undoing, a book of poems (by me) and visual art by others, is still available. All proceeds go to The Benaroya Research Institute.

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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. Bh*************@**sf.edu

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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: Bh*************@**sf.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.”