OK I admit it—I’m nosy! I’ve always wondered when I read novels what part(s) of the authors are in the characters/story/setting/etc. I started my Substack "Author Confessions: The Facts Behind the Fiction" almost two years ago so I could ask these questions in a socially acceptable way. I’ve loved all my interviews but particularly enjoyed my recent one with Allison Winn Scotch about her latest book The Insomniacs…
I didn’t copy all my notes, so they’re probably lost to the annals of time :) But rereading this old post reminded me that my small voice matters. I’m going to keep listening, keep observing, and keep voicing my truth, even when fear and doubt creep in. Grateful to you, Surender.
This is my most proudest post (so far! I have a few scheduled that I am also proud of!) It was a long time coming and the realization within it was happening in real time, which is the point of my series The View From Here. Real thoughts that don’t leave me until I process them on the page and share. Hope you enjoy this one about Failure:
I am one of the few Americans who has ever relied on emergency food from USAID to keep them alive. From spring 1974 through winter 1976, my primary residence was a 10' square mud hut with a thatched roof in Fanaye Dieri, a small village in the Senegal River Valley, during a time of famine, pestilence & drought.
I was a Peace Corps Volunteer working on rural development & famine relief projects. There was water in the river from headlands 1,000 miles south, but when I took up residence in Fanaye it had not rained there for 7 years.
This essay, one of the most popular of the 150 or so I've posted, tells of my time in the village, and of one extraordinary experience I had towards the end of my two-year stay. It introduces several of the themes that recur again and again in Sundman figures it out!
I began this letter to my teenage self with no idea where it would go. All I had was an old photo and a title, “Dear Kiddo.” Returning to my old journals, I realized that someone I’d dismissed as a mere warmup act for the true friends I’d find in the wide world was more devoted than I knew. The piece took a turn that surprised me. I love when that happens. My readers do too. https://ronamaynard.substack.com/p/dear-kiddo
Oh, this is so fun! I'm loving all of these. Here's mine:
I wrote this post to introduce readers to the Iranian poet Forugh Farrokhzad, who defied her culture at every turn—divorcing her husband, losing custody of her son, and writing openly about female desire in a male-dominated literary world that called her shameless for it. She published four books, made a landmark documentary, and died at 32, leaving behind a body of work that was banned after the Islamic Revolution and is still censored today. I wrote about her because her fierce commitment to women's freedom and her insistence on living her art completely feels always urgent. Her heart is my heart.
I recently wrote about incorporating moon phases into our creative practices. It's something I touch on in some of my creative writing teaching and I really enjoyed writing about it at length with exercises and prompts for reflection:
With this piece I felt I (finally) re-fined, or tuned into, my voice much stronger than any other piece before. And expressed more strongly how I feel about this frantic pace of the world which I see turning people into disengaged, indifferent scaredy-cats who never stop racing. And never stop to ask why.
I describe a week in my family’s life when my daughter finishes high school and prepares to donate bone marrow to her father, while people around us try to make it sound more meaningful and “perfect” than it feels. I focus on small, everyday moments to show how we actually move through something serious without always naming it directly.
I am new to Substack, and the most meaningful post I wrote was about the death of my son by suicide. I look forward to becoming more engaged as time permits. A self-help book I wrote, Beyond Quick Fixes: Essential Ingredients for Better Mental Health and A Fulfilling Life will be released September 1st, 2026 and that has consumed much of my time.
Hi Celeste, thank you for sharing something so deeply personal. It takes real courage to put that into words. Wishing you all the best with your Substack journey and your upcoming book.
Thank you Sarah!! I discovered the 8th deadly sin by way of sparring with my boxing coach and love how it emerged through dialogue and getting started on here in the first place. Please don't read if you're comfortable right where you are.
Couldn’t recall if I shared the first part of this four-part post:
https://michaelced.substack.com/p/america-is-a-haunted-place?r=39oh&utm_medium=ios
OK I admit it—I’m nosy! I’ve always wondered when I read novels what part(s) of the authors are in the characters/story/setting/etc. I started my Substack "Author Confessions: The Facts Behind the Fiction" almost two years ago so I could ask these questions in a socially acceptable way. I’ve loved all my interviews but particularly enjoyed my recent one with Allison Winn Scotch about her latest book The Insomniacs…
https://lindenstewart.substack.com/p/when-insomnia-pays-off
I didn’t copy all my notes, so they’re probably lost to the annals of time :) But rereading this old post reminded me that my small voice matters. I’m going to keep listening, keep observing, and keep voicing my truth, even when fear and doubt creep in. Grateful to you, Surender.
https://aishwaryarajan.substack.com/p/such-stubbornness
I love this invitation!
This is my most proudest post (so far! I have a few scheduled that I am also proud of!) It was a long time coming and the realization within it was happening in real time, which is the point of my series The View From Here. Real thoughts that don’t leave me until I process them on the page and share. Hope you enjoy this one about Failure:
https://mtsolomon.substack.com/p/failure?r=20ox29&utm_medium=ios
Also, this is a cornucopia of amazing posts to restack!!!
agreed!
I am one of the few Americans who has ever relied on emergency food from USAID to keep them alive. From spring 1974 through winter 1976, my primary residence was a 10' square mud hut with a thatched roof in Fanaye Dieri, a small village in the Senegal River Valley, during a time of famine, pestilence & drought.
I was a Peace Corps Volunteer working on rural development & famine relief projects. There was water in the river from headlands 1,000 miles south, but when I took up residence in Fanaye it had not rained there for 7 years.
This essay, one of the most popular of the 150 or so I've posted, tells of my time in the village, and of one extraordinary experience I had towards the end of my two-year stay. It introduces several of the themes that recur again and again in Sundman figures it out!
https://johnsundman.substack.com/p/the-dark-side-of-the-hut-50-years?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
I began this letter to my teenage self with no idea where it would go. All I had was an old photo and a title, “Dear Kiddo.” Returning to my old journals, I realized that someone I’d dismissed as a mere warmup act for the true friends I’d find in the wide world was more devoted than I knew. The piece took a turn that surprised me. I love when that happens. My readers do too. https://ronamaynard.substack.com/p/dear-kiddo
Thanks for this, Sarah! I'm most proud of the author interviews I do. I loved this one with Kerry Clare on her latest book Definitely Thriving!
https://ingridharingmendes.substack.com/p/when-youre-not-inclined-to-fit-the
Oh I love this! And I'd love to be interviewed about my book, Midlife Emergence, should you ever be interested. ❤️🔥
Oh, this is so fun! I'm loving all of these. Here's mine:
I wrote this post to introduce readers to the Iranian poet Forugh Farrokhzad, who defied her culture at every turn—divorcing her husband, losing custody of her son, and writing openly about female desire in a male-dominated literary world that called her shameless for it. She published four books, made a landmark documentary, and died at 32, leaving behind a body of work that was banned after the Islamic Revolution and is still censored today. I wrote about her because her fierce commitment to women's freedom and her insistence on living her art completely feels always urgent. Her heart is my heart.
https://maryhickmanpoet.substack.com/p/iranian-poet-forugh-farrokhzad-on
I recently wrote about incorporating moon phases into our creative practices. It's something I touch on in some of my creative writing teaching and I really enjoyed writing about it at length with exercises and prompts for reflection:
Writing with the Moon https://mirandarowanschmidt.substack.com/p/writing-with-the-moon
https://lynnjericho.substack.com/p/your-future-is-a-mystery-waiting
Happily, there is no ONE POST I am MOST proud of. This one just caught my eye.
I've been blogging since 2002, and I am proud of each of the hundreds of blogs and posts I have written.
In each one, I go for broke, fearless and full of love.
My goal is to offer new lenses for knowing self, spirit, and meaningful success.
Love this! I'm an old school blogger, too, since 1998!
With this piece I felt I (finally) re-fined, or tuned into, my voice much stronger than any other piece before. And expressed more strongly how I feel about this frantic pace of the world which I see turning people into disengaged, indifferent scaredy-cats who never stop racing. And never stop to ask why.
https://claudiabrose.substack.com/p/you-dont-have-a-time-problem-you
https://auddinspired.substack.com/p/stamped-dates-hidden-lines
I describe a week in my family’s life when my daughter finishes high school and prepares to donate bone marrow to her father, while people around us try to make it sound more meaningful and “perfect” than it feels. I focus on small, everyday moments to show how we actually move through something serious without always naming it directly.
Wow, I am excited to read this.
https://drcelestebirkhofer.substack.com/p/the-tragedy-of-suicide-and-a-call
I am new to Substack, and the most meaningful post I wrote was about the death of my son by suicide. I look forward to becoming more engaged as time permits. A self-help book I wrote, Beyond Quick Fixes: Essential Ingredients for Better Mental Health and A Fulfilling Life will be released September 1st, 2026 and that has consumed much of my time.
Hi Celeste, thank you for sharing something so deeply personal. It takes real courage to put that into words. Wishing you all the best with your Substack journey and your upcoming book.
Thank you Sarah!! I discovered the 8th deadly sin by way of sparring with my boxing coach and love how it emerged through dialogue and getting started on here in the first place. Please don't read if you're comfortable right where you are.
(Spoiler Alert:Fear) https://thepleasurecodes.substack.com/p/the-eighth-sin
Thank you, Sarah! This is my most exciting post, diving into what's causing the flat, grey, no-motivation experience so many people with Long COVID are living with. https://longcovidkari.substack.com/p/how-long-covid-suppresses-dopamine?r=74xuvu&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true