(M)othering:

Reviews, Readings, Playlist

(M)othering is on CBC’s list of non-fiction to read

“M)othering is a universally understood phenomenon that speaks to the act of becoming something unexpected and entirely outside ourselves. And this book is a collection of writing and art about that. 56 contributors illuminate the kind of gritty, body mind soul transformations that only the mothering myth can evoke. Their work will take you to wonder and wildness, kindness, beauty, grief, love.”

CJSW: Writer’s Block Interview on all-things (M)othering Anthology

When the (M)othering Anthology came out in May of 2022, I had the honour of interviewing with CJSW radio host Jeanne Kwong alongside Calgary’s 2020-22 Poet Laureate and (M)othering contributor, Natalie Meisner.

Given our respective stories, I’m not the least bit surprised that our conversation inevitably turned to talking about mothers on the margins. As in queer mothers, birth mothers, mothers who do not have their children with them, and those who mother others… people who are othered as a result of life on life’s terms. Jeanne did a tremendous job of facilitating our riffing about what matters, topics not generally the focus Mother’s Day as we know it. Take a listen.

Motherhood, Literature and Art: (M)othering reviewed by Mom Egg Review.

When our (M)othering anthology was released, Anne (co-editor ) and I were thrilled when Kimberly Lee let us know she’d reviewed the anthology in the journal “Mothering, Literature and Art” journal. (Is that not right up there with the best of journal focuses?)

Here’s an excerpt of her review:

“In the rich compendium that is (M)othering, no stone is left unturned, no experience left hidden. As the editors conclude, the contributors’ “…truths, words, and images attest to how mothering shatters and shapes us oh-so-dreadfully and oh-so-wondrously.” The experience is more than a role, it’s an inner journey that molds us, hopefully leading us—through trials, tribulation, and triumphs—to wholeness.”

See the link to Kimberly Lee’s deep dive into (M)othering. She so gets it. https://merliterary.com/2022/09/27/mothering-annie-sorbie-and-heidi-grogan-editors/

Single Onion

It was an honour to host the Single Onion’s (M)othering event at Shelf Life in September, 2022. This good night featured Calgary and area poets whose work helped to shape and give depth and richness to the (M)othering anthology. For a treat of a replay, here are readings from Joan Shillington, Vivian Hansen, Anne Sorbie, Josephine Lorie, Dorothy Bentley, Adrienne Adams, Yvonne Trainer, and Joan Crate.

Kudos to Shelf Life Books for making such a welcoming space for customers who took a seat and engaged what the (M)othering readers shared on that good night.

Free fall

An Interview with Anne Sorbie and Heidi Grogan
by Sharon Berg, April 9, 2023

An excerpt:

SB: What social context or movement was the inspiration for you to work on this book?

HG: We are concerned with people who mother, especially from the margins. There are women for whom this important part of their identity is not acknowledged because their children are not part of their everyday lives… Their stories are shared in (M)othering. [T]hey are seen, respected, and understood, alongside those others who have stood alone before a rack of Mother’s Day cards.

The (Un)expected Passion in Stories of (M)othering – FreeFall Magazine