I was in middle school, maybe, when my mom and I helped re-seed a trail over a small number of indigenous burial mounds that had been worn down by hikers in our nearby state park. I remember distinctly that we and a dozen or so other volunteers formed something of an assembly line that snaked…
But It’s Iowa
We kept the kids home. We un-enrolled from our lives. We ordered little kid masks. We took them out of swimming lessons. We didn’t go to parks for a time. We put up a playset in our yard. And then a pool. And then two other pools, after the first and second ones broke. We…
In Grief: Day 40
Today, I’m in the bright sunshine of my favorite season in my favorite month. I’m digging out some inspiration like it’s the crust around the lid of the yogurt container that needs to come out or damn it my kids will disown me for having to resort to another kind of breakfast; I’m trying, man.…
Death in My Family
On August 25, my nephew was killed in a traffic accident. He was 24 years old. He had just started his second year teaching middle school in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was writing a book about teaching. He was organizing a coat drive to support underprivileged youth in his school. He was happy and…
Another Story Out in September
Last week I got word that another short story of mine will be published in September. This is such great news. This particular story is about the invisibility of motherhood. There is bloodshed. 🙂 Yay! I am reading a lot and writing a lot lately. I’m obsessed with the story “Tenth of December,” by George…
Patreon Launch
I launched a Patreon campaign. Is that you call it? Well, that’s what I call it. Find it and all its offerings at patreon.com/erinlunde I’m challenging myself to write one 30-word story for each day this month. Day 1 is complete. I’m also looking forward to reading three short stories for the Short Story Club…
New Story Out
I have another story out called The Lifeguard in Openwork Mag. I feel good about it. 🙂 I have yet another story entered into a couple contests that won’t announce for a few weeks. I love the story because I think it’s hilarious (you won’t), but I really have no idea what to think about…
Notes on Everything and Nothing At All
I am liking this new quiet(er) routine. I just typed that Q word and my toddler started crying. So nevermind all that. And I was just listening to a podcast (Girls Gone WOD) about how kids sense when you wake up in the morning, so “getting up before they do” is an impossibility for lots…
Story Published & Creativity Cohort
I am so happy to announce that I have another story out in the world. The Bangalore Review published my latest story. Also! I’ve been running a creativity cohort online for the past few months and because it’s going so well (and is getting me to write on a more regular basis) I’m opening up…
The Insurrection and the Kids
I’ve been thinking about the kids. Truly, I think about kids all the time. I am surrounded by my own. They crawl on me and attack me with tickle fingers and yell at me and defy me and crawl on me some more. I manage them and change them and sometimes feed them (that job…