She uses poetry to immortalize precious moments with her children and the myriad of emotions they contain. Dominique Snedeker, a poet, U.S. Air Force veteran, and at-home parent of three young boys, is on the show today.

In this episode, she shares how motherhood has reshaped her identity and how she used poetry to process that change. She also talks about how our memories have evolved because of technology and how poetry resembles sticky notes.

We discuss how poetry and writing enable us to move through experiences so we can reach different, new conclusions. And toward the end, we allow ourselves to open up and share the struggles we’ve faced with the hope of helping others to process and release similar challenges.

Dominique also treats us to three of her poems. They explore how becoming a parent can include a loss of identity, how our kids in fact shape and mold us, and how we moms are a treasure.

Get her books:

• Motherhood: The Crucible of Love:
  https://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Crucible-Love-Dominique-Snedeker/dp/B09VWKJS55 
• Cold (forthcoming)

Connect with Dominique: 

• Blog: https://www.dmsnedeker.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dmsnedeker/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dmsnedeker/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmsnedeker/ 
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dmsnedeker 
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/dmsnedeker

Books discussed during the show:

• “There’s a Certain Slant of Light,” by Emily Dickinson
• On the Night You Were Born, by Nancy Tillman
• Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You, by Nancy Tillman
• Maybe: A Story About the Endless Potential in All of Us, by Kobi Yamada
• “The Bells,” by Edgar Allen Poe
• Like Butter on Pancakes, by Jonathan London

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READY TO TAKE YOUR WRITING FURTHER? 

Join our Patreon community and access our vibrant Discord writing group to get writing prompts, participate in sprints, download free resources, and more: 
https://www.patreon.com/erinptcanningeditor

After years of silence, she finally resumed writing for the sake of mental health. Esme Iris, a homeschooling mom of five, spiritual life coach, and soon to be author, is on the show today.

In this episode, we discuss how much ADHD is undiagnosed among women and what that feels like. She also shares when her writing didn’t feel safe anymore, how she managed to start writing again after a long hiatus, and what that process looked like over time.

And she talks about how a potential writing idea starts itching, how she makes time to write regularly, and how writing has made her a better parent. Esme also reveals what she enjoys most about magical realism.

We also get the inside scoop on her forthcoming Spellbound Smoothies recipe book and Divinely Domestic, which provides housekeeping tips and tricks through the lens of spirituality.

Connect with Esme:

• Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/esmeiriswellness 
• Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/595791738114482/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamesmeiris/

Books mentioned during the show: 

• Garden Spells, by Sarah Addison Allen
• The Sugar Queen, by Sarah Addison Allen
• The Peach Keeper, by Sarah Addison Allen
• The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne
• Practical Magic series by Alice Hoffman 
• Miss Peregrine’s School for Peculiar Children series, by Random Riggs
• The Salamander Room, by Anne Mazer
• Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon, by Jules Bass
• If I Built a House, by Chris Van Dusen
• The Giver, by Lois Lowry

Send us Fan Mail

READY TO TAKE YOUR WRITING FURTHER? 

Join our Patreon community and access our vibrant Discord writing group to get writing prompts, participate in sprints, download free resources, and more: 
https://www.patreon.com/erinptcanningeditor

Who doesn’t enjoy a good love story?

Gina Colgrove, an at-home mom of two girls, former healthcare worker, and author of Until There Was You, is on the show today.

In this episode, we discuss the history and legitimacy of serial romance novel apps and the ways in which these platforms help writers. Gina also shares what she’s learned by looking back at her first book, what her writing habits and daily goals look like, and what experiences she had with self-publishing and what portion of that surprised her.

We also talk about the ways in which our writing has inspired our kids and laughed about our 80s and 90s boy band obsessions.

Get her books: 

• Until There Was You:
• https://www.amazon.com/Until-there-was-you-Colgrove-ebook/dp/B09R8Q6R73/
• Love Me Later:
  https://www.amazon.com/Love-Me-Later-G-Colgrove-ebook/dp/B0B468T31W/

Find Gina’s books on the Dreame app:

• Teacher’s Pet
• The Millionaire’s Obsession
• The Millionaire’s Weakness 
• The Alpha’s Redemption 
• The Hellhound’s Crusade

Connect with Gina:

• Website: https://www.gcolgroveauthor.com/ 
• Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/watch/GColgroveAuthor/ 
• Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/653443792428877 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g_colgrove_author/ 
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@g_colgrove_author 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcolgroveauthor 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkTUISVejBHU7AOW2mqgOYA 
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60230795-until-there-was-you

Books mentioned during the show:

• Twilight series, by Stephanie Meyer
• Midnight Sun, by Stephanie Meyer
• Jewels of the Sun, by Nora Roberts
• House of Night series, by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
• Fallen series, by Lauren Kate
• Miss Peregrine’s School for Peculiar Children series, by Random Riggs
• Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, by Rick Riordan
• Chronicles of Narnia series, by C.S. Lewis
• Shadows by the Lighthouse, by Melissa Puritis 
• The Tale of Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo
• Inkheart (and the Inkworld series), by Cornelia Funke
• The Thief Lord, by Cornelia Funke

Free your creative self too. Download your free copy of my guide, 5 Steps to Help You Start Writing Today, at https://lifebeyondparenting.com/5-steps-start-writing.

Send us Fan Mail

READY TO TAKE YOUR WRITING FURTHER? 

Join our Patreon community and access our vibrant Discord writing group to get writing prompts, participate in sprints, download free resources, and more: 
https://www.patreon.com/erinptcanningeditor

She turned tragedy into an opportunity to openly discuss mental health with her own child.

Camisha Broussard, a mom of four, English college professor, and author of Daddy Issues, A Memoir, is on the show today.

In this episode, she shares how she met her current husband, the love of her life, late in life. She discusses what pulls her to write, what gets her to keep coming back, and how writing has enabled her and her son to have an open discussion about his depression and thoughts on suicide. ⚠️ Warning: This episode discusses depression and suicide. ⚠️

Camisha also offers inspiration on how to keep writing despite fear of judgment from others or yourself.

Get her book:

• Daddy Issues, A Memoir:
  https://www.camleypublishing.com/product/Daddy-Issues-A-Memoir-Camisha-Broussard/1
• 25% off coupon code: PWW25ERIN (expires 31 DEC 2022)

Connect with Camisha:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MishasThyme/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mishasthyme/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MishasThyme
• Website: https://www.camishabroussard.com/

Books mentioned during the show:

• The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold
• Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens
• How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight, by Jane Yolen
• Half of a Yellow Sun, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Send us Fan Mail

READY TO TAKE YOUR WRITING FURTHER? 

Join our Patreon community and access our vibrant Discord writing group to get writing prompts, participate in sprints, download free resources, and more: 
https://www.patreon.com/erinptcanningeditor

This single mom chose to share her journey to help moms all over the world. Shauntay Armstead, author of the Enrich Mom MAB (Mom Abundantly Blessing) eBook Galleria, is on the show today.

During this episode, she discusses how her father taught her the power of writing, what motivated her to create her parenting mini eBook series, and how writing has made her a better parent.

We also talk about why parents need to give themselves permission to follow their passions and how we both use writing as a way to support other parents.

Get her books:

•  https://enrichmom1.gumroad.com/

Connect with Shauntay: 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enrichmom1 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enrichmom1
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/enrichmom1

Books mentioned during the show:

• Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kowazaki 
• The Bible
• Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Send us Fan Mail

READY TO TAKE YOUR WRITING FURTHER? 

Join our Patreon community and access our vibrant Discord writing group to get writing prompts, participate in sprints, download free resources, and more: 
https://www.patreon.com/erinptcanningeditor

Done with waiting, she took herself off the shelf by writing and publishing her mystery book in less than a year.

Melissa Puritis, a single mom, middle school English teacher, and author of Shadows by the Lighthouse, is on the show today.

In this episode, she discusses the large gap between young kids’ books and young adult novels, as well as the lack of time for student creative writing. Melissa also shares how she manages to sit down and write and why writing makes her a better parent.

We also talk about why it's important for parents take themselves off the shelf and pursue their own dreams. Melissa shares what she experienced while pursing the typical publishing route, why she chose to self-publish, and how she made that happen. And we discuss many of our and our kids’ favorite books.

Get Melissa’s books:

• Shadows by the Lighthouse:
  https://www.amazon.com/Shadows-Lighthouse-Melissa-Puritis/dp/057834503X
• A Team Betrayed (A Summerset Island Mystery):
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BFGBM7NR/

Connect with Melissa:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Summerset-Mystery-Series-107130935242604
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissa.reads.it.all
• Website: https://melissapuritis.weebly.com/

Books mentioned during the show:

• The Hardy Boys series, by Frank and Joe Hardy
• Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling
• A Court of Thorns and Roses series, by Sarah J. Maas
• The Awakening, by Kate Chopin
• Less Than Zero, by Bret Easton Ellis
• Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak
• Pirate Boy, by Eve Bunting
• I Love You Forever, by Robert Munsch
• The Bad Guys series, by Aaron Blabey
• Captain Underpants, by Dav Pilkey
• Dog Man, by Dav Pilkey
• I Survived audio books, by Lauren Tarshis
• Paddington audio books, by Michael Bond
• Magic Tree House series, by Mary Pope Osborne
• Dragon Masters series, by Tracey West
• Appleblossom the Possum, by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Send us Fan Mail

READY TO TAKE YOUR WRITING FURTHER? 

Join our Patreon community and access our vibrant Discord writing group to get writing prompts, participate in sprints, download free resources, and more: 
https://www.patreon.com/erinptcanningeditor

A soul-crushing breakup led her to start writing about her healing process with the hope of helping others.

Angel Norvell, a U.S. soldier and author of Hey Girl, Fix Your Crown, is on the show today.

In this episode, she walks us through how writing gave her the tools to take ownership over the breakup and move forward. She also discussed what experiences served as a catalyst for turning her healing process into a self-help book.

She also shares tips for making time to write while working and parenting full time, and she introduces us to her work in progress regarding a young-adult fantasy series about Greek gods.

Connect with Angel:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AJNorvelloffical
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajnorvell_/
• Website: https://authorajnorvell.com/

Books mentioned during the show:

• The Instant Millionaire, by Mark Fisher
• One Thousand and One Nights, also known as The Arabian Nights
• Author Barbra Kingsolver
• Author C.S. Lewis
• Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling
• Percy Jackson series, by Rick Riordan
• Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
• Legendborn, by Tracy Deonn
• The Lost Gate, by Orson Scott Card

Send us Fan Mail

READY TO TAKE YOUR WRITING FURTHER? 

Join our Patreon community and access our vibrant Discord writing group to get writing prompts, participate in sprints, download free resources, and more: 
https://www.patreon.com/erinptcanningeditor

Becoming a parent changes us in ways we could never imagine. We experience an inexplicably unique kind of love through our children. However, the 24/7 nature of parenthood can also challenge us physically, mentally, and emotionally, leaving us with little time to remember who we are beyond being a parent.

This is exactly what happened to the host of the Parents Who Write podcast, Erin P.T. Canning. After she set aside her creativity, she found herself slowly struggling more and more with feeling anxious, angry, overwhelmed, and unworthy, especially in her parenting.

No one should feel alone in their struggles. That’s why Erin created the Parents Who Write community, so she could share her own story and support others in owning and changing theirs too.

For writers like Erin, whose self-expression through writing is at the core of who they are, losing the time and confidence to write is equivalent to losing a part of themselves. In starting this podcast, Erin hopes to inspire others to start dreaming again and putting pen to paper.

Tune in to hear Erin’s emotional journey, from a 6-year period of anxiety and depression to rediscovering herself and her passion for writing!

Connect with Erin: 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinptcanning  
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/erinptcanning 

Send us Fan Mail

READY TO TAKE YOUR WRITING FURTHER? 

Join our Patreon community and access our vibrant Discord writing group to get writing prompts, participate in sprints, download free resources, and more: 
https://www.patreon.com/erinptcanningeditor