November is "no school" month and it's delightful to have the little ones around and also, a bit undoing as I am a working/single mom too.

I have a couple questions:When do we work again? How do I achieve balance between mothering and working?

Okay, that was my three seconds of complaint. Look at these beautiful faces! How blessed I am to have children who are healthy and who have good schools. My gratitude to teachers and to any free time I can get to get some work done!

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Classes are filling up and if you are interested in a Craft Class--don't miss the Winter Craft Series--which you take right from your home and also have the benefit of getting feedback from me over the weekend. How this class works is that you tune in for two hours of teaching, then go write and send your work to me which I will read that night and discuss as part of the lesson the following morning.

Your commitment is to show up, two hours, each morning--on Sat & Sun and to go write. It's a self styled, in house, life/writing retreat with teachings, prompts, writing and feedback.

What a fabulous idea!

I can only accept ten students per class so please, sign up and don't miss this opportunity.

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The January Master Class is filling up too. We have a virtual option for up to ten writers and we have 15 spots in Portland. Don't miss this fantastic 3.5 hour class where you learn how to be a better writer through instruction and through example. We workshop one body of writing per class and give you specific instruction as well as time to write.

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I'm in Reno Nov. 18 & 19th. I appear for Adoption Awareness Month, at the Carson City Public Library where I will read from Found and discuss the impact of adoption.

On Nov. 19th, I will be teaching a Scene Writing Class in Reno. Please write to me directly for info on these appearances. [email protected]

I'd love to see you there.

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Last, what in the world is Adoption Awareness Month? Well, it's just like it sounds. All month is dedicated to increasing awareness around issues about adoption. As a two time adoptee, I have created a public service campaign that includes a series of informative conversations with adoptees and healers. Please CLICK HERE to learn more. I've also done an indepth interview with a wonderful young man, Kevin Ost-Vollmers (pictured here with his adorable son) who created a site titled Land of a Gazillion Adoptees. It was a deep conversation about changing the way adoption is managed in this world--and my conclusion was--well--GO LISTEN!