I can’t remember when or how I first met Margaret Smith Marston but I do remember that we reconnected after she attended an in-person journaling workshop I hosted a while back. Since then, she’s been one of the most active members of the See Jane Write Collective, showing up on Zoom for our weekly write-ins and monthly critique sessions not only to get help with her own projects but to be a source of encouragement for other members too.

We’re celebrating Margaret this month because this month she’s making one of her writing dreams come true. Margaret’s first children’s book Eureka, Paprika is set to be released on Tuesday, August 13, and is available for pre-order now.

Hand illustrated by Margaret’s cousin Susanne St. Clair Hebden, Eureka, Paprika is a touching tale that brings kitchen spices to life to teach children the importance of including others. Determined to bring this book baby into the world, Margaret signed up for my 1-on-1 coaching program for additional guidance and I’m so excited her book launch is finally here. Read on to learn more about Margaret and her labor of love.

It was Shirlene Bridgewater’s collage art that first caught my eye on Instagram. She’d combine text with images to create captivating posts that would always stop my scrolling. After Shirlene became a member of the See Jane Write Collective, however, I learned that collage art was just scratching the surface of her talent. Shirlene is a phenomenal poet. And her personal essays are top-notch, too. Shirlene is a former English teacher and editor and she once co-owned a bookstore. She’s worked in PR and she’s been a freelance journalist. Shirlene has done it all! But Shirlene is the See Jane Write member of the month because along with being a great writer she’s just a fantastic human being. She’s always cheering on other women in the See Jane Write community, pushing them to write and share their writing with the world. She even recently encouraged a fellow member to go after her goal of pursuing a master’s degree.

Get to know the September 2021 member of the month, Shirlene Bridgewater.

One thing I love about the women of See Jane Write is that they so often take their work beyond the page and find other creative ways to reach the people they feel called to help. Khalia Wilkinson is a great example. A poetess and inspirational writer with a focus on women’s wellness, Khalia blogs at Woman 31 Living and she’s the author of two books — Love Stories: An unapologetic look at love, life and sex in poetic prose, available on Amazon, A Woman’s COVID-19 Survival Guide, which she’s offering to readers for free.

But she didn’t stop there. Khalia has teamed up with the Birmingham Public Library to present Conversations with Khalia, a monthly virtual conversation series for women looking to talk through issues about style, personal wellness, parenting, love, relationships and more.

Because of her dedication to helping women live their best lives, Khalia is the See Jane Write Member of the Month for May 2021. We talked with Khalia about her new conversation series and the secret to self-care.

Kristina Hamlett‘s writing journey shows that good things happen when you just DO THE WORK.

In 2018 she self-published her e-book What I Love About You: A Guided Journal to Writing Your Proposal and Vows. She’s been blogging for years, she’s written for several websites, and she was selected to participate in The Storyteller Project: Digital Storytelling for Women of Color.

Now her first collection of poetry and prose has been published by L10 Press.

“At this point, it feels like every opportunity was a stepping stone or in preparation for this moment,” Kristina says. 

She Lives Here is available now and what better way to celebrate Kristina’s book release day than to honor her as the See Jane Write Member of the Month for March 2021.

Read on to learn more about Kristina and her new book.