I don’t have a long letter this month. I have a few links to other things I’ve written and done, and one thing I will be doing. If you like reading these emails, you’ll probably enjoy these things.

Some things of the past:

• I wrote the story of seven doors for the Uncommon dispatch. These ideas were kicking around in my head for a long time. When Brian kindly invited me to write something for this internet community, they found the form they needed.

• I reviewed "Something Bright, Then Holes" by Maggie Nelson for the Volta. I have a lot of feelings about Maggie Nelson’s poetry. (Surprise: the feelings are positive.)

• Because I noticed how much the phrase “I have a lot of feelings about…” comes out of my mouth or off my keyboard, I wrote about my favorite band (Sleater-Kinney, don’t you know) and my permateen feelings-having lifestyle.

• I read an erasure poem, a Chicago poem, and a bunch of permateen-feelings poems at the Private Reading Series last month. It was a pretty lovely experience. There’s a recording here if you want to hear my voice for about 15 minutes.

And a thing of the future:

• I will be reading at a bar here in Chicago called Quenchers on Tuesday, January 6th. The reading starts at 7 pm; it's part of the Wit Rabbit reading series. I always enjoy going to this reading series, so I’m particularly stoked to participate in it. Quenchers has free popcorn. If you have been looking for an opportunity to eat free popcorn and enthuse about Elena Ferrante with me, here’s one.

Thank you again for reading these emails. The replies are always a major highlight of my inbox routine.

Here’s to a new year full of good things to read and great conversations.

Yours,
Erin