I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Anna Nguyen for her podcast Critical Literary Consumption. We talked about my book, “Sonic Memories & Other Essays,” MFA programs, & how silence is its own sound. Check it out below. ‘Sonic Memories’ & Silences
New essay up on Baltimore Style magazine.
No Longer Watching the Clock: One writer lets motherhood find her
Sonic Memories Book Review
I was recently blessed with a fab review of my debut book Sonic Memories from Yellow Arrow Publishing. Here's a little taste: "It’s happy hour on a Saturday. Cija Jefferson and I order fried chicken sandwiches and pile into a booth at a neighborhood bar in Baltimore. My one year old is diving under the table and …
Book Review: Be Cool by Ben Tanzer
Welcome to Ben Tanzer’s compound, a magical place where there is, “…art, surfing, tacos and drinking, low slung stucco bungalows or ranch houses in Southern California…” Come through and stay if you like. I think you will. Know that Tanzer’s open about what’s important: family and a daily need to run and write. He’s also …
I’m Black!
Styles P proclaimed it in his 2006 song "I'm Black" and James Brown shouted it out in his 1968 song "I'm Black and I'm Proud." Both clarify how I feel these days. It's embarrassing to admit it, but I wasn't always proud to be black, much to my parents' chagrin. I was probably blackest in my middle …
Remembering 9/11: Interviewing a daughter a year after she lost her father in the Pentagon attacks
Besides the Challenger—the space shuttle that blew up in 1986 as my 6th grade class watched in horror—September 11th as been the next most devastating—I remember where I was and what I was doing—days I've witnessed in my lifetime. There are plenty of horrors in this world, many we can see unfurling in news clip after news clip, …
“Inside Outside Come Around…Who’s That?”
Pic taken @ The Sound Garden Baltimore …BRRRROOOOWWWWNNN!!!!! -Scenario by A Tribe Called Quest (ATCQ) et al Ahhhh yes, the one liners-the quips-those unforgettable verses that stay with you longer then yesterday's social studies homework or that online training presentation you just finished. Music is the foundation of my memories and Scenario is a 10th grade …
Baltimore: Sparkly Remembrances of My First Solo Apartment
This is my tenth year living in Baltimore and my feelings remain complicated. Born and bred in Harford County I grew up in rural-suburbia. I went to college right outside New York City which is more urban-suburbia, then I migrated to Los Angeles which is posh-suburbia with urban options (i.e. fantastic music scene and every …
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Check out my memoir professor’s Q&A with her 12 year old daughter, “What Mid-Life Crisis?”
Memoirist and self-proclaimed party girl Marion Winik has a Q & A with her daughter. Check out my memoir professor's Q&A with her 12 year old daughter, "What Mid-Life Crisis?"
A Hollywood Ending by Maccabee Montandon
While checking out Gawker today I stumbled across a story of loss but not written from a sappy pov, in fact the author’s writing is quite cinematic and real, sans embellishments. I was drawn in by the title A Hollywood Ending and the picture of the obituary with its Baltimore connection. Naturally I read on. I’m instantly …
Cija's Quips 