Monday Matter: Fish tales, Mounjaro and #AWP23
Your biweekly Foreign Bodies roundup
Every other Monday, I send subscribers and gift recipients of immigrant mental health and storytelling newsletter Foreign Bodies stories I recently inhaled and adored. This is also a chance to do some housekeeping and give shout-outs and all that jazz.
First things first
A little housekeeping
Good evening from your jet-lagged friend! 🌥️
Just wrapped up three wonderful days at the Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference in Seattle and I’m so happy to be home with my animals to write the days away. After two weeks of illness and a C*vid head cold that wouldn’t quit, I worried how much I could physically handle in a conference environment. Well, it was exactly what I needed. I’ve been to my share of journalism conferences and it’s usually loud, chaotic and alcohol tends to be a significant part of the experience (which I don’t mind, but y’know, can feel a bit exclusive for the sober among us). Journalists are a robust, commanding, insistent bunch—and, I mean, the nature of the work typically demands it. But a conference of poets and literary writers? It’s like an introvert’s dream convention. There’s no real pressure to network all day long, to talk incessantly. I felt so at home despite some glaring issues: Where the hell was the Southern lit representation?! Didn’t hurt that I got to meet my favorite living writer, Kiese Laymon, though. Feeling very grateful for the University of Georgia’s MFA program for giving me the chance to attend.
Coming this week: A new giveaway!
I know, I know. It’s been ages since I held a giveaway. But I have some exciting ones lined up, so look out for another email this week. Paying subscriber entries (including gifted subscriptions) will count twice.
A musical start to your Mondays 🎧
One song to groove to, cry to, drive to and share
I was honored to hear Jen Soriano, whose book Nervous: Essays on Heritage and Healing is now available to preorder, sing this for us at the Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference during a session on collective memoir. From Jen: The song “Tumorod” by a Salidummay folk group of the northern Philippines, is specifically about the indigenous people of the Cordillera's fight for self-determination and control over their land, water, and natural resources.
Resource(s) of the week
Something helpful and interesting and cool (*storytelling opportunity)
Strategies for Naming and Addressing Structural Racism in Immigrant Mental Health: A helpful summarization of immigrant mental health needs from the American Public Health Association with proposed strategies for addressing relevant structural inequities.
*The Sun Magazine is looking for essays that you’re afraid of your family reading. Please send pitches about completed essays and they will respond if interested. Do not copy and paste your essay into the direct message.
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