My husband's art goes on sale, for the first time

I have written here (and in Good Housekeeping) of my relationship to clay—tentative at best, inexpert, always.

I have written of my affection for the Wayne Art Center, and of the friends that I've made there.

But this afternoon I'm announcing something very special. Following nearly 30 years of marriage to an artist—architect, illustrator, photographer, 3-D image maker—my husband's work is, for the first time, going to be shared in an exhibition/sale.

Pottery has proven to be the perfect medium for Bill's many talents. He's asked me not to gush, and so I won't. I hope the pieces pictured above tell you at least some of the story, and if you're interested in seeing more—not just of Bill's work but of the incredible work of nearly three dozen clay artists— please join us at the Wayne Art Center, June 5 through June 8, more details here.

I'll be manning the table on Bill's behalf Thursday morning.

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Shebooks: calling all women writer friends to a remarkable contest/opportunity

I had the privilege, not long ago, of working on an 8,000-word memoir for Shebooks, an emerging e-book publisher. It was an intense, completing experience—my first return to long-form memoir in years, my chance to work again with an editor I love, my opportunity to try to understand the things I lost and the things I found in the wake of the passing of my mother.

Shebooks is the brainchild of Peggy Northrop and Laura Fraser. It is also the realm of Dawn Raffel and Rachel Greenfield and so many other established writers, teachers, and editors. Shebooks won a New Media Women's Entrepreneurial Fund. It has a lot of people talking.

Shebooks, as it describes itself: "Shebooks is the new e-book publisher of great short stories by women, for women. We publish long-form journalism, short memoir, and short fiction by some of the best writers in the United States and beyond, both well known and yet to be discovered."

Yesterday, Shebooks announced an incredible opportunity for writers—a contest in collaboration with Good Housekeeping. Shebooks is looking for women to write on the topic "Every Mother Has a Story." Particularly:

We're looking for submissions of 3,500-7,500 words. The contest is open to anyone 21+ who is a legal resident of the U.S., D.C., or Canada. There is a $15 submission fee and all entries must be received no later than midnight on December 15. The winner will receive $2,000 and possible publication in Shebooks and Good Housekeeping. What's more, all entrants will get a free two-month subscription to Shebooks. You can read more at www.goodhousekeeping.com/memoir-contest <http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/memoir-contest> .

 I can't think of a better organization to trust your best work to.

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Two Beth Kephart Pots (because some of you asked)

A few days ago I shared the pottery story I'd written for Good Housekeeping, and I loved hearing from so many of you who are potters too, or muck lovers.

I promised that I'd share a few of my novice pieces, and here two of them are—straight from the kiln. The little blue pot is my first true thrown pot—look at how tiny it is; I added coils to the top and a few decorative buttons. The second piece is another punctuation piece. It's me, working on the cusp.

Many thanks to my friends at the Wayne Art Center, who keep me moving forward, inch by inch.

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mucking around (in Good Housekeeping)

I have Laura Mathews, Amy Rennert, and Fran Lefkowitz to thank for the privilege of this page in the July issue of Good Housekeeping (an issue that has so many good stories in it that I will likely read it front to back).

I have my husband to thank for inviting me to spend a few hours each week doing something new, and for enduring my lack of self confidence. And I have the extraordinary ladies of the pottery studio (as well as my husband) for helping me find ways to see half-conceived or overly ambitious projects through. There is no competition at the Wayne Art Center on Thursday mornings. There are only artists mucking around with clay—centering the pots, pulling the handles, applying the glaze, sharing trade secrets, and loving our saint-ess, Bernadette. It is a particularly peaceful place, and I am grateful for the companionship and for the overt love and generosity that keeps me trying.

Karen Bernstein, thank you for finding the story first, and for letting me know.

And thank you, Good Housekeeping, for being the first magazine to mention Handling the Truth. I guess this means that August 6th, the publication date, is soon.

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