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bread loaf writers conference

by biographicalDurhamkidsPioneeers PressQuitter

Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference

Posted on June 10, 2015 by

The same day as my second child Hazel’s birth (May 24th!), I received word in the mail that I was selected as a contributor in non-fiction to the 2015 Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference at Middlebury College in Vermont. This is a big deal for me as an “emerging” writer and also a challenge: it is expensive to attend this conference.

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Before Hazel came, my partner Kristin and I decided that I would take a full 8 weeks of unpaid parental leave from my job. We planned for it, but we knew it would be close financially. Now the opportunity to attend Bread Loaf has come along. I may not get this chance again since it is hard to get accepted into the conference. I consider myself very lucky but also know that I put in the work to make it this far.

The total amount to attend the 10-day conference (costs for travel, room, board, and tuition) is $3,500. It is steep, yes, but not unthinkable and I am halfway there with a couple of weeks to go. The conference runs from August 12 to August 22. We have time to do this!

What I would get at Bread Loaf is access to editors and literary agents – one-on-one – plus workshops, readings, and networking with established writers. If I’m going to advance as a writer myself, I need to take this opportunity. When I look at the bios of many of the writers I admire, Bread Loaf is almost always listed prominently.

Here is my plea: help me attend this conference! This is not rewards based crowd funding, but everyone that contributes will get something in the mail from me.

I have set the funding deadline for July 1st when payment and a manuscript is due. Anything helps, even just a dollar and a shout out on social media. Here is the link again: http://www.gofundme.com/tracetobreadloaf

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the weight of the future

by biographicalkids

the weight of the future

Posted on October 2, 2012 by

Tennessee will be six months old next week. That fact is just unbelievably hard to believe, and I say that not in astonishment about time moving quickly or anything like that but rather in astonishment that we are all still alive six months later.

There have been times when I wanted to chuck Ten off the nearest cliff, leave her on the front stoop for the birds to eat or send her off to live with strangers in a strange place. But those thoughts are just momentary, caused by the unraveling of the knots of sanity in the dark hours of night or the squinting light of some dawn we weren’t looking forward to seeing.

Being a parent to an infant is by far the most challenging thing you will ever see me write about. Breaking up with circle acres? Lame and tame in comparison.

There are no short days anymore, no time to relax or even read a book. If I’m not working I’m with Ten or helping with Ten or doing the things that support Ten and support Kristin. If there is a spare minute I’m taking a few pictures or getting around to fermenting some green beans or fetching a ham out of the freezer or rubbing Kristin’s shoulders.

I can see the relationship between myself and Ten starting to take shape, imaging what we will be doing together when she is nine months old, a year old, five years old. I can see her personality foaming and melting and scattering from little fragments of her parents’ own strong wills, desires and work ethic.

Ten has no choice but to become whatever she wants to be, outside of all the cultural baggage and white privilege that she also had no choice about. We can explain to Ten the uselessness of Santa, gender norms and authority while instilling the usefulness of respect, community and DIY. But it will be a constant battle with other parents and society to explain to them that Tennessee is not theirs to mold and shape into a consumer of mediocrity like the rest of us.

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One Response to the weight of the future

    1. Marlow says:


      October 2, 2012 at 7:31 pm

      LOVE. Seriously. LOVE. Your authorial voice is so strong and I never tire of hearing it. You have a way with words with my friend!

where have you been

by biographicalexploringkids

Where have you been?

Posted on August 11, 2012 by

Oh, the opportunities to write or load/develop photographs or garden or any of the things you come here to read about are few and far between. But as Tennessee gets older there are times when I can sit and think about this blog and how I have certainly neglected it.

Tennessee adds a new twist to everything on Cricket Bread, as the potential for new experiences in old places is elevated. Last Sunday we went back to rural Chatham County for the first time since we left last August. We went to visit our friend Bobby at Okfuskee Farm and Lynn at Full Circle. We “peaked” the trip at Saxapahaw General Store for brunch with Nicole from Transplanting Traditions Community Farm. Our friends Maryah and Collier from Homegrown City Farms came along for the ride.

Tenners is not quite into looking at and appreciating other life forms, but we figured it had been a little while since the grown ups had scratched a pig belly.

Lynn’s perennial garden was in full bloom!

This entry was posted in biographical, exploring, tennessee. Bookmark the permalink.

3 Responses to Where have you been?

  1. Jeff Barney says:


    August 11, 2012 at 2:41 pm

    So nice to read and view through your eyes again. Honored to be along your excursion.

  2. tanis says:


    August 12, 2012 at 2:45 pm

    Trace,
    You’ve always been my hero. Always will be. It’s interesting to see you holding your baby.
    Tanis

  3. Camille says:


    August 13, 2012 at 3:27 am

    Nicely done. You belly scratchers and bubble blowers. Give my love to Kristin!

baby ginger

by food sourceskids

Baby Ginger

Posted on November 27, 2011 by

Last Winter I went to a ginger growing workshop presented by Debbie Roos from the Chatham County Extension. At the end of the workshop, everyone was handed a paper bag full of ginger seed pieces. After a few months of pre-sprouting, we planted the seed pieces in a variety of buckets, feed bags and cardboard boxes.

Fast forward through a few months (and a move to the city), and we were ready to harvest our “baby” ginger.

The ginger we harvested was not mature enough to have the usual golden thick outer skin. The skin was white and pink, the flesh not too stringy.

As per usual, Kristin did the hard work while I took the pictures. After harvesting, she washed every piece.

Many of the original seed pieces remained intact. We are going to try to overwinter the pieces indoors and see if they will re-sprout in the Spring.

Kristin has been making Chai with the ginger. Some of it will go into the freezer. I hope to start fermenting some for a soda bug.

In other baby news, Kristin and I are expecting our first little cricket this coming April. We are doing a home birth; I expect that parts of the process will end up on this blog so keep an eye out.

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3 Responses to Baby Ginger

  1. Ali says:


    November 27, 2011 at 5:52 pm

    CONGRATULATIONS to you both! On the ginger & the other baby news. Hoping everything goes smoothly & this Spring brings you more joy that you can harvest.

  2. Ruffin says:


    November 28, 2011 at 8:58 pm

    Congrats. Kids == highly recommended.

  3. P Flooers says:


    December 2, 2011 at 4:00 pm

    Wow! I don’t check in with Cricket Bread for a few months and look what happens: sprouts all over the place! I’m Katherine from “Our Report Card” but moved my blog over to Peerie Flooers. I’m fascinated by what you’re doing with ginger. I’m trained as a home birth midwife, I’m an urban farmer, and I’m an unschooling mother living right down the road from you. So, ya know, I feel a kinship even though y’all don’t know me. Just wanted to break out of lurking status to say BEST WISHES for your family!

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