Book tours can be absolutely amazing.

But they can also be very, very scary.

You never know who will show. If anyone will show.

Please forgive the mixed up metaphor when I tell you that reading through Carrie’s words was as refreshing, like an aloe balm to my summer-burned brain, as my dish of dippin’ dots tasted at the end of that sweltering day at the zoo. Carrie is a freelance stage director and professor of theatre, so most of her work is ephemeral- but I am adding seeing one of her productions to my bucket list, and I can’t wait to track her down. Carrie is a force of creativity, flexibility, and determination.

This month I had the opportunity to get to know Amanda Shields, Adventure and Travel photographer, and what drives Amanda’s creative work. Amanda’s stories of travel shine through both her writing and her photographs. Just take a look at her answer when I asked about her favorite places and you will get a taste for the long list of stunning experiences she has achieved.

Anna is a dancer, and she is one of those people that embodies every beautiful image that the word invokes- impassioned, twirling, loving, vivid, young of heart, wise of soul. I can’t wait to dance with her again the next time our paths intersect.

Becky Hepinstall Hilliker is an historian, Navy wife, mother of four, and author. Sisters of Shiloh, which she co-wrote with her sister Kathy, is the story of two sisters who disguise themselves as men in order to join the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

When I was first conceptualizing MilspoFAN, I spent some time randomly Googling the arts and military spouses. I remember coming across Carrie’s work and being blown away by the vivid beauty in her watercolor paintings of everyday objects. I put her name in a file, intending to write a cold email asking her if she was interested in participating in MilspoFAN.

I have a lovely treat of an interview for you today!

Nicole Dufield is an amazingly strong, spirited singer in the Hampton Roads, VA area.

Maria is a military spouse and painter who specializes in portraits. She blogs consistently about her work and her process. She is a warm, joyful woman and I’ve felt privileged to get to know her a bit through her blog, our emails, and this interview. For me, her story reads as an inspiration about how important our work as artists is to honoring and reconciling our intertwined identities of “dependent” and “independent”. Spoiler alert: Maria didn’t start painting until later in her life, but she now seems to be making up for lost time by practicing her art consistently and consciously building an artistic team of support.

I wanted to share an image with you that was created by the daughter of a military family who is in her first year of art school and still manages to make time to connect with MilspoFAN.In this illustration, Carly Dilday responds to MilspoFAN’s recent interview with Victoria Kelly. Carly’s illustration was inspired by Bess Houdini – the central character of Victoria’s latest book Mrs. Houdini– waiting for her husband to contact her from the other side after his death.

Victoria Kelly is an author, a poet, and a military spouse. I had the great pleasure of meeting her when I lived in Virginia. She is warm, open, and her enthusiasm is infectious. Two of her recent publications are When the Men Go Off to War, a collection of poetry inspired by her experiences as a military wife, and Mrs. Houdini, a story blendingmagical realism and historical fiction about Bess, wife of the famous magician Harry Houdini. You can check out her website http://www.victoriakellybooks.com/ for more information about her work.

I had the wonderful opportunity to commission some artwork for the site from Carly Dilday, the daughter of a military family this summer. Carly has headed off to art school this fall to pursue her passion for illustration. She was gracious enough to create some lovely illustrations for MilspoFAN before she left.

Welcome back, Dear Readers!Soooo… it’s everyone’s least favorite writing assignment, the dreaded “About Me” post. Woe is me! Yes, please, let me go ahead and sum up my entire being in a few paragraphs-sounds easy and fun and not at all intimidating and reductionistic *teenage eye roll*… I’ve started this post three or four times only to have it deteriorate into rambling (though personally enlightening!) journaling exercises exploring the essence and history of who I am.

Welcome back, Creative Squirrels!Has this ever happened to you? You’re a couple of months away from a PCS move when you meet a lovely human being. Someone who would make an inspiring artistic collaborator and friend. Oh, the things you could do and create, if only you weren’t moving! You daydream wistfully (or pissed-fully?) about the paintings, music, or choreography that will never be.

Welcome back, Beauties! We begin today with bit of self-indulgent context for today’s post: I’m nearing the end of one of those wildly productive but crazy-making two-week periods where everything is happening at once. You totally know what I’m talking about.