I met this writer nine years ago. We met like most people meet these days online. We found each other through writing. We had so much in common, both single mothers, both with a fire and drive to write stories that would be heard and both women who WILL and HAVE sacrificed everything for this writers life–unapologetically!
“Kindred spirits” she coined us.
After a few email exchanges we met at one of my NYC Latina Writers Group circles and we were inseparable. We fed each other creatively, pushed each other ferociously and became each others champions in life. Fast-forward to today, Vanessa has been RELENTLESS in navigating her writer’s life and making her dreams come true. She is the definition of a writer who leaves it all on the page. On a personal note I am godmother to her beautiful daughter!
We are honored to have Vanessa Martir facilitating writing workshops at this year’s Sankofa Sisterhood Writer’s Retreat! You will be pushed! You will be inspired! You will be nourished! You will be grateful you attended!
ABOUT VANESSA MARTIR
Vanessa Mártir is a NYC based writer, educator and mama. She is currently completing her memoir, Relentless, and chronicles the journey in her blog: vanessamartir.wordpress.com. A five-time VONA/Voices alum, Vanessa has been mentored by some of the best writers of our day, including Chris Abani, Staceyann Chinn and Mat Johnson. Most recently, Vanessa worked attended the Tinhouse Winter Nonfiction Workshop where she worked under the tutelage of Lacie Johnson, author of The Other Side.
Vanessa’s essays have appeared in The Butter, Poets & Writers Magazine, Kweli Journal, As/Us Journal, Portland Review, and the VONA/Voices Anthology, Dismantle, among others. Vanessa recently had a flash fiction piece published in Issue 51 of Smokelong Quarterly and her novel, Woman’s Cry, was published in 2007 by Augustus Publishing.
Vanessa served as the guest editor of the Fall 2015 issue of Aster(ix) Journal and the February/March 2016 Nonfiction editor of James Franco Review.
In 2011, Vanessa created the Writing Our Lives Workshop through which she’s led hundreds of writers through the journey of writing personal and memoir essays. She teaches the class periodically in NYC. For more information about her class or to book her to teach a workshop, present on a panel, or speak about autobiographical writing as a revolutionary act, send an email to vanessa_martir@yahoo.com.
There are only TWO spots available if you are interested in registering: SSWR2016
Peace and love,
Sankofa Sisterhood Organizers!
Copyright © 2016 by Alicia Anabel Santos
The Writer and The Story 