Today, I walked around barefoot, outside, in the rain. This might not seem like a big feat to some, but for me it’s huge. The last time I dared to be this kind of free I was seven, maybe eight years old. It was a cloudy day but somehow the sun managed to peek through…
Author: melissabrookscuffee
Coffee & Conversation: [/brāk-iNG/]
Victoria Kennedy of Zora’s Den, sits down for a one-on-one chat with Melissa Brooks-Cuffee, one of the strongest, emerging voices on the Baltimore literary scene, to discuss the memoir collection [/brāk-iNG/]. VK: Melissa, now that the end of your academic studies in Creative Writing is drawing near, what would you say has been the most…
The Broken Light Collection
The Broken Light Collection is an ongoing photographic exploration of the unexpected beauty found in broken things. The image pictured above is a broken street lamp in an office parking lot in Towson, MD.
Erasure Art: The Heiress
I created this erasure piece a few years back by taking a magazine spread and layering it on top of itself and strategically cutting and pasting in inDesign. The process of taking things apart and putting them back together again has always fascinated me and the end result is always something remarkable. “In an adobe…
Virtual Sister Scribes: Get to Know Zora’s Den
Michael Tager Delves into a Writing Den Without Limits: Zora’s Den My group formed organically enough: I asked my buddy, then two others, then we asked people we met through the scene. Like many writers, I belong to a cohort of like-minded folks. We get together once a month—sometimes at our houses, sometimes at bars or…
Word Power – QOTD
“Sometimes falling apart is the bravest act of all.” — Sarah Hackley
Fill Your Life, Feed Your Soul
Often times we find ourselves consumed by desire. We desire to feel better, know better, and be better. Sometimes we look to fulfill these desires, these wants masked as needs, with all of the wrong things. We look to obtain material possessions by shopping for the latest fashions or electronic devices. We seek our five…
[/brāk-iNG/]: Cover Art
Many people have commented on the vivid art used on the book cover for [/brāk-iNG/]. I was blessed to receive permission from the New York-based photographer Bing Wright to use the image Broken Mirror/Evening Sky (Agfacolor) which covers half of the book. The other image Cracked Pavement is a photo taken by me in 2013. The…
The Imperfect Mother
Ahhh…motherhood. Most mothers will tell you that becoming a mother has given them a newer and higher purpose in life. They will attest to the idea that motherhood is the most rewarding part of life. As beautiful as is motherhood, every mother has both good days and bad days. There are those moments in mothering…
5 Ways to Revitalize Your Troubled Relationship
The reality of every day is that romantic relationships go through ups and downs that can leave us feeling defeated and lonely. But there is hope. Relationships can heal and love can be revitalized. Put these tried and true methods to the test to mend your troubled relationship. Make time together a priority. Nothing puts…
Melissa Brooks-Cuffee 