Adolescent Gloom

We sat over in the allotments that circled the playing fields; you got to them by climbing through a hole in the mental fence. Frequent visitors, break times, lunch breaks, any time the idea of another geography lesson sent one into a tailspin of adolescent gloom. Today, we had bought Read more

Henrietta Ross

Henrietta Ross is a writer living in rural Scotland. She isn’t good at much but she can spin a good yarn, so she does this on a regular basis. When not writing, she likes to dump her writing in impromptu places for fun, leave local charity shops with a wheelbarrow to transport her books, occasionally try active mediation in a field as she wanders after confused sheep or dances absurdly to cheesy eighties music, because like Rockwell, she thinks somebody IS watching. Henrietta is working on three books, one novel and two non-fiction works. She hopes to finish one of them in this lifetime.

Hanging with Deepak ~ in Pursuit of JOY and your very Best Self

I believe true beauty starts from within, works its way out and is an ever-evolving process. I have worked very hard on my body and mind, trying to refrain from the blahs, and negative thinking patterns. When I was presented, ‘gifted actually,’ the awesome mind-blowing, opportunity of a lifetime to Read more

Jacqueline Cioffa

A retired, international model, and celebrity makeup artist. Co-Author of Model Citi Zen, the guide. Founder of http://modelcitizenmakeup.blogspot.com/. Author of numerous prose pieces in various literary magazines. Most recently published in Little Episodes Brainstorms the anthology, among esteemed artists Sadie Frost, Melvin Burgess and Todd Swift.

Now is the Winter of Our Discontent

After more than thirty years, I have come to loathe New England winters, specifically the ones in the Hudson Valley where I reside with my family in an 1890’s barn. Not withstanding the freakishly mild one we are having this year, I generally start whining to anyone who’s within spitting Read more

JR Roessl

After more than thirty years as a model and actor, JR moved to the Hudson Valley in 2006. She lives in an 1880 renovated barn with her husband and young daughter and three crazy bengal cats. She received her B.A. in creative writing from NYU and has written a memoir about her teenage years spent sailing on the high seas. She is thrilled to be writing for the Feminine Collective.

I Saw a Schizophrenic Struggling, and I Did Nothing to Help Him

I have a local hang out spot that I frequent more than a few times a week, which is located across the street from a county hospital which includes a mental health ward. Between that and the homeless people who to occupy the small South Bay town, there are some Read more

Allie Burke

Allie Burke is a bestselling author, magazine editor, and mental health advocate. She lives in Los Angeles.

Lalochezia: Emotional Relief Gained by Swearing

The phone won’t stop ringing. First, it was a call from the dentist. Then my daughter’s doctor confirming her appointment on Monday. Then work. Then work again. I’m on deadline and trying to get the software to stop crashing every time I try to save one of my edits. The Read more

Shanna DeMott

Shanna Sabet-DeMott is a freelance writer living in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her husband George DeMott, sings Italian arias in the shower, and Pop-Opera around the world. She has an 11-year old daughter who has survived 3 brain surgeries, and who has shown her Mama the meaning of bravery at every turn. She is a lover of telling stories about food and life on her blogs, eatingoutvegas.com and stumblingbeauty.com.

Get Help, Move On

“Get help, move on,” the words on Twitter from the editor of a fairly well known running publication. A friend pointed it out to me several weeks after it was written. I get words of hate and ignorance sent to me fairly often, so ordinarily, no big deal. I’ve developed Read more

Suzy Favor Hamilton

Author, of "Fast Girl – A Life Spent Running From Madness" a New York Times Best Seller. The book follows Suzy’s path from child phenomenon runner to Olympian, and then her struggles with life after running and an eventual year in Las Vegas as a high-end escort. After Suzy was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, her entire life makes sense and recovery to a life of contentment begins. Suzy is also a Public Speaker. Her topics vary, ranging from her experience with bipolar disorder, the avoiding the pitfalls of running, eating disorders & body image issues, and the motivational angle of rising from rock bottom. Her athletic career is remarkable: U.S. Olympian - 3 U.S. National Championships - 7 Former U.S. Record Holder at 1000m Former U.S. Indoor Record Holder at 800m Goodwill Games Bronze Medalist, ‘98 Fifth at 2002 World Cross-Country Championships - Best ever finish by U.S. Woman at World XC Championships (short course) 5 sub-4’s, including 5 of the 9 fastest times ever run by an American Only American Woman to ever have the fastest seasonal 1500m time in the world USA Track & Field Distance Runner of the Year, ‘00 Suzy has been featured in national ads for Nike, Reebok, Pert Plus Shampoo, Nordic Track, Clairol, Oakley, Kikkoman Foods, and Viactiv. She has been featured in magazines such as People, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Rolling Stone, Runner’s World, Harper’s Bazaar, Men’s Journal, Sports Illustrated & Outside Magazine and was featured on ABC’s 20/20 in September 2015. Her interests include running, of course, yoga, barre, cycling artwork, riding roller coasters and traveling. Suzy is married to Mark Hamilton and the couple has a 10-year-old daughter, Kylie.

Gendered Self-Destruction

Your waste is
wine coolers, merlot,
minty, thin cigarettes—
set sexily in a delicate holder.

H.M. Jones

H.M. Jones is a mother, writer, teacher and poet. She is the author of Monochrome, the B.R.A.G Medallion dark fantasy about postpartum depression and the beauty of memories. Monochrome will be released,by Feminine Collective Publishing, marking the books third incarnation. Along with a few self-published poetry books, H.M.'s poetry will be featured in three different anthologies in 2015 and 2016. When she's not mothering, teaching, or writing, she is weaving, kickboxing, pulling in the canoe or reading.

I Call My Daughters Pretty ALL the Time

I have two little girls, and I tell them they’re pretty all the time. I’m their daddy, and I think they really want me to see them as pretty. So I acknowledge that I do in fact think they’re pretty. I think they should grow to want to receive regular Read more

Byron Hamel

Byron Hamel was raised by a violent man who got the death penalty for torturing and killing a baby. As a result of his upbringing, Byron dedicates his life to fighting child abuse. He lives with Complex PTSD, Depression, and Anorexia. Despite his obstacles, he’s an amazing dad to his two lovely daughters. An award-winning Canadian journalist, and television producer, his documentary film, “A Breaking Cycle”, is a powerful journey into the world of tough bikers who protect abused kids. Byron is currently writing for his blog Trauma Dad, and his book "I Am A Killer", to be released in 2016 by the Gravity Imprint of Booktrope Publishing. This post is an excerpt from his work in progress. His writing challenges readers with both depth and simplicity. It’s raw and funny, but leaves you feeling hopeful and inspired.