Skip to content
  • Home
  • About
    • Dorothy’s Cards
  • Poetry
  • Calendar
  • Press
    • Press Kit
      • Images for Media
  • Buy
  • Contact

Ann Bracken

POET. AUTHOR. CREATOR OF POSSIBILITIES.

Month: December 2014

Poetry Reading: Third Thursday Series in Takoma Park

December 22, 2014amusingpoetLeave a comment

I was a featured poet at the Takoma Park Third Thursday Series in November of 2014. The Poet Laureate of Takoma Park, Merrill Leffler, is the host and the other readers are Rob Soley, Marybeth Hatem, and Marting Fitzpatrick. My reading begins at minute 25:51 and concludes with 38:18. Enjoy!

http://takomaparkmd.gov/citytv/watch

Archive of postings

Purchase my books

Click here to purchase print books from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop or purchase eBook for Apple, Nook and Scribd.

Nominated for Pushcart Prize – 2014 and 2016

Meet Ann Bracken

Where to hear Ann read

Ann Bracken

A Musing Poet Posts

Testimonials

“I just listened to your interview and it was so moving and rich. Your poetry reading is only surpassed by your poetry. Though I think poetry is meant to be read aloud so the reading and the work are really one. Just beautiful. Thank you.” Eileen C.  
A moving and rich interview
Ann Bracken’s book, The Altar of Innocence, explores the cycle of her mother’s mental illness and alcoholism and its legacy in her own life. With searing honesty and gripping details, the book creates an unforgettable portrait not just of two women but also of the ailing cultures that surround them. At the end there is an image of a ceramic heart that has been glued back together—”even broken, it was beautiful”—that makes a powerful figure both for the soul of the poet, forged through trauma, … Read more
"the book creates an unforgettable portrait not just of two women but also of the ailing cultures that surround them. "
“I read through the whole book the day I got it, went back to reread and underline all the things I loved so I could tell you about them…then life took over.   The short of it is that I absolutely love it…” Under the twigs of youthful dreams” ” wanting the sweet relief of wine in her veins” ” blunting the tide and inviting me in” ” and always the martinis” ” between truth and loyalty” “my good night hugs are not returned by either parent” ” her blood rivering down the drain” ” the invisible boul… Read more
"I read through the book the day I got it."
“Your writing is truly moving and beautiful – a gift to all of us.” Liz C.
"A gift..."

“Ann Bracken’s evocative memoir powerfully tells of how psychiatry’s diagnoses and treatments can lead to loss, illness, and despair, and how escaping from that paradigm of care can be a starting point for a full and robust recovery.”

~Robert Whitaker, Author of Anatomy of an Epidemic

A starting point for a full and robust recovery
“A fascinating memoir of two generations of medical and psychiatric mismanagement and suffering, and how one brave woman figured out what was happening and successfully took control of her health and well being…”

~Stuart Shipko, MD, Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, author of Surviving Panic Disorder and Xanax Withdrawal.

Fascinating memoir
Ann Bracken is a gifted and dedicated educator, expressive arts coach, and poet. She infuses her work with a refined aesthetic sensibility that engages her clients and creates an environment where positive change and new learning can happen in unique ways. Michel Groter
"...positive change and new learning can happen in unique ways."

“Crash is a memoir of discovery and resilience. It’s a story of the intergenerational trauma of two generations of children nearly losing their mothers to depression and over-medication. And it’s a wake-up call to re-evaluate how we treat depression and pain.”  ~Desiree Magney

“What a beautiful, poignant collection of poems it is. Painful to read the journey of the little girl who had to take on so much responsibility. In this day of openness about addiction & mental illness, your poems provide a view into a personal story within a societal pact of secrecy and shame. Though as a society we still  have work to do to de-stigmatize these conditions &  bring compassion to the fore, we’re moving in the right direction!  I applaud your courage and unflinching stance, as we… Read more
"...your poems provide a view into a personal story within a societal pact of secrecy and shame. "
“This is a terrific collection. “Sometimes a Poet”, “Voices In My Ear”, “Wingless Bird”; are all wonderful poems. It’s hard to choose favorites. All these kids, Angie, Horace, Magic, Ben are vivid in your writing. I hope teachers and school administrators can read these poems and learn something.”
  Peter Dan Levin
A terrific collection

Archives

  • June 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • August 2020
  • June 2020
  • April 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • September 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • December 2014
  • July 2014
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • January 2013
  • January 2012
  • August 2011
  • July 2011

Tags

100 Thousand Poets for Change 100Thousand Poets for Change Adultery Ann Bracken April Halprin Wayland art Barbara Morrison Common Core creativity David Whyte depression education family Grace Cavalieri healing hope Howard Community College improv letting go Little Patuxent Review Love Mad in America mandalas Mary Oliver medication memoir Morna McDermott Naomi Shihab Nye National Poetry Month New Day Campaign Overmedication peace personalized learning poem Poetry Polypharmacy recovery revision Robert Whitaker Salerno Stoop Stories teaching The Altar of Innocence Towson University Work

Recent Posts

  • Getting Out of the Maze
  • Ned Tillman: Writing Good Endeavour 
  • Have you ever done everything a doctor told you, only to find yourself sicker than before you began treatment?
  • You don’t need to be a doctor to understand research!
  • So, what’s your new book about?

Categories

  • Announcement
  • Archive of postings
  • Essay
  • Interview
  • Poetry
  • Uncategorized
Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: Plane by WordPress.com.