Outside the Lines: Let Our Voices Be Heard

TGI Creative Writers

Outside the Lines: Let Our Voices Be Heard is a stunning amalgamation of stories, essays, and poetry by four women who came together to share their love of writing. This collection reflects their ability to find strength, hope, courage and humor through all stages of life.

In this heartfelt and honest book, these women pour their lives onto the pages because their words were not meant to be kept–they were meant to be shared. Do you always think, feel, and behave in a way that society would approve of? If truth be told, few could answer yes to that question. Yet from an early age, society pressures us to “fit in” and conform. When we don’t, people are often critical and choose not to listen to what we have to say. In Outside the Lines: Let Our Voices Be Heard, we choose to take the risk that all authors do; to speak out and share ourselves through our stories, essays, and poems. Whether they fall inside or outside the lines of society’s expectations, we are grateful that you do us the honor of hearing and listening to our voices. In October 2018, the authors met each other for the first time as they began the Writing and Oral Traditions Program at The Graduate Institute in Bethany, Connecticut. They started off as a cohort of students, intent to learn more about storytelling and writing, but evolved into a group of trusted friends who supported one another on a journey of self-exploration and growth. During this journey, a baby boy was born, a new marriage began, a dear elderly loved one became ill and passed away, and all four authors experienced the many joys and challenges that come with careers as public educators.

Four emerging writers present a stunning collection of thirty-four written pieces in a variety of genres. In October 2018, the authors met for the first time as they began the Writing and Oral Traditions Program at The Graduate Institute in Bethany, Connecticut. They started off as a cohort of students, intent to learn more about storytelling and writing, but evolved into a group of trusted friends who supported one another on a journey of self-exploration and growth. During this journey, a baby boy was born, a new marriage began, a dear elderly loved one became ill and passed away, and all four authors experienced the many joys and challenges that come with careers as public educators. They formed their own publishing company, gathered their best fiction, essays and poetry and published this anthology in print and digital form before a world-wide readership.

From the introduction

Do you always think, feel, and behave in a way that society would approve of? If truth be told, few could answer yes to that question. Yet from an early age, society pressures us to “fit in” and conform. When we don’t, people are often critical and choose not to listen to what we have to say. In Outside the Lines: Let Our Voices Be Heard, we choose to take the risk that all authors do; to speak out and share ourselves through our stories, essays, and poems. Whether they fall inside or outside the lines of society’s expectations, we are grateful that you do us the honor of hearing and listening to our voices.

This book is Volume II in The Graduate Institute Creative Writers Series.

About the Authors

Meghann England

Meghann’s love of writing was given shape at Southern Connecticut State University, where she became a writer, open-mic-coffeehouse-regular, and winner of the Leslie Leeds Poetry Prize (Spring 2001). She was assistant editor (2000) and editor of Folio, the SCSU art and literary magazine (2001) during her undergraduate career. She has taught grades 9-12 in Stratford Public Schools since 2008, and served as director of STAGE, the Bunnell High School drama club, for two years. She presently teaches at ALPHA, the alternative program she prefers to call home and enjoys being a mother to Jace, Jude, and Mackenzie.

Michelle Martin

Michelle has been an elementary school music teacher for 20 years and currently teaches in Bridgeport, CT. After many years of watching teaching artists come into schools to perform for and provide workshops for her students, Michelle decided to train as a Storyteller. She is working with a mentor from the CT Storytelling Center and is excited to share her passion for storytelling, music, and writing with children. Michelle would like to thank her husband Jason, her children Sean and Liam, and her stepson Aidan, for their love and support while she pursues her dream to become a writer and storyteller.

Jelenne Parker

Jelenne is a resident of Windsor, CT. She is a former elementary teacher currently working as a paraprofessional. After homeschooling her first daughter, she realized how much she still loves the process of teaching and all those wonderful students she proudly taught. Once her second daughter made her appearance and life became more interesting, she decided to attain her master’s degree and return to the classroom. While acquiring a degree in Writing and Oral Traditions, she rediscovered her love of writing poetry and fiction. She looks forward to writing for children and young adults.

Maria Dawn Puziello

Raised by a family of readers, in a household filled to the brim with books of all kinds, Maria’s love for the written word began at an early age. As an elementary school teacher for more than two decades, she shares her passion for reading and writing with her young students daily. Maria also enjoys singing (especially jazz standards), quilting, crafting, gardening, and spending time with her three beloved sisters, her nephew, her three nieces, and all their wonderful families. She resides in East Haven, CT with her two cats Noella and Küpfel.