Donna Hoke is a writer, crossword puzzle constructor, and playwright (THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR). Her work has been produced across the country, as well as in Seoul and Manchester. She is also the author of Neko and the Twiggets, a children’s book about mice living in a double bass.

Brief Lives, Enduring Love

“Two sets of twins?!” The words are always accompanied by shock, and I cringe even before the inevitable follow-up begins: “Do twins run in your family? What are the odds? How do you do it?” I hate the attention, I hate the prying, but mostly I hate that the truth isn’t obvious.

Read More→

2 Comments »

Katy Horan is a pulmonary and critical care physician who lives and works in Seattle. In her spare time, she secretly blogs about vegetables and infertility. Her previously published works include dry scientific papers on nontuberculous mycobacteria that embarrassingly have more readers than her blogs Fruitful Earth and Vegetable of the Year.

A Time to Be Born and a Time to Die

Infertile is an arid word. It is so dry, that my mouth becomes parched and I choke on the phrase, “I am infertile.” I prefer childless. It sounds breezier, like a summer sleeveless dress, rather than a straightjacket. In the true vernacular of infertility, I should say my husband, Dan, and I are infertile, but every month that passes without pregnancy is like a gigantic foam finger, jabbing at me, “You, you, you.” Shame on you, I tell myself, this is your punishment for over-indulging in coffee, work and wine.

Read More→

No Comments »