Dear readers,

You have probably noticed that we’ve been silent for a couple of months now. We’ve decided, after long consideration and much bittersweet angst, to retire Hazel & Wren.

This was a very difficult decision, as we hold this Hazel & Wren community very dear. However, due to life commitments for co-founders Amanda and Melissa (starting and running other businesses and art projects, raising kids, and finishing grad school to name just a few), we are no longer able to contribute to this community in the way it deserves. Rather than do a shitty job, we’ve decided to hang up our very fashionable hats… at least for now. We hope you understand.

We are endlessly grateful to all of you who have participated in this online community and/or our in-person events, and to those who have supported Hazel & Wren with time, expertise, partnerships, money, and verbal support. This community literally wouldn’t exist with all of you.

A special thank you to anyone who has ever volunteered on the Hazel & Wren staff, including our recent/current amazing staff: Aaron King, Cassidy Foust, Taylor Trauger, Joshua Johnson, Liz Lampman, and Jessica Mayer. The warmest of fuzzy thank-yous to Timothy Otte, who was our first and longest volunteer staff member, and our thoughtful Chief Ampersand for five wonderful years. You all have given us so much, and we’re probably going to be forever in your debt, so…

Here’s a quick glance of the community we’ve built together in the last 6+ years:
*hosted over 15 events/readings/workshops for writers in various stages of their passion/career
*partnered with at least 10 awesome art/lit organizations for said events
*hosted monthly(ish) online open mic sessions for writers to get feedback on works-in-progress
*written hundreds of blog posts geared towards helping writers
*featured over 50 literary industry organizations or individuals through guest blog posts and Writing Life interviews
*have had nine dedicated and talented volunteer staff members/interns over the years in addition to Hazel & I.

Wow. We’ve loved being a part of this friendly, mischievous, intimate, energetic, thoughtful, cheeky community for the last 6+ years. But really: HOW LUCKY ARE WE?!

We don’t want to leave you totally in the lurch, so below you’ll find our last goodbye: a list of books that we think you should add to your reading list, and one final Three Things writing prompt. We’ll also leave our archive of reviews, interviews, prompts, and past Open Mic submissions available for your perusal, for the foreseeable future.

Thank you. We love you all, even more than coffee.

Yours in books & coffee & mischief forever,
Amanda & Melissa
(aka Hazel & Wren)

 

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This is what some of us staffers are currently reading, and that we think you should definitely add to your reading list, like, now. Happy reading, friends.

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Hunger by Roxanne Gay
Climate Changed: A Personal Journey through the Science by Philippe Squarzoni
Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy
Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali
Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy
Thus Were Their Faces by Silvina Ocampo

 

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Our farewell prompt features three moments in one day. Or, one moment in three days. What tale will you spin?

 

Bogdan Gîrbovan, #06, 5th floor from 10/1 series, 2008. Photograph. www.girbovan.ro

 

Holly Andres, River Road: Milepost 13 from The Fallen Fawn series. Photograph. www.hollyandres.com

 

Nishe, Slowly disappearing, 2012. Photograph. Via Flickr.