In this episode of “The Art of Imperfect Adulting,” host Amy Stone sits down with guest Anne Marie Wells to explore her transformative journey from a career in environmental science to becoming a published poet and creative writing instructor. They delve into Anne Marie's experiences of caregiving for her father during his battle with stage four lung cancer, and how this difficult period catalyzed her shift in career pathways.

Anne Marie Wells is an award-winning poet, playwright, and memoirist. Her book Survived By: A Memoir in Verse + Other Poems went viral on TikTok and reached the Top 10 Poetry Books on Amazon. Her second collection, Mother, (v) won the Cinnamon Press Chapbook Contest and was published in 2024. Her travel memoir Happy Iceland recounting her experience backpacking and hitchhiking around Iceland finding strangers' happy places is looking for representation.

Main Topics Covered:

1. Anne Marie's transition from environmental science to creative writing.
2. Her personal story of caregiving for her father.
3. The emotional challenges and life changes resulting from her father's illness.
4. The development of her poetry and memoir in verse.
5. Anne Marie’s mission to assist others in handling grief through writing workshops.

Quote from the Episode: "I started writing poetry and that has been what has gotten me through this." - Anne Marie Wells

Timestamps:

• [00:00:03] Introduction and welcome
• [00:00:45] Personal background of Anne Marie Wells
• [00:02:39] Discussion on caregiving for her father
• [00:09:57] Career transition to writing
• [00:14:12] Impact of father's illness on Anne Marie's life
• [00:26:41] Publishing poems and memoir
• [00:39:56] Anne Marie's current work and workshops
• [00:45:15] Fun rapid-fire questions and closing

You can connect with Anne Marie Wells at her website https://annemariewellswriter.com/to-edit

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