At the time of this recording, I didn't realize that Anya Krugavoy Silver had only days left in this world.

She had been fighting fiercely a battle with terminal breast cancer for the past fourteen years. However, we conversed in ways that seemed to indicate that she was all at once very cognizant of her morality and fatal disease and yet living each day fully. She had just gone to the beach with her husband and son. She was writing poetry and planning for months down the road, including working on her fifth book of poetry (as the project with her award as a 2018 Guggenheim Fellow in Poetry recipient) and we planned to visit with each other in person.

Editing the audio for the episode was very emotionally painful for me as I had to accomplish it knowing she was gone and I would not be able to hear her voice again. It was a tearful few hours of production too, knowing that she would not be able to author another poem and we would not be able to meet as we had hoped. I lost a friend.

That makes this episode, I offer now in her memory, even more special. In her honor and memory, I also am making available BONUS AUDIO (about 30 minutes-worth) which was recorded after the podcast was finished.

Anya was inspirational, kind and encouraging. Condolences to those of you who grieve her.

Find links to all of the extra audio and references that occur in the episode can be found at sparkmymuse.com for Episode 139 or at the Podcast Support Website - Patreon.com/sparkmymuse for Episode 139 ( This is the direct link: https://www.patreon.com/posts/20598647 ). Your monetary contributions and help spreading word about this episode are truly appreciated!

Thank you.