“Mother Figure,” my latest essay, was just published in Empyrean

Earlier this week, my second essay of the summer, “Mother Figure,” was published in the Summer 2026 issue of Empyrean, and this one has special meaning for me.

“Mother Figure” is a tribute to my sister, part confession and part celebration for all she’s done for me throughout my life, despite our ups and downs over the years. I also wrote it as a gift for her on her birthday earlier this year, so it was one of the pieces I was very happy to have picked up for publication.

Empyrean is a literary journal published four times a year–on each seasonal solstice–and has been in print since 2021. The latest issue can be purchased for $24.99 for paperback or $37.99 for hardcover, but each essay found in its pages (including mine) can also be found for free on their website.

Love you, Kelly!