Erin Edwards

2024 Winter Session II

Erin’s passion for writing began at an early age in response to a vibrant imagination and extended periods of time alone. She started with crafting short stories which developed into a self-published book and a monthly subscription newsletter at age nine. When the fantasies of childhood gave way to the complexities of adolescence and adulthood, a personal journal replaced the fiction and became an outlet for Erin to process her thoughts and make sense of her life. In 2018, she unexpectedly became the primary caregiver to her partner Jen, who had developed a degenerative motor-neuron disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Jen’s terminal diagnosis spawned a four and a half year long journey together into the liminal place between life and death, and demanded a return of imagination to cope with the isolation and exhaustion of caregiving. Through metaphors of bogs and bridges, toads and lily pads, Erin created a world for her and Jen that mirrored their difficult yet rewarding life and developed a spiritual practice that she continues to find inspiration and grounding within today. Erin lives in Shoreline, Washington, with her cat, Ofelia, and writes a “bog blog” on Substack for fellow caregivers, called Diamonds for Toads.