the Hell Yes book

08/29/2025

Great discussion and a truly amazing dinner, thanks to Nancy’s culinary skills. Shrimp orzo and vegetables from her garden!

06/19/2025

Where I sit

09/19/2024

hellyesblog.com/growing-up-on-elliott-road/
If I started tagging everybody in Chapel Hill who has been part of the memories of this house, the tags would take up more room than the post. I'll just tag AAmanda Kirk Realtor/Broker The Premiere Group REAL Broker, LLC AAnita Summersand EElizabeth Finn Johnson because they're mentioned in this blog.

But all the rest of you, you know who you are. And I'm so grateful we all grew up together in that special time and place.

The Chapel Hill house I grew up in went on the market recently and was under contract in less than a week. The house was built in 1969, designed by my father Arthur Cogswell, a modernist architect who did many houses in Chapel Hill.

08/27/2024

What better way to spend my birthday than a postcard party at a neighbor's house? Knocked out my 50 and am home in time for dinner with Steve!

07/25/2024

The best thing about St. George Island:
https://www.hellyesblog.com/a-beach-where-dogs-can-run/

07/16/2024

https://www.hellyesblog.com/cherish-the-keepers-of-family-stories/
Get all the stories you can out of the old ladies (and old men) you love. They won't be around forever.

My aunt would tell family stories of staying at the Henry Grady Hotel in Atlanta, and growing up the mayor's daughter in south Georgia.

07/16/2024

https://www.hellyesblog.com/cherish-the-keepers-of-family-stories/
Get all the stories you can out of the old ladies (and old men) you love. They won't be around forever!

My aunt would tell family stories of growing up the mayor’s daughter in south Georgia and visits to the Henry Grady Hotel in Atlanta.

07/12/2024

So much I'll miss about this amazing time and place!

Today was the final class of my first summer term in the School of Letters MFA, and it feels like the last day of summer camp.

07/02/2024

It's going way too fast!

I started the Sewanee MFA this summer, and have been up here on this 13,000 acres of mountaintop they call The Domain for four weeks now.

06/24/2024

https://www.hellyesblog.com/hiking-with-my-dog/

Hiking with my dog is something I try to do at least once or twice a week. Here's what I keep in my car so it's easier to head for the woods.

06/17/2024

Today in class, it was my work's turn to be workshopped. Historically, I've been too shy to share my fiction with others, so this was a milestone. Really amazingly helpful and not scary after all! Now I'm headed outside for yet another walk down Abbo's Alley to try to process everything I heard.

Abbo's Alley is a short but lovely trail along a small stream, criss-crossed with old stone bridges and dotted with hydrangea and ferns.

06/13/2024

Posted this one a little late because I was distracted by one of the most wonderful weddings ever. Almost to the end of the second week now!

In my first week of the Sewanee MFA, I've found myself doing more reading than writing, and lots of talking about what we've read.