Nerissa Nields

This is the book I'm halfway through. It's killer fantastic, so it is very doubtful I will not have finished it before we leave for Italy.

Here are two books by Jess Walter I wish I hadn't read before going to Italy because they'd be perfect. Alas.

I'm soon setting off on a family adventure to Italy. No car, multiple trains, planes and ferries. First concern: what book should I bring to read? The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny is one I loved but will not be bringing. Here's why.

The next Welcome Table Chorus concert is June 2 at Bombyx in Florence, MA to raise funds for The Movement Voter Project. We’ve put together few snippets of some of the songs that we’ll be doing. Come on out to join us (and sing along!) Thank you so much. N+K

The latest Nields News is live... Also, we realize it’s been WAY too long since we endorsed anything, so hold on to your hats and go to our substack to read up on what hilarious TV show we found, along with book recommendations, plus one of our favorite Kartoonas from 1993: thenields.substack.com.

WTC (Welcome Table Chorus) rides again at Bombyx on June 2 (Nerissa's birthday)! This time we're raising funds for Movement Voter Project. Come support the cause (and our fabulous group of singers) by buying tickets and inviting friends. See you there! Love, N + K

"Totality" is a relatively new song that Katryna and I have never performed, but I sang it at the West Cummington Church last Sunday. It's about my attempt to see the eclipse of April 2024, not yet knowing that my dear friend Joe Shieber had died the day before. Here’s a snippet…

Congratulations, Matt Smith! We love you and you make Passim, PASSIM!

The next Welcome Table Chorus concert is June 2 at Bombyx! These have been absolutely amazing events and we hope you'll join us in raising funds for The Movement Voter Project.

Just a reminder: take care of your dear selves!

It’s so easy to put off the things you love the most. Let’s make a date so you get your writing in! Next retreat with Nerissa is July 13-17. Come for all or part (single days available)! Click on retreats at nerissanields.com.

Sounding Board in CT tonight (May 2) and more great shows coming soon. Visit nields.com or thenields.substack.com to stay in the loop

Have you heard? We’ll be in Vienna, VA on Friday, April 24th!

“Every day you can create a moment of rest by daydreaming.”-Tricia Hershey, the Nap Bishop. Read more at nerissanields.substack.com

35 years! And we’re still here, thanks to you. Read the rest: thenields.substack.com

Mary Oliver.

Enrollment is open for the next session of the Welcome Table Chorus! Thanks to all who came out to support The Center for New Americans and Jewish Family Services at our sold-out March 31st show at Bombyx. If you love to sing, join us (rehearsals start Tue, 4/7). nerissanields.com (click on CHORUS)

Special thanks to Rick at KZE for chatting with Nerissa about this Saturday's Nields show at The Buttonball Barn. Hope to see you there, friends!

We had such fun! Thanks to my spring retreaters for a lovely weekend of writing and to John W. Ballantine for summing up the experience. Join us next time - single days and/or full weekends now on sale at nerissanields.com

For our concert tomorrow at the Bombyx, we've hired some ringers: Ben Demerath on mandolin and Alison Eldredge on violin will be joining our own Jonathan Blocksam on cello. The show is a benefit for Center for New Americans and Jewish Family Service. Don't miss it!

March 31st at Bombyx in Florence, MA: Join the Welcome Table Chorus (created/directed by Nerissa and Katryna Nields) for a gorgeous evening of music to benefit Center for New Americans and Jewish Family Service.

Nestled right in the middle of the week is my midday Wednesday writing workshop, where all genres are welcomed and magic happens on the regular. Meet your muse here in Little Blue!

Why do guitars crack in the winter, or THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MOISTURE IN MASSACHUSETTS FOR THIS PRINCESS OF A GUITAR!!! Also, A couple of spots have opened in my Wednesday afternoon writing group. Meeting 12:30-2:30pm from late March to the end of May. DM for more info.

Can't wait to play City Vineyard in NYC this Saturday! Plus the food is delicious.

What an absolute joy to play with High Tea at Passim on Saturday night to a sold-out crowd! Finding joy and resistance wherever we can.

Join our fabulous Welcome Table Chorus for a show at Bombyx on 3/31 to raise funds for both The Center for New Americans &Jewish Family Service. Our last show was such fun (see these clips) and we can't wait to be in Florence, MA together again for another wonderful evening of music. Come on out!

Start spreading the news! The Nields are at City Vineyard in NYC on March 7th!

March 20-22! nerissanields.com

Happy Ash Wed, Nields, fans! We're heading to Passim in Cambridge with High Tea on Saturday Feb. 28, then to NYC at City Vineyard on Sat. March 7. Finally landing with @Wheelzielives at 118 North in Wayne, PA. See you at the shows!

Here’s a clip from Best Black Dress from our show last Saturday. That’s William Chalfant on lead guitar and Wes Chalfant on bass! Nate Mondschein on drums holding us all together. Video c/o @Grantsullivan

Scenes from backstage at the Iron Horse before our show last weekend

Art’s purpose is to interrogate as well as entertain; like good religion, to comfort the troubled and to trouble the comfortable, even in a fascist regime. I don’t know the intricacies of the law or how to effectively debate. I cannot do anything… read the rest: nerissanields.substack.com

I don't know what I would do without my chorus. Thanks to Joeli Hettler for teaching us this song. And to Dane Kuttler for "Hold On," another one we are learning in Welcome Table Chorus. #mpls

I’m celebrating the kickass badass Goddess/Saint Brigid. "In the belly"--that's where we are right now. Not yet born, but on the way. Spring is coming, friends.

Sold out! But tell us if you’re coming February 7th at the Iron Horse. @ironhorsenoho

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.”-Mohandas K.Gandhi

Some puppy inspiration and Billy Collins' "Snow Day" Stay warm and safe, friends.

All manner of Nieldsy things are happening (like our big February 7th show at the Ironhorse and our special fireside show at Club Passim with our friends, High Tea). Open the latest newsletter on substack to see photos, videos and get all the latest!

It’s really not fair. The kids come home for winter break, they teach us all these fun games, and then they just leave! There should be a better system. Does anyone play Catan? Can Tom and I play one-on-one? #catan #funwithfamily #boardgames

It’s been exactly five months since I gave up caffeine. It’s been the hardest substance I’ve ever put down, harder than sugar and flour, harder than alcohol. Now, without caffeine, I’m at the whim of my body’s natural rhythms and…Read the rest at nerissanields.substack.com

Cleo, tired of herding her sheep, took matters into her own teeth.

Happy New Year!

Holiday gift idea for the writer in your life, perhaps? Or maybe a holiday gift idea for YOU! Come EAT with us...err, WRITE with us, or all of the above! Jan 23-25 is our next gathering. Block out time today for your creative self to join us!

Our first ever Welcome Table Chorus show is tomorrow night in Florence, MA AND we're taking sign ups for the next session (Jan 6-March 31) on Nerissa's website. Come hear the show or feel free to message if you want to learn more.

Happy Hannukkah and early Merry Christmas! It's been such a busy month already. Here's a Christmas "Carol" we sang with our dear friend, Ben Demerath. This month: Come see our Welcome Table Chorus (Florence, MA at Bombyx on Dec 16th) AND catch us playing 4 Almost New Year's Shows with Dar Williams.

The dogs can't agree on programming. Do you have a vote? The Office or Downton Abbey?

Dec 16 at 7pm at Bombyx! We're so delighted to be raising money for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts during our very first Welcome Table Chorus live performance. Invite friends and join us for a very special evening of music for a great cause.

Join us for tons of fun this month, starting with the first ever performance by The Welcome Table Chorus (directed by Nerissa and Katryna) on December 16th at Bombyx and culminating with four fabulous Almost New Year’s shows with our dear friend Dar Williams. Coming to a show? Let us know!

An early rehearsal of The Welcome Table Chorus. See us at Bombyx doing a benefit for the food bank! Enrollment for Winter session is open now at nerissanields.com.

This is sort of a sonnet. After Ha Jin's "A Center" #30poemsinnovember (see link in bio)

One of my 30 Poems for 30 Poems in November. This is a sestina, sort of. Well, half of one. It's called "One Day I Woke Up and My Ambition Was Gone." You can still donate to the Center for New Americans at my link in bio!

This just happened today. Wild turkey alert and a poem for the day to support Center for New Americans. Also, leaf blowers? Nooooooo......

One of my 30 Poems for 30 Poems in November. This is a pantoum, a form in which you repeat the second and fourth lines of each four-line stanza. It has a kind of...numbing effect? Crazy-making effect? So I wrote about the years on the road, of course. Donate here: cnam.org/civi/pcp/inf...

While Katryna and I were at our Passim concert, this was happening at home. The dogs met up in the park and invited Greta over for dinner.

Crate training. We’re doing it wrong. But isn’t she adorable? #thepuppychronicles #lifewithcleo

30 Poems in November continues to raise awareness and funds for the Center for New Americans. Here’s another of my recent poems. Thanks so much to all who have donated so far and thanks to all who will soon! I have exceeded my initial goal and am excited to keep going!

So, we did a thing. #newpuppy #cleo #cutenessoverload

I just have to point out––that's my kid @Johnny_nd4422 kicking that ball from the corner. @Northampton_high_school #proudmama

Poem #1 for 30 Poems in November, a fundraiser for the Center for New Americans. Donate here: cnam.org/civi/pcp/inf...  “A Murmuration of Starlings” by Nerissa Nields

"Which side are you on? The world tells you to figure it out. She said, Haven't you noticed? I'm round." Which Side Are You On? by The Nields

Hey! Morning Seeding & Tending is free to my paid Substack subscribers. We're a jolly bunch of writers keeping each other in our seats for an hour a day. Why not join this week? Get that thing written! nerissanields.substa...

Adrienne Rich, "In Those Years." Looking at prompts for 30 Poems in November, and for the Kali Retreat.

Come see us this coming weekend in Rosendale NY and Lincroft NJ!

This is a song by the Big Idea, (fictional band from Nerissa's novels). Remember This Moment was written by Peter and Rhodie Becket upon their reunion after being separated for over 16 months. To hear the full band, you'll have to wait for The Big Idea Soundtrack.

Benjamin Franklin for the win! #writing #inspiration #livelivedwell

Go see Nalini Jones at Amherst Books on Monday October 20 at 4pm. She is amazing and you will love this book! @nalinijones.bsky.social

"I watch you come out of nowhere, your three ships and your hunch..." Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day, friends.

Dig Deep, Get Dark, Find your Kali, write like your hair is on fire. Nov. 7-9, Northampton and Zoom.