2006 - Vol. 3, Issue 4

Poet and fiction writer Linda Cronin lives in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, a small, suburban town about 30 minutes from New York. She first became involved with Breath & Shadow when one of her poems was published in an issue. "After I discovered the wonderful work Breath & Shadow did," she says, "I knew I wanted to be a part of it."

Linda has rheumatoid arthritis, which has limited the strength and function of her joints and bones and led to several additional conditions. She uses a power wheelchair for mobility.

Ever since she learned to read, Linda has been a compulsive reader. She says, "I loved the way books and stories could transport me to different places and times, allowing me to experience different things." Eventually she became interested in creating stories herself. Writing has been very emotionally rewarding for her. She loves it when someone responds to a piece of her writing, letting her know that they identify with what she has said. She adds, "I also found writing was a way to express things I was afraid to say aloud." Some of those sensitive things relate to her disability — "anything from dating and sex to the reaction of kids at school and how I felt." She attributes her reticence to her cultural background. "I am from a family of Irish descent, and the Irish don't believe in talking about things — arguments, illnesses, problems, definitely not sex or divorce," she explains. "I still struggle with what to reveal and what to hide."

Linda began writing at an early age and honed her craft in college with a double major in English and writing/psychology. She keeps enriching her education by taking workshops with other writers. "I'm lucky because I live in an area that has some wonderful resources when it comes to writing," she remarks, "and I take advantage of many of the classes offered."

Linda has been published in a number of literary magazines and has also received Honorable Mentions in several contests. Recently she finished her first complete manuscript of poems, Dream Bones. Her biggest unfulfilled ambition as a writer is to find a publisher for her manuscript and then to publish a novel.

Having a disability has influenced Linda's writing in a number of ways. She finds that it has given her a different perspective. She says, "My disability has helped me to identify with people who are different and to understand what it means to be powerless. It has enabled me to gain independence in my thoughts and actions." And the fact that she sometimes uses a voice dictation program has had an influence on her style. She explains, "I found that through my speaking the words I became more conscious of the sound of what I was writing."

Linda has recently begun to expand her writing into essays and articles. She earns money working as a freelance writer for Able newspaper, a newspaper for people with disabilities in New Jersey, as well as several other magazines. She also creates newsletters for nonprofit and health organizations. Currently she is working on a newsletter about spinal cord injury.

When she is not writing, Linda enjoys being with her close–knit family, which consists of her parents, two sisters and a brother, a sister–in–law, nieces and nephews, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. She also has a trained companion dog, Sherry, who is a 2 1/2–year–old black lab from Canine Partners for Life. "She has been one of the best additions to my life," says Linda. For relaxation, Linda likes to do cross stitch and several other types of stitching, like hardanger and cut–thread work. She also enjoys listening to music and talking to friends. And, of course, she loves to read. Poetry and fiction are her favorites. But, she adds, "Nothing is beyond considering when I'm desperate."