PUBLISHED BY TRIPWIRE HARLOT PRESS
I am proud to say that
The Sledgehammer Series (an imprint of Tripwire Harlot Press) is the publiser of,
before you go : an Offering.
EVENT/GATHERING DEETS SOONCOME.
before you go: an Offering queerly/explores a daughter's relationship with her aging mother who has dementia. As she cares for her mother - she reflects on her own failures as a mother - which expands her ability to forgive/grow and heal.
Made of memories/prayers/letters and dreams this book Offers embodied/conjured releases and journaling prompts to the reader . . . all of which serves as an invitation for those that receive the Work to engage in their own healing rituals for themselves and their Loved ones.
MORE HERE
ON DA ROAD
I am SO excited to say that I am beginning to git outt in the world with "before you go: an Offering." Some Gatherings will noted (below and sooncome) as open to the public, others are being held in private Circles as we walk tenderly towards healing our broken bits of Love/together.
November 15, 2025 Thanks to Ebony Noelle Golden and the Jupiter Performance Studio I will share from the book as part of the Ceremonies from in the name of the m/other tree gatherings in Mississippi.
February 16, 2026 Thanks to Rajasvini Bhansali I will join a community of writers, poets and artists in the San Francisco Bay Area and together we will read from the book, write, reflect, share stories, make ceremony and Offerings to our elders before they go. Check out Leading With Joy: Practices for Uncertain Times, By Akaya Windwood and Rajasvini Bhansali.
April 21-27, 2026 Thanks to Virginia Grise, Marissa Ramirez and A Todo Dar I will be in residence, engaging with the book in Austin, Texas and San Antonio.
September 25-27, 2026 - Austin, TX at the Austin Central Branch Library Special Event Center - A Gathering of Flames: Celebrating 20 Years of Torch Literary Arts. I will share from the book and be in conversation with screenwriter, poet and educator, Shia Shabazz Smith, moderated by Torch founder, 61st Texas Poet Laureate, Amanda Johnston. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Here is a link to Save the Date.
Info about Gatherings in Minneapolis, Durham NC, Los Angeles and more sooncome.
If you are interested in creating a before you go Gathering contact me HERE.
ABOUT THE BOOK/FROM DEAR ONES
I am sending wild cheers with gratitude
to my dear ones included in this video that so LOVINGLY shared their support of, before you go: an Offering.
More about them in the video link.
In order/they are:
Adelina Anthony
Marisa Becerra
Antonio Anthony Becerra
Ana Perea
David Blasher
Roxanne Ross
Sonja Parks
Omi Osun Joni L. Jones
ABOUT THE BOOK/FROM MO DEAR ONES
THANK YOU Diane Exavier and Junauda Petrus and for fiercely supporting me always.
Diane Exavier, theatre artist/writer/way maker - is long time family/and an source of wonder and Inspiration. Diane explores what she calls the 4L’s: love, loss, legacy, and land. More at: http://www.dianeexavier.live/who
Junauda Petrus, we both come from Laurie Carlos/and donn been on da road together a long long time. Check out this Minneapolis Poet Laureate-theatre artist-aerialist-community Lover at: https://www.junauda.com/
The publisher's website:
https://www.tripwireharlot.com/before.html
Their IG page is:
https://www.instagram.com/tripwireharlot
I am NOT on IG or FB, but I am on
Substack https://substack.com/@sharonbridgforth1
and YouTube https://youtube.com/@sbridgforth
"My experience has been that the more I tend what is broken and hurt in me, the better I am able to be with those I Love. Diving deep. Holding a mirror up/to myself. Excavating and articulating what's under the surface. Walking with haunts and haints. Moving through grief. Seeking technologies for Transformation . . . has always motivated my writing.
Having had the privilege of walking with mentors who Lovingly pushed me in Circle with my Work has rooted me in my Life's calling . . . to use art as a vehicle for social justice. This has instigated intergenerational healing within my blood family in ways that I could never have imagined possible.
My queer bodied/woman Loving prayer is that before you go: an Offering will be of service to those that receive it. A resource for us all to be ourselves most fully as we care for ourselves, each other, the Earth and all therein.
May we stand in the Light that is us, lock arms, open our hearts, protect each other, and Lovingly/fiercely make the world a better place.
Blessed Be all who worked
dreamt/died/bled/suffered/prayed/dance/Visioned it so.
Ache.
Amen.
Sho nuff.
Fukyeah."
Love
Sharon