Episode Details

"Rejection is monotonous and solitary. Acceptance is to be sung in the streets and infinitely echoed." — Nicole Zwolinski

Episode Summary
Nicole Zwolinski has wanted to be a writer since before she could read — she'd memorize stories and announce that she was reading. But life, geography, and motherhood took turns pulling her away from the page. On this Ship's Log, she traces the path from a Minnesota girl falling in love with poetry in fifth grade, through a cross-country move to Florida that quietly reignited everything. 

Nicole reads two poems live during the conversation — "Unsung Hero," about the invisible labor of mothers, and "Green Olive Ghosts," a funny-then-devastating love letter to her kids. She talks about the sustained silence of rejection, the importance of keeping a "wins list" when submissions disappear into the void, and how becoming a mom didn't interrupt her writing so much as deepen what she had to say. Her debut full-length collection, Motherhead, arrives in summer 2026 from Finishing Line Press. 

The episode closes with Two Truths & A Lie — and Nicole's stories include a Hollywood near-miss, a Kennedy Center-recognized ballet performance, and a triathlon completed with a probable concussion. Listen to find out which one didn't actually happen.
 
Nicole's Bio
Nicole Zwolinski is a poet and debut author based in Northeast Florida. Her collection Motherhead — a book about the physical, emotional, and hormonal realities of motherhood — will be published in summer 2026 by Finishing Line Press. Her work has appeared in literary magazines and anthologies, including an international publication in Great Britain, and she was shortlisted for the Central Avenue Poetry Prize.

Nicole's Links
Website: https://www.nicolezwolinski.com
Book Preorder (Finishing Line Press): https://finishinglinepress.com/product/motherhead-by-nicole-zwolinski/

Motherhead Project Email: themotherheadproject@gmail.com

Nicole's CTA
Preorder Motherhead from Finishing Line Press — preorders help establish the book as one bookstores will carry, and it's currently at the publisher's preorder rate before the price increases. 

Bonus: Email your preorder receipt to themotherheadproject@gmail.com for free pre-order goodies while supplies last.

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