By Maria Simbra
@bymariasimbra.bsky.social
Memoirist on page & on stage. Neurology | TV News | My unusual path to motherhood. 🌸 Words in lit mags. Book in editing. Sugar in coffee. ☕ See what I'm up to: https://www.ironedwordsproductions.com/by-maria-simbra
Today’s win: writing a screenplay in two hours. *rubs hands together* And I actually kind of like it.
December 13, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Today’s win: writing a screenplay in two hours. *rubs hands together* And I actually kind of like it.
Hooray for this band of merry writers at the Whitehall Library as they cap off the year! 🎉
I’m honored to be the group facilitator.
I’m honored to be the group facilitator.
December 6, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Hooray for this band of merry writers at the Whitehall Library as they cap off the year! 🎉
I’m honored to be the group facilitator.
I’m honored to be the group facilitator.
Our low-key Thanksgiving
December 2, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Our low-key Thanksgiving
Book event win: TFW you only get through the first book’s elevator pitch and the reader says, “I’ll take the whole series.”
November 19, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Book event win: TFW you only get through the first book’s elevator pitch and the reader says, “I’ll take the whole series.”
Book event win: TFW you only get through the first book’s elevator pitch and the reader says, “I’ll take the whole series.”
November 19, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Book event win: TFW you only get through the first book’s elevator pitch and the reader says, “I’ll take the whole series.”
Two great book events this weekend!
📚SATURDAY: The Fall Local Author Fair at the South Fayette Library 12-4
📚SUNDAY: Lit Fest in Lawrenceville 2-8
I’ll be at both! Come on over and say hello. 👋
📚SATURDAY: The Fall Local Author Fair at the South Fayette Library 12-4
📚SUNDAY: Lit Fest in Lawrenceville 2-8
I’ll be at both! Come on over and say hello. 👋
November 15, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Two great book events this weekend!
📚SATURDAY: The Fall Local Author Fair at the South Fayette Library 12-4
📚SUNDAY: Lit Fest in Lawrenceville 2-8
I’ll be at both! Come on over and say hello. 👋
📚SATURDAY: The Fall Local Author Fair at the South Fayette Library 12-4
📚SUNDAY: Lit Fest in Lawrenceville 2-8
I’ll be at both! Come on over and say hello. 👋
While this raffle prize isn’t exactly on brand for me, it was a great little perk as I waited for all the ghouls and goblins to come around on Halloween. Have coffee, will candy.
Thanks for the mug, Silent Book Club South Hills.
☕️👺👻👽🤡💀👹🤖🎃☕️
Thanks for the mug, Silent Book Club South Hills.
☕️👺👻👽🤡💀👹🤖🎃☕️
November 8, 2025 at 2:16 AM
While this raffle prize isn’t exactly on brand for me, it was a great little perk as I waited for all the ghouls and goblins to come around on Halloween. Have coffee, will candy.
Thanks for the mug, Silent Book Club South Hills.
☕️👺👻👽🤡💀👹🤖🎃☕️
Thanks for the mug, Silent Book Club South Hills.
☕️👺👻👽🤡💀👹🤖🎃☕️
My writing retreat last weekend was a huge success!
I wrote two chapters, finished a short story, and got started on another.
My retreat mate edited ten chapters of her book.
I will do this again in January!
I wrote two chapters, finished a short story, and got started on another.
My retreat mate edited ten chapters of her book.
I will do this again in January!
November 6, 2025 at 2:49 AM
My writing retreat last weekend was a huge success!
I wrote two chapters, finished a short story, and got started on another.
My retreat mate edited ten chapters of her book.
I will do this again in January!
I wrote two chapters, finished a short story, and got started on another.
My retreat mate edited ten chapters of her book.
I will do this again in January!
My precious!
The only one I got this year.
The only one I got this year.
November 4, 2025 at 2:12 AM
My precious!
The only one I got this year.
The only one I got this year.
This is up at the mall where my writing groups meet. A bunch of trees. Not even Halloween yet. Poor Thanksgiving.
October 31, 2025 at 1:59 AM
This is up at the mall where my writing groups meet. A bunch of trees. Not even Halloween yet. Poor Thanksgiving.
Had lunch yesterday with an old friend also named Maria. 😁 It was great to reconnect.
We may even have a book-related endeavor to bring you soon!l
We may even have a book-related endeavor to bring you soon!l
October 25, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Had lunch yesterday with an old friend also named Maria. 😁 It was great to reconnect.
We may even have a book-related endeavor to bring you soon!l
We may even have a book-related endeavor to bring you soon!l
Three snippets of things I’ve written recently:
1️⃣ “Everyone says these are supposed to be the best years of your life!”
“Oh, honey. These are the worst years. You’ll see.”
👇
1️⃣ “Everyone says these are supposed to be the best years of your life!”
“Oh, honey. These are the worst years. You’ll see.”
👇
October 24, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Three snippets of things I’ve written recently:
1️⃣ “Everyone says these are supposed to be the best years of your life!”
“Oh, honey. These are the worst years. You’ll see.”
👇
1️⃣ “Everyone says these are supposed to be the best years of your life!”
“Oh, honey. These are the worst years. You’ll see.”
👇
Way behind on my writing. Time to grind…
coffee is being poured into a black mug with a face on it .
ALT: coffee is being poured into a black mug with a face on it .
media.tenor.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Way behind on my writing. Time to grind…
Best reaction at a recent book event: a woman fanned herself as I told her about my romance stories. 🪭
Might have been the plot, might have been a hot flash…
Either way, girl, you are my people!
Might have been the plot, might have been a hot flash…
Either way, girl, you are my people!
a woman wearing headphones and a blue shirt with pink hearts on it is making a funny face .
ALT: a woman wearing headphones and a blue shirt with pink hearts on it is making a funny face .
media.tenor.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Best reaction at a recent book event: a woman fanned herself as I told her about my romance stories. 🪭
Might have been the plot, might have been a hot flash…
Either way, girl, you are my people!
Might have been the plot, might have been a hot flash…
Either way, girl, you are my people!
Costumes and books at the October Silent Book Club! 📚
October 21, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Costumes and books at the October Silent Book Club! 📚
Celebrated 28 years of wedded bliss this week. Cheers!
October 17, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Celebrated 28 years of wedded bliss this week. Cheers!
This bookmark is a gift from one of the participants in my Tuesday afternoon Iron Writing Circle in McMurray. Made with the her own hands. What detail! What bling! 💗
October 16, 2025 at 2:19 AM
This bookmark is a gift from one of the participants in my Tuesday afternoon Iron Writing Circle in McMurray. Made with the her own hands. What detail! What bling! 💗
The fourth of five book events I’m doing this fall. This one was in Midland.
One to go in November. See you in South Fayette!
One to go in November. See you in South Fayette!
October 15, 2025 at 1:40 AM
The fourth of five book events I’m doing this fall. This one was in Midland.
One to go in November. See you in South Fayette!
One to go in November. See you in South Fayette!
I love that she embraced roles for mature women and that the roles embraced her, too.
October 14, 2025 at 2:03 AM
I love that she embraced roles for mature women and that the roles embraced her, too.
It only took forever to write the chapter I’ve been working on. But now it’s done.
So I’m walking into writing group like…
So I’m walking into writing group like…
October 10, 2025 at 2:04 AM
It only took forever to write the chapter I’ve been working on. But now it’s done.
So I’m walking into writing group like…
So I’m walking into writing group like…
An evening of networking with the fabulous, accomplished women of the Healthcare Business Association. Optimistic for some synergy here.
October 9, 2025 at 1:49 AM
An evening of networking with the fabulous, accomplished women of the Healthcare Business Association. Optimistic for some synergy here.
My daughter’s senior homecoming dance was this weekend. What a day! What an event.
October 8, 2025 at 1:43 AM
My daughter’s senior homecoming dance was this weekend. What a day! What an event.
Hung out with some cool authors and met some keen writers at the Northland Library this weekend.
October 7, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Hung out with some cool authors and met some keen writers at the Northland Library this weekend.
The “Pop-Up Group Write” this week was a blow-up success! ELEVEN writers came in from all corners of the area (Washington County to Etna). Gathering for an evening of writing, this multi-genre assembly added scenes, edited pages, and even outlined new projects.
We will do this again! Stay tuned.
We will do this again! Stay tuned.
October 4, 2025 at 2:42 AM
The “Pop-Up Group Write” this week was a blow-up success! ELEVEN writers came in from all corners of the area (Washington County to Etna). Gathering for an evening of writing, this multi-genre assembly added scenes, edited pages, and even outlined new projects.
We will do this again! Stay tuned.
We will do this again! Stay tuned.