My fall writing retreat is on sale for month of August! Get details at nerissanields.com. (click on retreats).

“Dearests, We are returning to Caffé Lena on Thursday August 6!!! Do not miss this show!!! …We’re still glowing from the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival last week…” Read the rest (and see all of the pictures) at thenields.substack.com.

I wrote this sonnet during 2025's 30 Poems in November fundraising challenge. I am honored to announce that this year I am once again chairing the event. All proceeds benefit the Center for New Americans! @cnaforimmigrants

Hi, everyone! We will be going live on Tuesday, August as part of the NJ Folk Project’s Streaming Tuesdays online. The show is free, but you need to get a ticket at the link in this flyer. See you there! N + K

Happy Falcon Ridge weekend to all who celebrate! We’re all practiced up and can’t wait to see you.

After ten years of recording this soundtrack for my Big Idea novels (not to mention twenty-three years of writing songs for it), we’re almost finished! Listening to the rough mixes on our extremely rare car CD player on the drive to Falcon Ridge Folk Festival tomorrow!

Very excited for our fall session of Welcome Table Chorus, starting Sept 15th! nields.com/product/the-...

Thank you, Hancock Shaker Village! And thanks to all of you who came out. We had a wonderful time as always. See you again soon!

This poem turned into our song Bang Bang. I wrote this poem as part of 30 Poems in November 2025.

"The cattle will be lowing along with us at Hancock Shaker Village this Saturday July 11. This beautiful indoor/outdoor museum is right outside Pittsfield MA, but you’d never know you were anywhere near a city when you are sitting…” Read the rest: thenields.substack.com

"Writing and reading are gentle actions that create subtle tides of gentleness in an ungentle world." Thank you, George Saunders.

I just finished reading The Emilys by my amazing friend Heather Abel who is a genius. I did not want anyone to disturb me while I was reading this book. I am amazed by the thoroughness of the world she built, how very familiar it was…If you haven't yet read it, you have a big treat in store for you!

“I’ve wanted to go to Italy ever since I studied the Renaissance and the Medici Family in seventh grade, since I took Latin in eighth, since I learned about Italian Reunification in tenth. My parents, as teenagers, famously made out outside of my mother’s pensione, only to be scolded by a cop…”

A gem from the wayback machine - this is us singing during a Pledge Music campaign in days gone by. #elvis #canthelpfallinginlove

July 11th at Hancock Shaker Village!

For your listening pleasure: This performance of Jeremy Newborn Street is from our June 2016 Iron Horse show celebrating our 25th anniversary - 10 years ago! Were any of you there?

Thanks, everyone! This was a perfect choice for a visit to the Amalfi Coast. I’ll share Italy vacation pics soon!

Ahh, Hafiz…

The summer retreat is SOLD OUT! But I've still got room for fall. Make sure to register early to guarantee your spot. Come write with us! I'll provide the coffee and delicious food, and together we'll provide the inspiration for each other to share some good generative writing time!

We're coming back to the Jones Library in Amherst, MA for a kids and family show on June 20th. The show is free and it starts at 10:30 am. Be there or be square!

Thanks to all who participated (amazing singers + beautiful audience) in the Welcome Table Chorus fundraiser for the Movement Voter Project on June 2. What a gorgeous evening of music and community. We’re grateful. Here's Katryna + choir surprising Nerissa with an unexpected addition to the setlist.

Ok, now it's time to decide. Which book should I bring to Italy? Elizabeth Strout's new one? David Sederis's? Lauren Groff? Or something called The Amalfi Curse? Please advise. My suitcase is small.

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!