Welcome to Moon Penny Musings.
I’m Laura Smith, a writer, teacher, and runner
based in Western Massachusetts.
Through the lens of a Gen X educator and lifelong student of literature, I weave together the endurance of marathon training with the delicate craft of storytelling, documenting my evolution as a writer on a freshly paved path to publication and self-discovery.
For more frequent reflections, poetry, and a behind-the-scenes look at my path to publication, join me over at Moon Penny Musings on Substack. Subscribe to get my latest essays delivered directly to your inbox
You can find more about me here.
Below you can find my latest entries.
You can also view my posts by category: Poetry, Fiction, and Non-Fiction.
Please reach out with comments, questions, or opportunities to collaborate.
Road to the TCS NYC Marathon: Part 4 (EEEK!)
As of this writing we are 63 (by the time I finish writing we might be at 60!) days away from the NYC Marathon. Sixty-three days until I will make my way to Staten Island and run through the five boroughs to Central Park for the 8th year in a row (minus 2020). Each year…
The Wildness Within
I am eight, climbing a tree in the graveyard next to our house. The bark is rough, yet my hands don’t feel it. I am five, hanging upside down on the bar of the swingset. I am a gymnast, my body is free to contrast, hang, and swing. I am fourteen, dancing to Billy Idol’s…
Finding Joy in Creativity
In memory of Deb Koffman (1966 – 2021) Deb Koffman was a local artist, whose whimsical pieces found a place in her gallery in the village of Housatonic Massachusetts. I met her a few times when I went to her gallery; her images brought joy to the viewer. I hadn’t been thinking about her, but…



