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Meet Marsha Ingrao

Marsha Ingrao is the creator of Story Chat Digest, an annual anthology derived from a series of stories and poems run on her blog, AlwaysWrite. Story Chat Digest is run as a friendly space for authors and poets to meeti and chat about the various contributions and provide constructive and kind feedback and suggestions. Marsha runs a number of related promotional articles including author interviews. You can find out all about Story Chat Digest on Marsha’s blog here: https://alwayswrite.blog/join-story-chat-digest-2026-an-online-writing-community-for-all-authors/

Tell us a bit about Marsha Ingrao and your writing journey

I grew up in a loquacious family – everyone loved to talk, and it was hard to get a word in edgewise. Outside of home, I was naturally shy at first. In school, we had to wait to give an answer, so interrupting, my forté, was not appreciated. Somewhere along the way, I learned that I could speak my mind if I wrote it.

Throughout my teaching career, I wrote curriculum for my classroom, teacher-training programs, homeschooling, and county education projects. Looking back, I realize I had been writing loose-leaf textbooks. 

I started a blog with the goal of writing books. The power of blogging invaded my life and  I retired early and began blogging full-time in 2012. Two years later, a publisher contacted me and asked me to write a book about my little town of Woodlake. I was thrilled and threw myself into it. Images of America Woodlake was published in 2015.

No more publishers beat down my door, but I was busy finding my voice on my blog. I made so many friends online that I kept busy with blogging, volunteer work, moving, and traveling to meet new friends in person. I tried unsuccessfully to write an award-winning novel, or two, but it was a great experience. After we moved from Woodlake, CA, to Prescott, AZ, during the COVID pandemic, blogging became even more important to me. I began hosting for others in addition to writing down my own thoughts.

Tell us about Story Chat and how it came about

On October 30, 2020, I published Hugh W. Roberts’ guest post, a short story, “People Under the Stairs,” and Story Chat was born. He and I chatted about having something like an online book club where readers could comment on the short stories. The ideas sparked between us and our enthusiasm was contagious. I think Hugh did the heavy lifting to find authors at first because somehow, I published a story each month for a year. In addition to Hugh pitching for Story Chat, if I liked someone’s writing, I would invite them to contribute. We were both over the moon as the readers flocked in to chat. I think readers enjoyed being part of the conversation rather than simply reading another story.

On November 2, 2023, we published our first anthology, bringing together the stories written over the first two years. Every year, Story Chat grows another branch. First came stories, then poetry, then artwork, then craft articles, and now workshops. I don’t know exactly where it will end up, but I know I want Story Chat to become a place where writers don’t just publish—they continue learning together. 

Explain about the Story Digest anthologies and how they differ from other anthologies

First of all, Story Chat originates online on my blog, AlwaysWrite.blog. It is more than a writing challenge. It’s part writers group, part beta readers, part fun fiction, and pure enjoyment. My greatest joy is watching writers grow in confidence while readers discover new favorite authors. 

Most anthologies advertise a theme, and authors submit stories that match it. Story Chat is different. Without many restrictions, authors submit their unpublished stories and poems on their chosen topic. The stories are first published and discussed online. 

At the end of the year, the posts are made private. I chose 3-4 evocative comments from the many comments for each story and poem, and together, they create a chapter in the anthology. The chapters are woven together into sections.

What are your plans for Story Chat Digest going forward?

Each year, I add a new dimension to Story Chat. Two years ago, I introduced two craft articles to the book. Last year, my husband introduced the idea of a Story Chat Digest featuring poems, art, and cartoons. The poems and artwork took off, and the craft articles became a permanent part of the program. 

This year, I have started a Craft Workshop, reusing the great articles that have come in and built a certificated online program around them. For each post, authors are invited to participate in practicing that particular skill. I don’t know how that will translate to the anthology yet.

Tell us a bit about your poetry and what inspires you to write

Writing poetry is like playing a word game for me. Whether it’s numbers of syllables that fit together to create a haiku or tanka, or rhymes and iambs, it’s always been a challenge to see how I can fit the words together to make something beautiful or fun. 

Much of my poetry often tells a story about an experience or observation rather than exploring strong emotions. Sometimes people who have influenced me, a photo, another poem, or frustrations like a pile of paperwork inspire my poetry. 

“Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed,” one of my favorite poems from my memoir, Embracing the Power to Live, imagines life from the perspective of a dog left at home while the family is at work. 

«…There are papers to chew when you tire of sleep,

And under the bed is a mess.

Corners of boxes and the rims of Mom’s glasses,

Stuff you’d never confess…»

I published my memoir on what would have been my mother’s 99th birthday, which makes it extra special for me.

Bloggers influenced my writing immensely. I had never written syllabic poetry until I participated in Tanka Tuesday. Now writing tankas is my favorite type of poetry. I was writing my book while reading Cindy Georgakas’s Celebrating Poetry. It was like being a cat sniffing words written in catnip. I’d read a poem, and have to respond. 

What’s next for Marsha Ingrao?

Thanks for asking, Robbie. I have no idea what the future holds. This year, I’ve been working on making my blog more user-friendly. Chatty (ChatGPT) says I’m cataloging a library. I started a newsletter to include my non-blogging friends as well, and it is starting to produce more intimate conversations because the responses aren’t public. 

This past week, I published an article on Substack as part of my research for my new book. My next book, The Quiet Power of Blogging, will be coming out soon. I’m excited about it because blogging has completed its manic phase, where everyone who thought they wanted to write or publish something, start a business, or do something that needed a website has hopped on and off the blogging arena.

What is left is a huge body of people committed not only to blogging but also to some portion of the enormous blogging community. They have discovered life within the community. Some people considering starting a blog may wonder whether blogging is a lost art. It is a changing art, for sure. 

Judging from the number of younger people in their twenties to forties who have taken it up, I’m inclined to say that it will continue to change and thrive in much the same ways the telephone has in the past 150 years. Instead of going out of style, phones are ubiquitous. 

Who knows what will happen to blogs, but as long as people want to communicate, write, and enjoy developing artistic skills, blogging of some type will be with us because there is power in sharing our words with others. Blogging is simply one of the most welcoming ways to do that. 

Thanks again for inviting me to be a part of your interview series. I am honored, but obviously not beyond words. I’m still loquacious. LOL Lots of love to you and all your readers and friends.

My review of Story Chat Digest Where Stories Meet: An Anthology of Short Stories & Poems

Story Chat Digest is a collection of poems and short stories contributed by bloggers from all over the world. What makes this collection unique is the way it has been compiled. Each section is introduced through a fictional virtual book club discussion with dialogues between the contributing bloggers about the stories and contributors. This enables the reader to get a feel for the backgrounds of the contributing bloggers in advance of reading their poems and stories. The short stories are followed by a few carefully selected comments in respect of the particular story and some book club questions. This made the reading experience different from other anthologies I’ve read. There is a wonderful selection of different storis and poems involving a wide variety of topics.

Of the stories the ones that remained with me the longest are All about Sophia by Nigel Byng, Going Home by Esther Chilton, The Shrew of Termagant Court by Gary A. Wilson, Before the Fruit Was Taken by Marsha Ingrao, and Coming Home by Sadje. All the stories were great reads but these ones had interesting ideas that I mulled over in my head for some time after reading them. There is also some wonderful poetry from several talented poets. Geoff Le Pard’s commentary about his father’s poetry and the related poems was particularly touching for me.

For amateur authors who are wanting to learn more about the craft, Hugh W Roberts contributed an insightful article on writing flash fiction which is packed with useful tips and advice. There is a selection of flash fiction written for the same prompt following Hugh’s flash fiction guidance which was entertaining to read. I am always delighted to read all the different ideas and inspirations for the same prompt. It really does demonstrate the spectrum of human imagination.

This is a wonderful collection for readers who like a wide variety of thought provoking stories and powerful poems that make you think.

Purchase Story Chat Digest: Where Stories Meet from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0GRKS8QDD/

About Marsha Ingrao

Marsha Ingrao is an author, editor, and founder of Story Chat Digest, an interactive literary community where writers and readers connect through short stories, poetry, and thoughtful discussion.

A retired educator, she brings a lifelong love of learning and storytelling to her work. She is the editor of the Story Chat Digest anthology series, international collections that reflect the voices and conversations of a global writing community. Her most recent volume is Where Stories Meet.

She is also the author of Embracing the Power to Live, a reflective, poetic memoir on resilience, faith, and personal growth.

In addition, she has contributed to multiple anthologies and is the author of Images of America: Woodlake, published by Arcadia Publishing.

Through her long-running blog, Always Write, Marsha shares stories, reflections, and creative inspiration while inviting readers to engage, respond, and become part of the storytelling experience.

About Robbie Cheadle

South African author, photographer, and artist, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated seventeen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, written and illustrated four poetry books and written and illustrated one celebration of cake and fondant art book with recipes. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

Social Media Links

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVyFo_OJLPqFa9ZhHnCfHUA
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15584446.Robbie_Cheadle
TSL Publications: https://tslbooks.uk/product-tag/robbie-cheadle/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Robbie-Cheadle/author/B01N9J62GQ
Unsplash profile: https://unsplash.com/@r_cheadle