Chasing the Wild Goose

12/05/2025

❄️ Snow has officially landed in Missoula and it seems likely here to stay until spring. Does that mean I can finally concentrate on my writing?

….or maybe it just means it’s ski season? ⛷️ 😜

06/24/2025

May you always look as good as you do on a Polaroid taken by a bestie.

Back on campus for residency but this time as a graduate assistant. I just can’t stay away.

My experience at VCFA is now a part of my core. It’s in my writing, in how I interact with the world—my confidence and stride.

Brié the writer doesn’t exist without this community. I wouldn’t want to.

There’s a lot going on in our world right now. I think the best thing you can do is to find your community. Forever grateful for mine 💙

05/11/2025

Loud. Bright. Strong. Kind. Undeniably yourself. Too much for even your own family. Mom, what a legacy you left.

I missed out on having you as a mother, that’s for sure.

I think about all you would have taught me and try it on for size. Sometimes I even keep those traits. Loudness, kindness, wildness.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Loud, bright, and badass women I know. You make the world a better place for us all. Love you ❤️

04/26/2025

Do No Disturb. I’ll be here writing the next great American Novel. Or at least trying alongside my writing bestie.

08/12/2024

Hey, fellow writers! Submitting your work to literary magazines is essential to having your book published. Hunger Mountain is having our bi-annual CNF, Fiction, and Poetry contest.

Submit your best work for a chance to win $500!

If you can't submit or aren't a writer, please consider sharing to support Fine Arts!

Love you all!

Hunger Mountain is the VCFA Journal of the Arts

08/05/2024

Remi and Jax are beyond ecstatic that their dog dad is on his second week as a full-time photographer. Now he has more time for morning trail runs, snuggles, and treats.

I’m super proud of Shawn for believing in himself! Missoula friends, if you need headshots, branding photos, wedding or family photos, Shawn is your guy!

Now that the dogs are sleeping from their park adventure with dad today, I guess that means I have to go write!!

07/11/2024

It’s 1000 degrees outside, which means I’m inside hiding until it’s appropriate. So let’s pretend it’s an appropriate temperature and my sweet family and I are out playing in the sprinklers 😜.

Thanks for capturing these memories .gremaux!

07/08/2024

Excited to be joining the Hunger Mountain team as the Associate Managing Editor alongside .a.m.i.e.l.i! Thanks to our Managing Editor for taking us under your wing.

In celebration obviously called for a proper photoshoot.

P.S. we have contests going right now for fiction, CNF and poetry!!

06/29/2024

Vibrant, spunky, loved. That’s who I remember in this photo. A version of me that was derailed two years later when my parents died and our family’s life was altered.

I’m not sure I have or will ever get back to who that little girl would have been. What I do know is there were people along my path who stopped to help me. From small gifts, special attention, helping me write my college applications, making sure I landed that first job out of college, or spending hours talking to me on fb messenger about life; these helpers were essential to making sure I didn’t self destruct inside my lonely world.

All this to say, if you were one of those people, thank you (will never be enough).

Tomorrow I’ll run the (Half lol). I joined the Run4Kids Team for 1, to ensure I finished what I started. For 2, because programs like theirs are essential to helping foster youth (like I once was), thrive in a world where they start without the same love and support that many get. Please considering donating!

https://www.runsignup.com/brienshawn

04/09/2024

Using these stunning photos by as an opportunity to give a life update. If you are on the East Coast, I highly recommend 💙

I realized I haven’t updated you in quite a while. Shawn and I are now living full-time in Missoula, Montana. We are pretty obsessed with the small town, open spaces, and plethora of off-leash dog trails.

Shawn is working full-time at Rocky Mountain School of Photography and absolutely loves it. He is also a wedding and portrait photographer.

I have a full-time remote job, and I am going to graduate school at to earn my MFA in Creative Non-Fiction.

Turns out writing about your life, aka your trauma, is hard. Who would have thought? 2022 to now was mostly a blur as I processed/avoided a lot of things I have kept deep, deep, deep in a hole hidden behind a trap door. Creative Non-Fiction is not for the faint of heart, y’all.

We have two cats who love going on walks with us, and of course, Remi and Jax are still in the band. I think that’s it for now? Also, I’m a Jeep girl.

I’d love to know what you are up to lately and where you are in life!

10/25/2023

What a magical summer we’ve spent in Montana. We explored new trails, swam in freezing cold lakes and found fun around every corner.

I came thinking we were headed back to the East Coast in August but the Mountain West won me over. Or maybe your love for this town did.

The first snow has hit which makes me that much more grateful for the wonderful summer and fall we experienced. Nowwwww I’m sooo excited to go skiing!! Bring on more snow!!

This incredible image was taken by our talented friend .handmade.co . I can’t wait to share more!!