Writes
Bunnytails & Grunting Starfish It was a quick jaunt down the island on a road with terrific ocean views and I was grateful. Grateful for not having to play dodge the cars in my nicer clothes. I had dressed up to assure my more fashionable friends that I have more than t-shirts and joggers. I was still wearing jeans, but… Continue reading Haint Party, Chapter 4
Ghost Rider We were about to leave when Spencer spun around at the door, “Wait! I forgot something.” He ushered us into the kitchen, where he told us to wait while he jogged to his room. I didn’t have a clue what he could be doing. We glanced at one another as we waited and said nothing as Spencer seemed… Continue reading Haint Party, Chapter 3
One Helluva Shiner As I walked into the house’s expansive coastal kitchen, I was hit by the cold air of the air conditioner and I shivered myself aware of how much I needed to pee. I looked around for a door, but was paused by my view. I could see through a row of massive picture windows that dwarfed the… Continue reading Haint Party, Chapter 2
Dani’s Arrival I took too much time feeling old in the mirror. There were new grey hairs in my eyebrows. It had started with my right eyebrow but both were now giving off serious mad scientist energy. My stomach growled and I remembered I had a muffin hidden in the breadbox. I had washed it down with another sip of… Continue reading Haint Party, Chapter 1
A queer Southern Gothic wedding with a bruise, a trellis, and way too many secrets. Last time I told you there was a manuscript gathering dust in the attic. This was once its prologue. Now it’s just the first open door. Welcome to Haint Party. It is messy, queer, a little magical, and definitely fueled by wedding chaos. Think of… Continue reading Haint Party: Prologue
On abandoned rooms, forgotten manuscripts, and the stories we’re finally ready to tell… There’s a room in my head I haven’t opened in months. It’s beautifully decorated. Tasteful. The kind of space where you’d serve tea in matching cups and speak in your most articulate voice. Everything has its place. The books are alphabetized. The light hits just right at… Continue reading Why I Burned My Old Brand (And Left the Lights On Anyway)
On ditching the book, finding my voice, and giving myself permission to be messy So here’s the thing—Found in the Margins never felt like me. It was pretty, sure. Poetic, even. But every time I sat down to write, I felt like I was wearing someone else’s blazer. Professional. Proper. Completely suffocating. This? This chaotic, punchy, say-whatever-grabs-me energy? This is… Continue reading Let's Be Honest: I Hated My Own Brand
…a personal story This morning I received an email that someone had cited my doctoral dissertation in their research. I didn’t believe it, but it was a google alert. Who would fake those? It might be tougher to do so, but then I checked my profile on google scholar, something I haven’t done since I graduated in 2020. Yep, I… Continue reading You've been cited!
Reflections on writing, fear, and a bachelorette party that goes very, very wrong I’m doing my very last round of edits before handing this book to my wife, who will give it the final pass and tell me exactly where I’ve gone off the rails and believe me, she will. After that… it’s time to publish. Gulp. The goal? The… Continue reading Editing My Ghosts (and My Book)
