I’ve wanted/dreamed/struggled for years to find a literary agent. I remember sitting in a quiet corner of the Northgate branch of the Seattle Public Library, hunched over a table with The Sell Your Novel Tool Kit (Elizabeth Lyon) lying open beside me as I tried to painstakingly write out a query letter. Every sentence was agony. It was like learning a new language in which I…
Hello all! In case you missed my announcements on social media, here is a link to my newest story, "Common Speech," which was released earlier this month on the beautiful and evocative Escape Pod podcast. The narrator, Ibba Armancas, gave a phenomenal and heartfelt performance. I'm so impressed by and grateful for the emotional nuance she delivered to the storytelling! The image on this post is…
With nominations for the Nebula Awards just around the corner, it's time to post my list of works published in 2022 that are eligible in the Short Story categories of the Nebulas and Hugos, etc. Links to read the stories online will be posted below when available. A huge thank you to my critique group, to my enthusiastic readers, and to the editors who've shown passion…
It began as a compulsion. I needed more regular infusions of writing nerds in my life and I was really wising up to that fact. Also, I'd discovered that one major preventative for depression symptoms (more about my mental health journey can be found here) is to keep planning good things in my future so that I can look forward to them. At the tail end…
My friends, I am *so excited* to share this audiobook project with you!! Today is the release day for the audiobook of “Untrained Luck,” which has been beautifully produced by The Storyteller Series podcast. There’s something particularly special about hearing your words read out loud. They take on a life of their own in a way that transcends the limits of the written word. I remember…
It's been a few years since I first struck upon the idea of emotion-infused paint and you've probably heard me yammer about lumastration in one way or another, by this point! This particular story is a dark one; about how far we're willing to push ourselves and what we're willing to sacrifice to achieve our ambitions. It's the wicked side of the looking glass; peering into…
I'm pleased to announce that my short story "Focal Point" is now available from Haven Speculative! This is my second published story from my lumastration universe (and I have two more in the pipeline that are awaiting their own publication days)! This story began as a much larger novelette, an exploration of grief, shameful secrets, and the vulnerability of the road to emotional healing, all through…
I'm pleased to present this new short story, "First Leaf" which is available to read online for free as part of FIYAH Literary Magazine's Special Palestine Issue. This story is what I call a feminist fairy tale and, due to its emotional nature and message, it was more challenging for me to write than many of my other stories. This is one that I felt in…
I have been honored to see three pieces published this year! They're eligible for awards in this nomination season, so if you enjoyed any or all, I would appreciate your vote!! My Work: "Drowned Prison" (Galaxy's Edge, January 2021) - When a series of unexplained murders arises among the inmates of Kardag Prison, the search for answers brings a warden and a master painter into questions…
As I get ready to head into a much-needed writing retreat (yay!), I wanted to share something with you that is both "new" and not new. This video was recorded a few years ago, but I had yet to see the completed product until recently! This brief interview was done at the end of my involvement with the Cascadia Residency (now called the Brehm Residency). Through…