This is the second book review from my random picture book game. (For those who missed my last post: I randomly grabbed two picture books from the library to do reviews for my blog. It’s not only a chance for me to find new treasures, it’s a fun challenge to do a review on a… Continue reading Book Review: There’s a Dragon Downstairs
While at the library grabbing books for my daughter in the picture book section, I decided to do an experiment. I reached out randomly and grabbed two books for myself to read and review. So far, I’ve reviewed books I purposefully chose and then decided I wanted blog about. These two upcoming reviews, and probably… Continue reading Book Review: Steamboat School by Deborah Hopkinson
A big thank you to my dear friend Jason for encouraging me to broaden my horizons and recommending The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers. The King in Yellow is a series of short stories, four of which focus on the King in Yellow, while other stories vary in subject. I will start with the… Continue reading Book Review: The King in Yellow
Sweat drenches my body. I push, grind my teeth against pain I don’t feel. I am given a tiny form, naked and wet, whose sweet face I don’t see. I wake at night, my breasts heavy, in response to a cry I don’t hear. It’s a boy. I… Continue reading Wicked Light
Brian Lies visited Hollins University the summer of 2017. I had the great pleasure of meeting him and listening to him give a talk and a workshop about his process. One of the books he used as an example was The Rough Patch. I wasted no time in signing up to get a copy as… Continue reading Book Review: The Rough Patch by Brian Lies
I am contemplating writing a novel in verse to process my recent miscarriage. Whether or not I will pursue publication if/when it is finished is undecided for now. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My Anger Is my only pulse. Solidifies my bones. Fills my void. My anger is the only real in this surreal cloud. My anger is the… Continue reading (WIP) My Anger
The beginning of my dark fairy tale / Steampunk short story. Warning: it is very dark. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Miss Muffet, step aside,” detective Humonds barked. Molly jerked her gaze from the heart laying in the dirt. The forensic team waited impatiently for her to move. She stepped to the side, dust swirling around her skirts as… Continue reading (WIP) Excerpt from Along Came A Spider
I learned a great deal about editing during my years at Hollins, and I hope to continue learning the best way to edit. The truth remains that it’s easier to edit someone else’s work. It’s hard to see what needs work in your own projects. Here are some tips I hope you can keep in… Continue reading Editing Tips
Little Blue Truck Leads the Way, written by Alice Schertle and illustrated by Jull McElmurry. When a picture book with beautiful illustrations, a unique story, and a rhyme that isn’t forced finds its way into my hands, I am happy to read it over and over again at the request of my toddler. There are… Continue reading Book Review: Little Blue Truck Leads the Way
One of my assignments at Hollins was to do a retelling of the Little Mermaid from a different character’s perspective. Some of my classmates chose the witch, some a sister, some a side-kick. I was the only one who chose the father. Parents are often brushed to the side, or even killed off, in fiction.… Continue reading The Father of the Little Mermaid