On Taste & Its Influences

In which I shop genealogy Recently I got way too worked up (as usual) over music (as usual). Or, not so much the music itself as the reason behind its place in my life. I was wondering about the way I’d come to appreciate certain genres and artists and whether it would have worked outContinue reading “On Taste & Its Influences”

On Writing (About Other People)

In which there will be hot takes Hi all. This week I wanted to do another post about the act of writing, since I haven’t done one in a while, and since I’ve written much nonfiction in the past couple years even beyond what I do here. Moving to Berlin marked a shift in theContinue reading “On Writing (About Other People)”

Monologue: The Taxi Driver in “Leaving on a Jet Plane”

In which I give a background character (at best) a chance to shine Oh my God it is so cold. Pretty far from my ideal 6:53 a.m. Not that I minded driving twenty minutes out of our way right off the bat after this guy practically begged me to stop at his girlfriend’s place—the moreContinue reading “Monologue: The Taxi Driver in “Leaving on a Jet Plane””

A spot of publishing news!

In which I am in (and out) Because I’m a flash kind of gal lately: a short short story of mine entitled “The American Teenage Classic Graduation Farewell” appears in the forthcoming anthology Intermissions (out 1 November, Grattan Street Press). A printed thing for a nice change. I’ve been spotlighted in an author interview—under theContinue reading “A spot of publishing news!”

All Along the Gender Spectrum

In which I chart the self Monday was National Coming Out Day in my home country. I have no specific coming out to do, but I thought I would reflect on how my understanding of myself has evolved especially over the past few years. I’ve always identified as female, and while I don’t necessarily foreseeContinue reading “All Along the Gender Spectrum”

For the peckish…

…the second issue of The Birdseed drops today, featuring tiny works like breadcrumbs, of which my “Taxi” is one! So encouraging to see mags cropping up explicitly to dedicate space to the pieces that don’t take up much. Page through the sections—the cumulative effect will put you in a real October mood. 🍂 And speakingContinue reading “For the peckish…”

A presto, Dante Alighieri!

In which I peer into the passato remoto (like, molto molto remoto) Dante, the poet of Italy, so famous the last name is basically superfluous, died seven hundred years ago today. Seven HUNDRED years. WHAT. He had contracted malaria while staying in Ravenna at the request of its prince, Guido II da Polenta. Scholars estimateContinue reading “A presto, Dante Alighieri!”

New Fears from Pandemic Me

Or, a year and a half in mini-phobias I realized I ought to counterbalance the habits list, because these eighteen months haven’t been all new quirks and self-improvement and bleak jokes about the End Times. Here are some things I’ve developed irrational, or maybe rational, aversions to—some of which are really just the habits’ flipContinue reading “New Fears from Pandemic Me”

Never Write a Hasty Review or You Will Live to Regret It

In which I CANNOT let it be (naked) Last week I read Juliet, Naked, a novel by the illustrious Nick Hornby. It’s the third novel of his I’ve read (if you don’t count State of the Union as a novel), the first two being High Fidelity and About a Boy. Given that Hornby has madeContinue reading “Never Write a Hasty Review or You Will Live to Regret It”