My March in reading
I only read eight books in March. Only eight! A trifling amount! Not really—it just means I had slightly more of a life last month. Probably a good thing, right?
Read MoreSpring 2021 Playlist: Annotated
Maybe it has something to do with being stuck inside for a whole year, but this year’s Spring playlist leans pretty hard into the concept of Spring itself. Normally I avoid songs that mention the season in question, but not this time. My body wants to be outside in the sunshine.
Read MoreIf at first you don't succeed, appear on a podcast
The other week I tweeted about my experience working with my agent to sell my second novel—and how our efforts had not succeeded. Which somehow got me invited onto the Joined Up Writing Podcast! My episode is out today.
Read MoreMy February in reading
In the dark, chilly days of February, I often like to read science fiction. Looking out my window is like looking out into deep space—especially this year, when I’m still stranded in the little satellite of my apartment, wondering when I can come back to Earth. But sci-fi’s not all I read during my birthday month.
Read MoreMy January in reading
I somehow read eleven books in January? Damn, I’m impressive. The other day I learned that the French phrase for “bookworm” is “buveur d’encre,” which means INK DRINKER. Not only does it perfectly describe the start of 2021 for me, but it’s also now the name of my imaginary goth rock band.
Read More2020 Reading in Review
In 2020, I decided to track metrics for the books I read throughout the year. Not only did I want to know how many books I read, but what kind of books. Was I reading too many white authors? How many small press books versus Big 5 publishers did I read? I kept these statistics and more in a gigantic spreadsheet, and here are the results—my first ever Reading in Review.
Read MoreMy December in reading
Whenever winter hits, I get really into sweeping, dramatic period pieces. And/or books that are actually from those historical periods. Either works! Much of my December reading was of that genre—but there was more, of course.
Read MoreWinter 2020/21 Playlist: Annotated
I honestly think my Winter playlists are some of the best—the season is the most versatile. Glittering snow, iced-over mud, bleak cloud cover. In the case of this year’s playlist, it calls for everything from sparkly disco to the quietest folk strains.
Read MoreMy November in reading
Holy cow I read a lot in November. Let’s get right to it.
Read MoreElvis + Marriage + Cars
So pleased that Trash Magazine published my series of linked micros “True Love Travels on a Gravel Road” today! If you like Elvis Presley, marital bliss, and cars with weird names, this one’s for you. To celebrate, here are three facts about these pieces.
Read MoreMy October in reading
Like most people, I try to squeeze in a few horror novels for spooky szn. Read some excellent ones this year.
Read MoreMy September in reading
I love the unpredictability of September. Will it burn like Summer? Will it bluster like Fall? My reading list for the month is similarly changeable.
Read MoreFall 2020 Playlist: Annotated
It’s finally cooled down in Chicago, which means that it’s time, once again, for a Fall Playlist. It was hard to corral this one into an effective order; the songs range from sprawling electronic melodies to quiet folk tunes.
Read MoreMy August in reading
This was a great month for books, people. I read some stunners.
Read MoreMy July in reading
According to writer Twitter, lots of people are having trouble reading these days—but not me. I can’t concentrate on TV shows or movies at all, but books are working out just fine, as evidenced by my extensive July reading list.
Read MoreCraft classes in quarantine
There’s a lot to worry about these days (understatement of the year). But one good thing about the whole world being stuck inside is that so many literary events and classes have moved online, making them more accessible. I’ve been fortunate enough to take several craft workshops with some of my favorite authors over the past few months, and I figured I’d share my favorite takeaway from each class with you.
Read MoreMy spring(?) in reading (continued)
May and June moved so quickly that they arguably only count as one month. And most of June is technically still spring. Anyway, here’s what I read.
Read MoreSummer 2020 Playlist: Annotated
Summer is here, which means it is time, once again, for some jams. Some themes: 1960s France, modern disco revival, Black indie artists.
Read MoreCoffee's not my cup of tea
I do miss writing in coffee shops, though—which is why, when Atlas and Alice put out a call for micros for their special GLOBAL PANDEMIC x THE THING I TOOK FOR GRANTED issue, I knew exactly what to write about. They were kind enough to publish my first-ever creative nonfiction piece “I don’t miss coffee, but” earlier this week.
Read MoreMy spring in reading (continued)
Did April truly exist? It felt like no time at all, but it must have happened—I read so many books! So. Many. Books.
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