I’ve been reading a lot of self-help and memoir lately for…a project. I must admit, I was skeptical of the self-help genre as a whole, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised! Squeezed a few novels in there too, of course. My brain requires fiction to properly function.
Read MoreIn October of last year, the devil paid me a visit—I hear he does that. I started writing lots of little micros, all featuring the Prince of Darkness in various forms. I’m honored that HAD published two of them this week.
Read MoreEver since I created My Parents Are Dead: What Now?, I’ve been writing more about the loss of my parents and how difficult it is to untangle their estate. I’m honored that Salon featured a personal essay of mine today: “My parents are dead—can I afford avocado toast now?”
Read MoreAfter 3.5 years, I finally caught COVID-19. My fever broke, but I’m still in the quarantine period—so this is probably a good time to tell you what I read in June and July, right?
Read MoreSince it’s almost July, I should probably tell you about the books I read in May. Don’t you think?
Read MoreI suspect when I listen to my Summer 2023 playlist in the future, I’ll realize how upset I was about my dad’s death—more so than now, when I’m actually in it. There’s rage and sorrow here. But I’m dancing through it.
Read MoreWhen my dad died in March, I became executor and successor trustee for his estate. I had lots of questions, and few answers. So I made a website about it: https://www.deadparentswhatnow.com
Read MoreIn the immediate aftermath of my dad’s death, April was a rough month for me. But I still managed to read some incredible books. To devour some incredible books might be more accurate.
Read MoreThe past two months I’ve been subjected to extreme emotional whiplash. In February, I went to Stockholm for my birthday—what a treat! And in March, my dad entered hospice and swiftly died. Somehow, through all of it, reading remained a constant comfort.
Read MoreSo, my dad died. It sucks. And even though I’ve been curating songs for this year’s Spring playlist for a while, I think the selections reflect the trauma of the situation—musically, if not lyrically. But they also reflect the sweet nostalgia of memories, and the rawness of fresh starts.
Read MoreI thought December was ridiculous—and then I read TEN BOOKS in January. The pages are a nice place to hibernate for the winter.
Read MoreSometimes things slow down at work and you read nine books in a single month. I am living proof.
Read MoreThrough the end of October and November, I decided to learn more about metal, since it’s a genre I’ve hitherto largely neglected. I figured that exploration would have an impact on my winter playlist this year—and it absolutely did not. Not even a little. Instead the playlist ended up being weirdly chart-toppery? The heart wants what it wants, I guess.
Read MoreWith the exception of one audiobook, I dedicated the month of November to Tamsyn Muir’s Locked Tomb series—easily some of the best books I’ve read in recent years. We do bones, motherfucker.
Read MoreGiven my dad’s diagnosis, I think I may have gone overboard using Spooky Season to buoy my mental health. I got really into it. But then, can you ever have too much Spooky Season?
Read MoreI always try to start my spooky season a little bit early, so there are definitely a few horror stories here—plus some other stuff. Variety is the spice of life.
Read MoreBecause I’m usually working on longer projects, it’s rare for me to publish new stories in general. Two in one week is bananas. Enormously grateful to Necessary Fiction for sharing “Hell of a Game,” and to Okay Donkey for giving a home to “Ka, Ba, and Akh.”
Read MoreMy dad has been sick, so I’ve been driving back and forth between Kentucky and Wisconsin to help take care of him. Things have felt uncertain, and I think that bled into my 2022 Fall Playlist—jittery, restless. But “restless” can encompass different motivations—there’s an uncomfortable restlessness here, but also a hopeful, dreamy one.
Read MoreMy dad is having some health problems, so I’ve been driving back and forth between Louisville and Wisconsin a lot—which means my audiobook consumption went through the roof in August.
Read MoreMy July in reading was all about finishing different series—with a few one-offs thrown in there for variety.
Read More