Whenever the end of the year rolls around, I read a ton of books in an effort to boost my annual count—which, by the way, was officially 74 in 2023. This past December I had lots of extra time to read while I was semi-vacationing in Santa Fe, so I really went for it.
Read MoreA very professional title for this post. I’m not freaking out or anything. Which is all to say: yes, what the title says. I’m writing a book. My Parents Are Dead: What Now? A Practical Guide to Your Life After Their Death—based on my dead parents website—is forthcoming from Quirk Books.
Read MoreI struggled with my winter playlist this year. Incorporating so many genres (arguably too many) made it difficult to find successful transitions between songs. But I managed it eventually. If you’re tired after last year—I certainly am—this playlist will speak to you.
Read MoreMy article made Salon’s list of their 10 most popular life stories of 2023. We’re #2! We’re #2!
Read MoreHope you’re enjoying my little Devil stories, because Paranoid Tree was kind enough to publish another: “I Saw Goody Proctor Help the Devil Rotate a PDF.”
Read MoreNovember is still spooky season, in my opinion. And I got through even more spooky books in November than I did in October.
Read MoreSpooky season, spooky books. I don’t make the rules.
Read MoreI never thought I’d be asked to write specifically for an audience of funeral industry professionals! But here we are. Check out my article “Funerals, Meet Millennials” for Connecting Directors. I also gave a presentation on the topic for Nerd Nite Louisville.
Read MoreI’m not sure this has ever happened to me since I started methodically keeping track of the books I read—but I only read one book in September. One.
Read MoreToday Insider was kind enough to publish another article (a listicle, in fact) that I wrote based on my dead parents website: “My parents are dead. Here are the 5 most important things I’ve learned as executor.”
Read MoreJust in time for this weekend’s autumnal equinox, I give you my Fall 2023 Playlist. I genuinely don’t know how I got this one to work, but I did. Power ballads? Rap? Céline Dion? All there. You’re welcome.
Read MoreI’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.
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