First day of fall, and I’m editing my horror manuscript that I hope to send to my agents soon. Feels good.

Chief of War finale went hard. So good

I prepare for rain in LA the way I used to prepare for ice storms in Rochester

I wrote 9,000 words today to finish a manuscript. I’ve never done that, ever, but the finale needed to be finished. Wow. Lots of work to be done, but I can’t believe this first draft is complete.

Been doing errands to get ready for my daughter’s birthday, had twenty minutes to write, felt good. Almost at 80k in my slasher project. Almost at the really fun part where everyone (okay not *everyone*) dies.

PREMEDITATED (my second book) has officially been accepted by my editors, and is already in copy edits. Always a good feeling.

First time at The Last Bookstore Studio City. Enjoyed talking to our audience of writers. Thank you to Charlotte Lillie Balogh for organizing such a fun event!

Someone kindly told me today that I have the vibes of a horror writer, and I felt so seen.

Cleaned out my purse before my event tonight: had 15 lipsticks/lip glosses. Narrowed it down to 5!

My favorite ASMR is walking by tennis courts and hearing the balls hit the rackets.

I think a lot of (impatient) drivers would benefit from putting their windows down and blasting some Iration

It might be 95 degrees outside, but it’s a chilly autumnal night in my heart.

what I say whenever there are worries

Pumpkin chocolate chip bread is in the oven. Smells incredible

I prefer to write a little bit every single day. For me it’s like drinking coffee. Could I skip a day? I probably could. But would I be a miserable grouch? I probably would be.

Did a fun house walk-by. I did not go in (because I’ve read JOYLAND.)

Walked through a carnival tonight. Just always straight up horror movie vibes right? Like, it’s a liminal place

Almost there

The Washington Post has an article about school shootings, and I finally brought myself to look at it, and seeing the images from the aftermath of the Uvalde classrooms is harrowing. I want to throw up. This is a never-ending nightmare. There is so much sadness in my heart.

Well, I was at the grocery store today and thought this man in the aisle looked familiar and I think it was Chris Hemsworth. If it wasn’t him, then it was like a 6’ 4” man who looks identical to him, but since this is the valley, I’m thinking it was him…!

So I finally have grasped that ‘crashing out’ means freaking out. I like the crash cart-ness of it but, it has not made its way into my own lexicon yet.

Me seeing a denim dress: ‘that’s so cute’ My closet full of denim dresses: ‘girl…’

Chappell Roan’s cover of ‘Barracuda’ is amazing. Also the gothic looks, incredible.

Since I took a pic of him last week, he has definitely moved. Leaning more, today. Did someone climb up there and move him? Did he do it himself…?

Starting Virgo season off right by writing some body horror

Always looking for new books for my preschooler and this one, BERRY SONG by Michaela Goade, is so gorgeous. Highly recommend

There is a woman I follow on TikTok who talks about her experience with amniotic fluid embolism, and she estimates she had about 90 to 100 blood products over the course of a few hours after having a baby. 90 to ONE HUNDRED? I had 1 and it was an emergency situation. I can’t imagine.

There are a few hundred crows (feels & sounds like 1,000 but probably not quite that many, maybe 500?) who depart the trees by my home in the early morning and return early evening and it’s like the flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz, the sky is black with them. One of the wildest things I’ve seen.

If you’ve moved somewhere during your formative years, do you ever catch yourself sounding like so [insert place you live now]? On the phone I said ‘body’ and it sounded *so* Californian. Way different than how it used to sound (baah-dy.) My Rochester accent is pretty much gone

Happy Texas Chainsaw Day! I convinced my non-horror watching husband to see this with me at Hollywood Forever when they screened it a few years ago on the big screen (or maybe mausoleum is more accurate)

Took my daughter to Disneyland yesterday. The highlight for her was meeting Spider-Man. I got this cold brew that was so dang sweet but I needed the caffeine, so I downed it. The best one is in Star Wars land, though. Should have never deviated.

Hit 60,000 words today in this diner in LA, and this story is set here so feels kind of magical

This little guy is keeping watch while I write at this diner

Now that my second book has been officially turned in, I get to return to my passion (slasher) project.

One of the parents at preschool drop off has Ghostface plastered all over their car, and I’m trying to judge a book by its cover to figure out who it is, but I can’t tell yet. They must be stealth

Yeah, I’m obsessed with Ben Platt’s Diet Pepsi cover

Mom life is working at the gym cafe because you need to get an hour of writing in and they have child care (also it’s so fun for her, so double win)

I saw a TikTok that talked about 90s parents who didn’t let their kids watch The Simpsons but allowed Unsolved Mysteries. This was me. Couldn’t watch any adult cartoons but I watched a lot of CourtTV which was definitely way, way more disturbing. Definitely had a lot of insomnia because of that

Just submitted a new short story today, during daylight hours, since my child is at school. A weird feeling!

Just finished the second episode of Chief of War. Really good

Turned in my second book! Now I only have to read the email I already sent 5 times and view the attachments a few more times, too.

Double checking the timelines in my book (but don’t worry we’re not even at copy editing yet)

I’m about to have a school-aged child. Can’t believe it

You ever re-read a draft of your own book and kind of get lost in it, like you forgot you even wrote it? Happening to me now.

You ever have a word you’re just obsessed with? For a while, mine was moldering. Came across it in a book just now and thought: yes, it’s a good one.

Well, we tried to stop the portal, but it looks like it’s opening anyway. Oh well. We open for submissions at midnight. Ish. Horror. Up to 6,000 words, including flash. Originals and reprints: you may submit one of each. Don’t agonise over your cover letter. Just send us a brilliant story.

Trailer for AMERICAN SWEATSHOP is so good

I have COVID, and coffee tastes bad, which is my horror movie 😔

I’d love to see Jack White make a cameo in film as a vampire one of these days

"Are you wearing th—" "The Tecovas x Chili’s cowboy boots made from Chili’s booth leather? Yeah, I am."