a story that gets bogged down in the details. peat fiction

This is just to say I have eaten the swans that were in the duck pond and which you were probably saving for the King Forgive me they were delicious so white and so necky

Good evening, everyone! For today's edition of Omnivorous I wrote about how "Only Murders in the Building" got its groove back by returning to basics. open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...

It’s so depressing watching the dumbest people in America drive this country into a ditch …. Again

As I'm working on getting the queer Appalachian romantasy ready for publication in a couple of months, I've started drawing a map. This is much harder than it looks, but I really do think a map is a necessity in any fantasy book.

After watching Him last night, my boyfriend turned to me and said, I shit you not, "That was the worst film I've seen in 25 years." 😂

Happy Wednesday, everyone! For today's edition of Omnivorous I talked about my recent experience at the Writers Association of Northern Appalachia Conference and how it gave me just the inspiration and sense of community I needed at this stage of my writing career. open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...

I'm reading the MS for the queer Appalachian romantasy aloud--polishing and tidying as I go--and...I actually kind of like it? What is this feeling, that I don't loathe my writing?!

I watched The History of Sound last night. I'm sad to say I didn't love it. It has its moving moments--particularly its final scenes--but it's too long, the stars aren't on-screen together often enough, and it just lacks a certain spark. Full review coming on Saturday!

It's another beautiful day to support your local library and the secular saints who work there, including their social media gurus, like yours truly. ;-)

Happy Tuesday, everyone! For today's (late) edition of Omnivorous I reviewed the first season of St. Denis Medical, which is a delightfully bonkers sitcom that offers a much-needed escape. open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...

Well, I worked up the blurb. I'm pretty okay with this version, though obviously I'm going to keep tinkering. Happy to take any thoughts or suggestions or impressions, though!

Somehow I'd managed to forget what a huge pain in the ass it is to write the blurb for a book. I'm already on my third draft today, and I'm slowly distilling my story down to its most sellable elements. Onward!

In case it wasn't clear already, this account is a safe space for trans folk. I have been and will continue to be an advocate for trans and nonbinary people. Not because I know so many folks who are, but because it's the fucking decent thing to do.

I'm working on the next-to-last round of revisions for my queer Appalachian romantasy, and I read the first chapter to my partner last night and 2 things: 1) he liked it! (he's not a fan of genre, so that's a win); and 2) I liked it (I hate my writing sometimes, so that's also a win).

This administration doesn't want you to think so, but they lose constantly. Especially when people stand up to their bullying. They are not inevitable, they actually suck at this.

Libraries are so cool. Whenever I'm away from home and need a place to hang out between things, I find a library. There's a bathroom, a water fountain, chairs, and I can read, meditate, use the computers, or just be, and no one tries me make me buy anything.

The escape the horrors I’ve been watching lots of sitcoms. Tonight’s are Long Story Short and Haunted Hotel. Truly delightful animated comedies. More of this, please.

Happy Monday, everyone! For today's edition of Omnivorous I reviewed Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, which is a beautiful love letter to its legions of fans. open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...

Though I still have days where I'm not convinced I'm worthy of being taken seriously as an (indie) author, going to a writing conference went a long way toward convincing me that, yes, I am indeed a writer and me and my work deserve to be taken seriously.

I'm not sure which is more infuriating. The Right's cynical decision to use trans people as their newest scapegoat, or so many Americans' willingness to swallow the bait hook, line, and sinker. Fuck this shit.

It's Swoony Sunday over at Omnivorous, where I reviewed Alexis Hall's Paris Daillencourt is About to Crumble. While it has its charming moments, overall I found this one to be quite a slog. Ah well. On to the next one! open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...

Happy Saturday, everyone! For today's edition of Omnivorous I reviewed episodes 4-6 of Alien: Earth, truly one of the great sci-fi series on-air right now. open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...

Beyond thrilled to be at my first writing conference (the Writers Association of Northern Appalachia).

Good evening, everyone! Sorry for the late edition, but for today's edition of Omnivorous I reviewed T. Kingfisher's A Sorceress Comes to Call, another delightful dark fairy tale. Consider me a fan! open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...

Happy Thursday, everyone! For today's edition of Omnivorous I reviewed the first season of Happy's Place, which I found to be a delightful sitcom, one that pays homage to the form while also acknowledging the diversity of today's American South. open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...

In 20 years people are going to be like, "How did we let the humanities die and usher in an age of despotism, sociopathy, and illiteracy?" Because, as with so many things--vaccines come to mind--we really don't appreciate how essential they are until we feel the consequences of not having them.

I am beyond thrilled that I'm booked with bookish events for the next 4 (FOUR!) weekends. I never dreamt that so many people would want to read my queer Appalachian romance, but I'm so blessed to have these opportunities and to spread some queer love and joy in these dark times.

A grim reminder: these people will never be satisfied. There’s no point at which they will say “we’ve won, let’s enjoy life.” They will always be looking for someone else to punish, to revile, to dehumanize. They’re empty without that.

Happy Wednesday, everyone1 For today's Way Back edition of Omnivorous I wrote about the sixth episode of Outlander: Blood of My Blood, and how the show is already showing a fatal weakness by using rampant sexual assault as a storytelling crutch. open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...

I truly do not understand this national panic that has erupted over trans people. Aside from the fact that they, like everyone, deserve basic human decency, they're such a small segment of the population. Is the Right really so threatened by such a minority? Fuckin' snowflakes, I swear.

This is definitely worth a read. www.salon.com/2025/09/17/h...

Ooooh. Both History of Sound and Eleanor the Great are coming to my local Regal. Color me a very happy cinephile!

Happy Tuesday, everyone! For today's edition of Omnivorous I reviewed the second half of the second season of The Sandman, which brings the series to a tragic and triumphant conclusion. Another fantasy TV series is now gone, but at least we got two great seasons! open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...

I had an amazing chat with one of the librarians here about all of the archival work she did discovering Black-owned businesses, and how she consulted yearbooks from our town's former Black high school. This is why libraries and librarians matter, folks. They're protectors of invaluable archives.

Still very thrilled to be working in the local public library, raising awareness of our collections, our programs, and our service to the local community. Sometimes you just have to do what good you can in the world and let the rest fend for itself.

I'm now almost a month into my time at the library, and while I'm still bursting with ideas, or now I'm focusing on growing our FB and Insta presence before branching off into anything new. IMO, you need a strong foundation in the basics before you start new initiatives.

This has happened FAR too many times in my life... #WritingCommunity

I just want to say that I think it's really important you push back right now. If somebody talks about the tragedy of Charlie Kirk, push back. If somebody talks about the radical left, push back. If somebody talks favorably about punishing free speech, push back. Push back and keep pushing.

God. I really enjoy the new Outlander prequel, but I’m about to call it quits after episode 6. I just cannot with this series’ obsession with rape and sexual violence.

This whole post-Kirk purge of dissent, led by the Right, just goes to show that all of their trumpeting of free speech absolutism was, as many of us said from the beginning, complete and utter bullshit.

Happy Monday, everyone! For today's edition of Omnivorous I reviewed The Long Walk, a terrifyingly relevant film about the desperation of young men. It's also just a helluva film that really should be seen on the big screen. open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...

It sure does seem like Trump, Vance, and their acolytes are going to use this whole Kirk thing to just...destroy anyone they don't agree with, which in turn will intimidate anyone who even thinks about opposing them into having second thoughts. Having a functioning democracy sure was nice.

Did you know that my debut queer Appalachian romance, Country Road Romance, is also available in audiobook? Narrated by the great Dana P. Rowe, this version of the story is just as enchanting as the written one. If you want to give a listen, here's the link to Amazon! a.co/d/csdrs7T

I’ve really enjoyed the second season of The Sandman, and seeing Jacob Anderson was a deliciously handsome surprise

I fall more in love with him each day

I’ve been in a sitcom mood, so now tuning in to St. Denis Medical. I already love it.

Happy Sunday, everyone! For today's edition of Omnivorous I reviewed Tom Pyun's Something Close to Nothing, a fascinating and often deeply poignant reverse romance about the breakdown of a queer relationship and its dreadful consequences. open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...

That part.

Ringing out summer with an evening of queer conviviality at Assateague.