Great time at the #miamibookfair

44 queries: 12 no-replies, 25 rejections, 6 full requests, and 1 dreamy offer of rep that I’ve accepted. New level unlocked!

Happy Halloween!

They should invent a way out that isn't through

I’ve got a few fulls out right now of my latest manuscript, and I’m hoping the just-right agent falls in love.

I have a hopeful little sci-fi piece out today! dearhumans.substack.com/p/impacts

@indiebookhunt.bsky.social Murmurations is my collection of short (many are >1000 words) fiction. bookshop.org/p/books/murm...

Penned a new #flashfiction this morning after thinking about love and loss and the beauty of small things that barge into our lives with the bossiness of a 3-year-old girl. It’s a good day. #writing

Mixed bag message today—made it to the last round of a contest but didn’t make it to publication. So… yay and boo?

“I can’t make it. I have other things on the schedule today.” Allow me to introduce “other things.”

Apparently high school students have been using pieces from my book to perform at speech competitions, and I heard from a teacher this morning that two kids made it through to the state-level with “Carline” and “The Hands Remember” and it’s just the best thing ever! #writing #flashfiction

If you’re looking for a fantastic way to reinvigorate your writing and hang out with smart folks, try Tommy’s Catching Lightning Club! I’ll be there for session 1.

I’ll be teaching creative writing camp again this summer at USF for rising 8th-12th graders. If your kid wants an even fuller experience we have a dorm residency program available. Check it out! www.usf.edu/innovative-e...

Folks we are celebrating writers and writing goals over at Mugshot Writers. Today we're cheering on @arinard.bsky.social Come see over on Instagram at mugshot_writers2

I know agents can’t respond to every query, but almost all the queries in my CNR list are agents I pitched in person and who asked me to send pages with a special subject line. I wish at least those folks would reply, even if it’s a no.

I’ll be back on my brilliance this summer to teach creative writing camp at USF! Tampa area parents, check it out! www.usf.edu/innovative-e...

My baby turned 23 today. Not sure how the physics work on the time warp, but dang that went by fast!

New year, new gig!

I’m so happy to be back for the Writers’ Workshop!

I hate backyard fireworks. So does my dog.

Wishing everyone the happiest of holidays! ❤️🌲❤️

Cookies!

I love that my 26-year-old son still texts me from the dentist to let me know he doesn’t have any cavities 🥹 #parenting

I signed on to teach creative writing at Ringling College of Art and Design, starting in the spring semester, and I’m so excited to get back in the classroom!

If y’all are/have MG readers, Destiny’s debut, High Score, and this sequel are so fun with strong, relatable characters and twisty/turny plots. characters

If you’re cooking and cleaning today and could use some joy, take a listen to the Thanksgiving episode of Short Story Today. I’m so happy and proud to have two pieces featured. shortstorytoday.com/episodes/sto...

I woke up to a Pushcart nomination this morning for my flash, “The Shot.” I’m so excited and proud and grateful to @flashfictionmagazine and @johnhenryfleming and my friends at USF MFA. You can read the story here: flashfictionmagazine.com/blog/2024/01... #flashfiction #writers

I forget sometimes how tall my oldest is until I see him next to his sister.

I got about 12k words in and realized my WIP should be in 1st, not 3rd. The good news? I started over, and it’s so, so much better!

This is Spot, and she wants her ears scratched.

I have a wee piece in the May issue of Brevity Magazine today. brevitymag.com/current-issu...

Why doesn’t she want me to read?

Going back to the starting point with my 90k word WIP. 🙃 I know it’s for the best, but dang…

It’s such a fantastic privilege to be back for this year’s Key West Literary Seminar—Florida: the State We’re In—with @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social whose keynote address was phenomenal!

Key West never gets old ❤️

I have a new flash out in the world! flashfictionmagazine.com/blog/2024/01...

Guardian of the shore

Applying for instructor jobs, working on my next manuscript, and wondering how those two things will end up co-existing.

Ready for the holidays!

Guess who got a bird feeder with a camera 😂

Happy Halloween!🎃

Just realized a dream I never dared to dream by scoring two seats for the Billy Joel/Sting concert.

Spooky season is coming!

It’s my good boy’s 11th birthday today ❤️

"how was I to describe something foreign running through me, racing my heart, filling my ears with a stampede" This is glorious and powerful and terrible and true and it's going to stay with me. A masterful #flash #cnf

I'm revising my ms (with @mdbell79.bsky.social's Refuse to Be Done), and this time it's different. A central relationship needs to change which means every piece of dialogue, every gesture, every look, every everything between these two characters needs to be reconsidered. It's a lot, but so good!

Tampa/St. Pete fam—come for a reading from my debut collection and a conversation about writing, flash, and the wildness of women.

Tampa folks, come out for a great evening!