For a little while now, I have had a free short story available for those who sign up for my email list. It took me multiple tries, however, to get the story right. First, I needed to decide what I wanted out of this story. I wanted it to be something new, not a sneak peek or scrapped piece of the book that didn’t make the cut. I also wanted the short story to flesh out a side character in the book. In my first attempt, I picked a character I was less comfortable with in the

It has been too long since I’ve written here. To get you up to speed on my activities, I decided to write a blog post about it. Most of my time in 2021 was spent planning and executing a 67-day road trip across the USA. This expedition was initially slated for the spring of 2020, but we all know why that had to be scrapped. However, anyone who knows me can tell you that I cannot stay in one place too long. Even when it comes to small things: when I talk on the phone, I pace;

As with many people, I've read more this year than any other in recent memory. Reading has provided a silver lining throughout this year of turmoil and quarantine. Though it's not yet the new year, I decided to go ahead and publish my favorite books I've read, and spend the rest of the month reflecting in other ways. If the New York Times can do it, so can I. 5. Between the World and Me by Te-Nehisi Coates Incredibly and thoughtfully written, I am grateful to have read this

Chances are that you, dear reader probably know me personally. But how well do you really know me?

Me reading at the orphanage where I worked as a volunteer during the summer of 2017 Every writer has her/his own method of discovering and writing stories. I know that I have heard from many a vague source, "write what you know." Certainly, there is validity in the statement. But with Unbelief , and often with writing books, the story will take the writer beyond her/his comfort zone. I find it important not to resist whichever way the character pulls the plot, even when it is

It seems that with every book I read, my writing style shifts, sometimes in a minor and temporary way, and sometimes in big and long-lasting ways. Here are some books that played a big role in how I went about writing Specks of Dust . The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath: I read this book while I was in Uganda. The way Plath walks the reader through the the difficulty of mental health and the pressure of finding an acceptable place in society were important models for my main protag