Publications & Achievements
New Poem: A Sound Sharp Enough to Count—
A SOUND SHARP ENOUGH TO COUNT— Don't explain yourself, she says—Let the rain fall where it falls.If you mustplace buckets to catch the excess rainwater—a prayer in mindfulness—do not mindif they also catchdebris, insects, extra fiber—This is the way of thingsThis is...
New (Dinosaur) Poem: Parking Lot
Happy Friday, friends! I hope you all have some marvelous plans for the weekend. I've been doing client work and going through submissions for Lit Shark Magazine all week, and this weekend, I'm attending the livestream of Mississippi's first-ever banned book festival...
OMG, Lit Shark is LIVE (and Ready to Sink Its Teeth into Some Submissions!)
Happy Wednesday, everyone! I hope you've had a wonderful week. I'm going to keep this one brief, but it's only January 11th, and one of my goals for 2023 is already coming true: to launch Lit Shark Magazine after pondering it for about five years. Suddenly launching...
Happy New Year! Here’s What to Expect in 2023.
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you had a wonderful New Year's celebration and are excited about what's to come in 2023. I had a quiet evening at home with my family, but in the past week in particular, I've put a great deal of thought into what I want to accomplish...
New Poem: Midwestern Breakfast
Happy Thursday, friends! During my morning writing yesterday, I wrote an earlier version of this poem, and I revised it today and wanted to share it. I hope you enjoy it. I think it has a heartbeat. * MIDWESTERN BREAKFAST You once said---in a TikTok video, of all...
An Inspirational Poem & Spooks in July: July 8th’s Feature Friday
Happy Friday and Happy July 8th, friends! I still can't believe we're in July already---and a week in at that! I think this week felt especially fast because of the holiday. July 4th is not celebrated in Croatia, of course, but we were already traveling for other...
The Yara-Ma-Yha-Who Says Happy Birthday: Poetry & Book Publication: July 1 Friday Round-Up
Hi everyone! Somehow, it's JULY already, and I'm back! How is everyone's summer going? I just had my 34th birthday, and tourist season is in full swing over here in Croatia. The difference this year from our 2021 summer here is that all businesses appear to be open,...
On the Hunt for Halloween & A Short Story Release: October 1st’s Feature Friday
Happy Saturday, friends! I know I'm late for Friday and for October 1st, but I'm so excited to reach out to you! How was your week? Are you doing anything special for the beginning of the Halloween season? I've got a big weekend ahead of me, including some pretty...
Poem of the Day & Reading Posts
Reading Franz Wright
Happy Wednesday! Here are four poems by Franz Wright, from his Selected and New Poetry collection, ILL LIT.
Poem of the Day: Susan Prospere
Happy Monday! Enjoy this Poem of the Day: “Silver Thaw” by Susan Prospere
Poem of the Day: 5 Poems to Settle into the New Year
Happy Tuesday, friends! I don't know about you, perhaps especially with being sick, it's been harder to shake off that looming feeling of the holidays this year. But at the same time, I'm feeling all that excitement of the new year and what it promises: page one of a...
Poem of the Day: Olena Kalytiak Davis
Happy Tuesday, friends! Today’s Poem of the Day is a pair of poems by the incredible Olena Kalytiak Davis. Enjoy!
Poem of the Day: Nikki Giovanni
Happy Sunday! Today’s Poem of the Day is “Sky Diving” by Nikki Giovanni. Enjoy!
Let’s Finish February Strong: Poem by Toni Morrison
Happy Saturday! Let’s finish the month strong with some poems by some fantastic Black poets. Today’s poem is “Eve Remembering” by Toni Morrison.
Poem of the Day: Justin Phillip Reed
Happy Tuesday, friends! Coming to you late, but here is today’s Poem of the Day: “What’s Left Behind After a Hawk Has Seized a Smaller Bird Midair” by Justin Phillip Reed. Enjoy!
Poem of the Day: Frank Stanford
Happy Tuesday, friends! Here is today’s Poem of the Day: “The Light the Dead See” by Frank Stanford. Enjoy!
Book Reviews & Author Interviews
Your Next YA Graphic Novel Pick Is Sprinkled with Spooks, Awkward Love, and Magic in Balazs Lorinczi’s DOUGHNUTS AND DOOM
Happy Friday, friends! We are officially one week into September, which of course means it's spooky season---which means it's time to break out the pumpkins, the decor, and of course, the spooky reads. First up this season is a graphic novel that was light on the...
We’ll Never Know What We’re Leaving Behind: Reading SWIMMING LESSONS by Claire Fuller
At once troubling and lovely, infuriating and breathtaking, Claire Fuller’s SWIMMING LESSONS is a triumph in literary fiction—and one that demands you have your next read ready if you want any chance to cope.
My Review of Angela Voras-Hills’ LOUDER BIRDS is Now Live at Green Mountains Review!
Happy News! I’m pleased to announce my poetry review of Angela Voras-Hills’ LOUDER BIRDS from Pleiades Press, 2020, is now live at Green Mountains Review!
An Interview with Shaindel Beers!
My interview with Shaindel Beers, hosted by The Rumpus, is here! It features thoughts on Shaindel’s writing process, SECURE YOUR OWN MASK, nature and violence, and our mutual experiences of the Midwest and motherhood. Enjoy!
The (Im)Precision of Language, Nature, & Violence: Reading Shaindel Beers’ Secure Your Own Mask
Here is my complete book review of Shaindel Beers’ SECURE YOUR OWN MASK, from White Pine Press (2018). Enjoy!
Book Review Up at BookPage!
Here is a link to my review of K. Arsenault Rivera’s THE PHOENIX EMPRESS, available now over at BookPage.
“My Face Resembles / The One Reflected in the Water”: Reading David Dodd Lee’s And Others, Vaguer Presences
The thing that I love about erasure poetry is how interactive it can (and should!) be with the original work it is pulling from. I think, for some writers who attempt this form, the goal is to reinvent the words that are on the page, than to accept them and...
“Black Light / Her Name in a Cup”: Scenes & Impressions: Reading David Dodd Lee’s Animalities
David Dodd Lee has been there with me since the beginning---not since the beginning of my reading and loving poetry, but of my writing poetry and taking that progress seriously. Of taking poetry seriously, and the idea that there was something to be taken from...
Past Literary Events
OMG, Lit Shark is LIVE (and Ready to Sink Its Teeth into Some Submissions!)
Happy Wednesday, everyone! I hope you've had a wonderful week. I'm going to keep this one brief, but it's only January 11th, and one of my goals for 2023 is already coming true: to launch Lit Shark Magazine after pondering it for about five years. Suddenly launching...
Need Inspiration for the New Year? Here’s My Reading List for 2023.
I always enjoy the new year: the excitement, the hope, and of course, the resolutions. In the last few years, it's become especially important to me to plan my year well and to create goals for myself that would serve me in becoming the writer, freelancer, and book...
I’m Getting All the Jewel-Vibes from This News that Halsey’s First Poetry Collection Is Coming This September.
I’m getting ALL the Jewel vibes from this news that Grammy-nominated musician Halsey has a poetry collection coming out this September.
Are You Telling Me—I Could Go for a Writer’s Retreat at Stephen King’s House?
Great news! Stephen and Tabitha King are talking about converting their iconic Maine home into a writer’s archive AND writer’s retreat! Here’s what I know so far. Enjoy!
Tell Me Now: Is Harry Potter Coming to NYC?
Fellow Potterheads! Is Harry Potter coming to NYC? Here’s what I know so far. Enjoy!
Celebrate with Me! I’m a Poetry Reader for Muzzle Magazine!
Celebrate with me! I’m one of the new Poetry Readers for Muzzle Magazine!
An Inspiring Day in Kalamazoo: Poems
Happy Sunday, all! I had a wonderful, literary weekend, celebrating with Bill Olsen, New Issues Poetry & Prose, and fellow writer friends. Here are a few poems I loved from my weekend; enjoy!
Yours Truly is Going To Be a Judge!
A fun announcement for today, friends! I’ll be one of three of 2019’s INSPY Speculative Fiction judges!