Queer writer of speculative and YA fiction
Over on BlueSky, my friend ’Nathan Burgoine has been revisiting his daily book recommendations from June 2024 for Pride month. I love this because it’s a reminder that any time is the right time for someone to discover a new book, even if it came out years ago. I don’t get a lot of reading …
Continue reading "Queer book recommendations for 2025 Pride"
I’m not a minimalist by any stretch, but I do like getting rid of clutter. If I don’t want to save something or I’m not going to use it again, out it goes. Even books—it’s very satisfying to leave books in Little Free Libraries all over town to find their next ideal reader. There are …
I'm always kind of envious of people who are able to read new releases immediately when they come out. Or, maybe envious isn't the right word; more life baffled. How does anyone manage to keep up with all of the books they buy and have backlogged that they're actually able to clear the decks and …
Continue reading "What to read: Catfish Rolling, by Clara Kumagai"
May is National Short Story Month, and if you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I love short stories. So, I figured I would share a few that I’ve read recently that I really enjoyed. I hope you do, too. Packing, by T. Kingfisher This flash fiction piece was published by Uncanny …
I’ve heard of some writers—I’ll be honest, I can’t remember their names at the moment, so this might be one of those "My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's …
Here's a funny thing: You know how last year I said my goal was to read books by not so many white people? I did okay on that goal, but this year, when I'm in Project Read My Own Damn Books mode, I seem to be doing better at making my reading list more equitable …
I've started teaching an introduction to writing the short story class at the community college, so lately stories have been on my mind—and on my screen, because there are just so many outlets for reading stories available online. One that I stumbled across recently is a website called Cast of Wonders, a young adult fiction …
Continue reading "Stories to listen to, stories to play, and stories to read"
My friend and colleague Sierra Skye Gemma recently had a fantastic piece published in The Globe and Mail. (For those who are south of 49, that's like the equivalent of The New York Times in Canada.) Titled "My Sexual Education," it's both a tough read as well as an affirming and positive one. (And the …
(Or "I Solemnly Swear That I Am up to No Good") Whoa! Time flies when you're having fun. It it's it time's fun when you're having flies? Either way, time flies regardless, ago you might as well have fun. Anyway, speaking of fun! Careful readers (all three of you; good morning! Can you tell I …
Continue reading "A Trip to Tubby & Coo's Mid-City Book Shop in New Orleans"
Enough of tooting my own horn. I'm going to sing someone else's praises for a while. I met ’Nathan Smith (who publishes under the name ’Nathan Burgoine) in May of 2009 when Michael and I went to the Saints & Sinners Literary Festival in New Orleans. I knew a little about him already at that …