The Woman of Colour: A Body of Politics [Essay]

This is important to the interpretation of the book—it’s not just a tale, it’s a device

Paranormal Romance: its Success and Appeal [Essay]

A four-books series focused on vampires and werewolves was suddenly placed on the New York Times Bestseller list and was garnering international attention. Crying and screaming young girls, Team Edward and Team Jacob shirts, and vampire-themed merchandise became the new normal once he Twilight craze took off. As expected, among the crazy fanatics were the haters who criticized the author on her lack of talent and writing skills.

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Student Teaching: Nuts and Boltz [Non-Fiction]

Miss Hermione Boltz had been an English teacher for forty years. “The Bolt” – that’s what I called her – was a stout woman with a face like a bulldog. She had never married and her dedication to teaching was of a stern, gray cloth like the Puritans of the Salem community. 

Lefty [Essay]

Lefty was only part Spitz. Her tail curled up, and she was about Max’s height, maybe two-and-a-half feet. Actually, she looked a bit like the dog you’ll find in old Neil Young photos from his Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere days. Just a friendly white dog who lived to love her people.

Catch the Train [Essay]

On every workday morning, I only gave myself forty minutes to commute to work.

In the Park [Essay]

You are in the park. It might be October, it might be July. You have packed a lunch for your son. He carries the lunch in his backpack. Peanut butter and honey. Apples and 7-Up. The stories you’ve heard, some of them are true, some of them can’t possibly be. Please enjoy your picnic.

Telling It Slant

“Let the reader get tearful; they often won’t if you’re already crying in their stead,” cautioned a mentor after reading an essay in which I’d admitted crying.

It’s Not as Deep as You Think: Navigating the Murky Waters of Starting-Out [Guest Post – Essay]

So you wrote a book. Congratulations! So did everyone else. One of the most common questions I get asked is, What now? What happens next? How does a writer proceed beyond this phase, and why is the world of publishing so inaccessible past the writing stage? How do I venture out, and how do I get noticed? I’m here today to take a little mystery out of this process, so you can feel safer in your lifeboat as you navigate the murky waters of starting-out.

You Will Read this Title [Essay]

In novels, plays, and motion pictures, it’s a well-known trope. From Star Wars to The Matrix, Lord of the Rings to Battlestar Galactica to Harry Potter and even Julius Caesar, there’s a prophecy, and the characters have been holding to it for many years — generations even. The problem is, the prophecy is so vague, no one can agree on its meaning.

The Funicular [Essay]

She appeared like a butterfly, without making a sound. A cool breeze accompanied her, along with the faint scent of frangipani. Then she turned and sat on the bench opposite the door. Only then was the silence interrupted...