I've always been more interested in villains than in heroes. A well-written, complex villain is thrilling - I'm drawn to stories in which the villain is sympathetic, or relatable, or has moments where you understand the reasoning behind their villainy, or there's something about them that draws you in and makes you want to know … Continue reading Embracing villainy
Author: Leah Kent
Writer. Researcher. Analyst. Queer.
Denver, CO
Notes from a writer in liver failure
My situation isn't dire - let me start out by saying that. Evasive action has been taken to prevent a complete and utter biological collapse. Perhaps I should say liver crisis, as opposed to failure, as a crisis can potentially be averted. Failure seems so final. If nothing else, it's a warning, a reminder that … Continue reading Notes from a writer in liver failure
Violence is never “senseless”
Another act of violence is in the news this morning, and a lot of people are calling out the "senseless" nature of it. And I know that the sentiment behind it is to convey a sense of tragedy, but words matter. And when we say it's senseless, we're saying that it makes no sense, which … Continue reading Violence is never “senseless”
Out of the Darkness
The ancient Celts believed in the thinning of the veil, which is a thinning of the separation between the physical and metaphysical/spiritual realms. This is canonically thought to happen in the October timeframe, Samhain, the beginning of the darker part of the year, the time of the harvest, the mid-point between autumn equinox and winter … Continue reading Out of the Darkness
Quotes I have breathlessly admired
I've been pierced by a few quotes this summer. Some I read and reflect upon the way a religious person might reflect upon a scripture. Some describe my stories, or remind me of something, or are a lesson, or reflect something True. Here are a few of them... A quote that resonated with me personally. … Continue reading Quotes I have breathlessly admired
Creative Resistance
The overwhelming awe of betrayal
A year ago, someone accused me of something in a bit of a bizarre way. I shoved it aside for a while, but it turned up in my brain again recently. Brains are strange like that - pulling up things you thought you'd moved past, or had completely forgotten, dusting them off and handing them … Continue reading The overwhelming awe of betrayal
“Sometimes an accusation is a confession”
Have you ever read something that hits you hard and you can't stop thinking about it? Usually that happens to me with novels, but I came across this quote somewhere in the wilds of Instagram recently. It struck a certain chord because there's a real-life theme here that many of us encounter in our lives. … Continue reading “Sometimes an accusation is a confession”
Botanic Gardens
Through the screen doors of discretion
I woke up this morning with a Dar Williams song stuck in my head, which is never a bad way to wake up. The specific song dredged up by my subconscious was Iowa, one of my favorites from her. The internet informs me that it came out in 1996, which was a pinnacle year in … Continue reading Through the screen doors of discretion
Mental Wanderings: Art, Nature, Life 