Ellis Avery’s The Last Nude paints an intoxicating picture of 1920s Paris – its art, its women, the haves, the have-nots, and the dangerous glamour of being desired. For queer readers, it’s a novel that both seduces and unsettles, capturing the way infatuation can swing into self-delusion. The first section of the novel is, in … Continue reading Queer book review: The Last Nude by Ellis Avery
Storytelling & Resilience
Stories aren't just for entertainment - they're integral to our survival and humanity. And now, more than ever, we need storytellers. The Ancient Secret to Resilience (That Science Is Only Now Catching Up To) Long before there were research papers and data charts, there were stories. Stories told around fires. Stories sung in ceremonies. Stories … Continue reading Storytelling & Resilience
Dealbreakers
One of the really beautiful things about being in your 40s is that is truly is the "idgaf" decade. Things that seemed important when you were younger suddenly aren't really important, and things you overlooked become appreciated. It's been a tumultuous year for personal relationships, and after therapy and soul-searching, I realized that at 45, … Continue reading Dealbreakers
Queer book review: Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson
Writers can learn a lot by reading. This novella is a great study in plot and character arcs, pacing, feminine horror, representing less represented queer identities, and toxic relationship dynamics. Overview Bloom by Delilah Dawson is the story of Ro, a very new assistant professor of literature, and her obsessive relationship with Ash, an artisan … Continue reading Queer book review: Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson
Doubt
I saw this movie back in 2008 in the theater, and really liked, but I haven't seen the whole thing start to finish since then. This morning it happened to be on, and I sat and watched it and was amazed all over again. It's actually quite good, and it's a great movie for a … Continue reading Doubt
Mycelial knowledge
I've been taking courses in environmental studies that lean heavily into indigenous knowledge. One of the things I learned was that there is no word for "weed" in the Menominee language. They believed every living thing had value and had a reason for existing. I love the idea that no piece of life is wrong … Continue reading Mycelial knowledge
Scenes from a backyard on a rainy day
The dark side of darkness
I love a moody setting. A moody aesthetic. I'm all for the dark side of romance. I like art with a side of "holy shit that's twisted." What I'm not into? When romantic darkness turns into real-life harm. In literature, for me, it's a line - it depends on how it's presented. I'm a fan … Continue reading The dark side of darkness
Blooming
It's blooming season here in Colorado. I continue to be amazed and delighted by flowers. Stopping to just exist in a natural area has been proven to lower stress, particularly anxiety - despite our concrete jungles and hearts of darkness, we are wired to be interconnected.
I will not be inconspicuous
I realize this is a privilege we don't all have. But I do, so I will be obvious. Fascism isn't hiding. Hate is proudly announcing itself and painting itself as righteous. Hate is going to come for a lot of people, and too many people who don't hate aren't doing much, if anything, to stop … Continue reading I will not be inconspicuous
Notes in the Margins 