This Really Is the Best of Phoenix

I’ve felt so honored lately to have been part of two memorable projects. The first was as an assistant for this year’s Best of Phoenix, an annual issue published by Phoenix New Times that celebrates all that is great in the Valley of the Sun. It’s a … [Continue reading]

On Empty Journals

Early in grade school, a concerned teacher notified my mother of a problem I had with communication. This problem, the teacher warned, would need to be corrected or I’d continue having great difficulty making myself understood. The issue wasn’t … [Continue reading]

Write With Joy

In his essay collection Zen in the Art of Writing, Ray Bradbury talks about writing his classic dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451. Distracted by his daughters at home (“Father had to choose between finishing a story or playing with the girls. I chose to … [Continue reading]

Quiet Time

It's halfway through the year and for once I haven't fallen behind on my Goodreads Reading Challenge; in fact, I'm ahead by a month! Part of the reason is that I have more free time now that school's out, but I think the main reason has to do with … [Continue reading]

The Happiest Place on Earth

Monday was Arizona State University’s Spring 2016 Commencement, and although I am ecstatic and enormously proud to be a graduating Sun Devil, I decided to skip the ceremony. I stayed home, made popcorn, and watched a Harry Potter movie with my … [Continue reading]

Abigail Wins an Honorable Mention in the 2016 YAA Scholastic Writing Awards

I mentioned last month that I was looking forward to sharing some wonderful and inspiring writerly news from a very special family member. Well, here she is! For the second consecutive year, my daughter Abigail has won an honorable mention in the … [Continue reading]

Interview with Amy Silverman, Author of My Heart Can’t Even Believe It

Last summer I had the privilege of reading an early draft of Amy Silverman’s new book, which launches May 1 at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe. My Heart Can’t Even Believe It is a strikingly honest memoir that blends investigative journalism and … [Continue reading]

Spring Forward

April is fast approaching, a month with two important dates for me that mark the end of some major projects I began last spring. One of the dates is April 29, when I will graduate from college with my bachelor’s degree in English. The other is April … [Continue reading]

A Look Back at 2015

2015 was a strange year for me, full of change and surprising opportunities. Looking back, one of the best things about 2015 is that I have no regrets about the choices I made. The biggest was going back to school. What had always kept me from … [Continue reading]

2015 End of Year Book Survey

This is by far the most fun I've ever had writing a blog post! Big thanks to Jamie, a book blogger over at Perpetual Page Turner, for hosting this end of year book survey. All the pretty graphics are hers; you should really check out Jamie's site and … [Continue reading]