Welcome to My Crowded Brain
Oh wow, I’ve started a Substack. Welcome to my crowded brain. The Horror Chicks’ image above sums it up better than I can, so I thought I’d start with that. If you are receiving this message, you have probably signed up when this was a Tiny Letter and forgotten.
As I have just written in my fancy Sustack description: “This is a place for writing: what I’ve been reading, working on, discovering about writing craft, publishing, and process, and books, books, books. I started this newsletter to give my friends and family a break from having to hear about all this plus movies, music, art, the bizarre things I find on the Internet, and all my other weird obsessions in the middle of the night. Now, I can share them with you. Since I’m most obsessed with books—and I spend all my time writing them, teaching them, and editing them—I will be sharing with you all I have learned about them along the way. Whether you are looking to start a writing career, read or write more, find publishing advice, consider how a particular screenplay was crafted, or just hear about the countless oddball things I encounter on any given day here in Brooklyn, you have come to the right place.”
To be honest, I have been deathly afraid of starting a Substack for many reasons. The thought of having more to keep up with, exposing myself even more through my writing, doing one more career thing that’s all “me me me, I’m so pleased to announce” makes me feel queasy and seems like…a lot. I also didn’t feel comfortable posting in the same arena as the great Roxane Gay. But, really, read her Substack. But then I remembered that this space could also be a great one for bringing attention not only to what I’m doing (blah blah blah) but also to the work of the writers I love, who are usually publishing with small presses and not getting the attention they deserve for various reasons.
What I’ve Seen Lately
I love my city, and my borough of Brooklyn in particular. It’s dirty, loud, chaotic, yes. I often take the subway to find the ceiling dripping with dark liquid. But the subway is also one of my favorite places (I’m sure I’ll have many future posts on this) for many reasons, but I’ll just leave you with this one. Watching the people on the platform segmenting and speeding up through the train window as you pull away is a city movie in your brain.
My brain is probably permanently malformed from growing up here, but it’s also most likely more alive. These streets are urban, outdoor art galleries in many cases. For instance, I came across this amazing mural while taking my son to a party at the Atlantic Dave & Buster’s, of all things (a fun place for kids but, I think we can all agree, not so much an urban, outdoor art gallery).
Through some online sleuthing, I discovered the following, “This mural is the second in what has become a two-part series honoring our icons and new ancestors. Entitled ‘Faith Ringgold,’ this artwork created by Dr. Nettrice Gaskins celebrates the work of painter, author, mixed media sculptor, performance artist, and activist, perhaps best known for her narrative quilts. We honor her legacy, passion for art, love for community, and her commitment to capturing the African American experience.”
Some Books I’ve Recently Enjoyed (the rest are on my shelf, just waiting…)
Skip Tracer by Jive Poetic
Four Fields by Dorinda Wegener
Craft and Mother/Land by Ananda Lima
A Temporary Dwelling by Jiwon Choi
The Way You Make Me Feel by Nina Sharma
How to Kill Yourself Instead of Your Children by Quincy Scott Jones
Data Mind by Joanna Fuhrman
The Unfurling Frond by Rebecca Beardsall
Physics of Weight by Maureen O’Leary
Codependence by Amy Long
Animal by Trish Grisafi
South Brooklyn Exterminating by Ian S. Maloney
The Horror by Seb Doubinsky
The Vile Thing We Created by Robert P. Ottone
The King of Armadillos by Wendy Chin-Tanner
And now I will control myself and not post every book I’ve read in the last year…
What I’ve Been Working On
I have a book called Goblin Mode coming out in Fall 2025 from Santa Fe Writers Project. I’ve been very impressed with them. They even work with a sub-rights agent.
I’ve been writing poetry again for the first time in ten years. Okay, so the book project is subtitled “An Essay in Poems,” so I’m not straying too far from my recent essay obsession, but it’s something.
I’ve just received the contract from Bloomsbury to work with the wonderful writer and academic, Sébastien Doubinsky, to edit Women of Fantasy in Their Own Words: Conversations with Contemporary Authors.
I’ll be reading in InspiredWordNYC Presents The Poetry Hour at Brooklyn Music Kitchen with Sullivan Summer and Izzie Zuniga on Sunday, August 4th at 3. Thanks to Mike Geffner for organizing. You can get tickets here. Come say hi.