She’s in every single person she touched, and with 94 years on this planet, she touched many. I’m so thankful for the time we had, even if it never would have been enough. And I’m so thankful she can rest now.

COVID hit our house hard earlier this month, and after nearly 3 weeks of acute symptoms, I’m finally coming out of it. As it’s literally the last day of September, it feels like I lost a month, but such is life.

When are some times you’ve been the most self-connected? What were you doing? Where were you? How did it feel ?

Even when it’s inevitable, death hurts. Initial thoughts about putting my grandma on hospice.

It’s my 40th birthday! Grab a drink, your favorite snack, and a cozy blanket while I get all introspective about life, writing, past mistakes, and the many lives I’ve lived.

I may have a Taurus-heavy chart, but patience has never been one of my strongest personal qualities. Hard-working, persistent, reliable? Sure. But patient? Absolutely not.

I’m very much a “manage my expectations” kind of person, but I’m finding myself wanting to let go of it in this instance.

My choice to write characters with disabilities is a personal statement in many ways, that our voices matter. But it is also quite simple: I believe all kinds of people, with all kinds of stories, should be able to see themselves in literature and other media.

I’ve benefitted so much from others in the publishing industry—whether authors, agents, or editors—who have shared their experiences and expertise. I’m no expert, but I want to pay it forward by being transparent about my own process.