About

I’m a graduate student studying English literature in the mountains somewhere, and I write high concept, offensive literature for thought criminals, real criminals, enjoyers of hope and liberty, and generally those up to no good. Currently, I’m anticipating the publication of my sophomore novel, a 700-something page revenge tragedy. It’s a modern, dark academia adaptation of Kit Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, and it’s the female rage epic you’ve been dreaming of.

What are you thinking?

Regarding FAVSTVS? Well, I wrote about it on my Substack here. In short, though, extreme misogyny has shadowed my adult life to a degree that even other women often just don’t understand, and I wanted to take several years to compose something longer on it (i.e. not just an essay or a post somewhere). I think how misogyny actually feels, and its overall emotional fallout, just isn’t talked about enough. Because of the extreme degree I’ve been affected by it, I often feel dissatisfied with a lot of what gets called “female rage.” I wanted to write something that really examined misogyny–and the horrible task of trying to find a way to live with it–through the lens of damnation, as something both unspeakably repulsive and, to our Faustus and other characters, irresistably tempting. Moreover, I wanted the women to be dangerous in their anger; FAVSTVS isn’t a “feminist kills rapist” story but rather a “rapist meets a woman more dangerous than him” story. How much more humiliating it must be for Jack, when he can’t politically simplify his opponent…anyway, I’m weary of the idea that any feminist fiction has to be polite and straightforward, especially when misogyny itself is so damn messy!

I thought that Kit Marlowe’s play would be a great lens to do this kind of story through, because his Faustus is oh so vicious. Controversial, bloody, darkly comedic, somehow offensive to both Protestants and Catholics (this was pre English Civil War)…and great fun in a macabre, “watch a disaster happen” kind of way. It’s a very special play and I’d highly recommend watching the original version someday.

As for how I approach writing more generally…

My approach to writing is scaffolded upon generosity to the reader, both as a monetary and creative consumer. I often call myself the “big book defender” because as both a reader and a writer I adore large manuscripts. To be sure, I like some shorter books, too (and I’ve written one!) but honestly, the ones that stand out to me as favorites from the past few years are mostly in the 700-800 range. Maybe I’ll change my mind in another few years, but I’ve increasingly been finding larger books very immersive and soothing. I feel a sort of fondness for them that I don’t feel for many shorter books, perhaps because of the amount of time I spend with them.

I think that in this era of isolation, of shrinkflation, of algorithmically-induced attention deficit disorders, of surveillance, it’s my duty as a writer to provide the reader with the following:

1. More bang for their buck. Pay $25 ONCE and get more story. No serialization just to wring their wallet out.
2. Characters that are given enough space to become real.
3. Properly drawn out tension that actually makes the reader feel something. Want something.
4. A private space, between two covers, wherein they may explore the complexities of life without judgment. This means not writing things that seem to be sageing the reader to remove anticipated impurities.
5. In general, what they want! When I edit, I always ask myself: if I was the reader, what would I be itching to see? What would comfort me, enrapture me, make me gasp?
6. Hope, in one form or another. It’s bad out there right now. But the first step towards making the unthinkable real is imagination. This works for both good and bad things.

Where can I find your social media?

Before looking at my social media, make sure you sign up for my mailing list. That’s where I post my most detailed and thought out communications to my readers. My social media is more of a bonus, and you can find that on the contact page.

Where can I learn more about the orca whales in Saving Seymour?

You can learn more about the Southern Resident killer whales here. It’s not too hard to find a kayak tour where you can hopefully get out on the water with them like Ivan and Winston in the book. I highly recommend trying it. When I did I got to see a rare “superpod” made up of multiple different pods of orcas. The calves were playing around in the kelp and the whales’ fins are absolutely gigantic. You cannot tell when you’re in a theme park because captive orcas usually get dorsal collapse, but the dorsal fin is literally like 6 feet tall. Being next to that in a flimsy plastic kayak is like looking God in the eye.

Worth mentioning these whales are also endangered. You can “adopt” a whale of your choice to help fund research and conservation efforts.

Did you do that?

Yep. My whale is Costeau (L-113).

Favorite author?

Donna Tartt. I also really like Flannery O’Connor, Jane Austen, and Jean M. Auel.

What are you working on right now?

I’m very close to done with novel 3, as well as my dissertation on Victorian sensation fiction!

I have another question.

Cool. Please use the contact form on the “contact” page. Happy to talk with you :^)