Yes, it’s true! In an absolutely astonishing turn of events, I am once again a finalist for the Nebula Awards—this time, for poetry! My poem “The World To Come,” which came out in December in Strange Horizons, is on the ballot for Best Poem, a brand new category as of this year. This means I’m among a group of seven people who are representing speculative poetry at the Nebulas for the very first time. How cool is that?? As a relatively new poet, my imposter syndrome is through the roof! But I’m really proud of this poem, and so grateful that enough readers connected with it that it made the final ballot. Whether you’re a Nebula voter or not, consider reading the finalists; all but one of the poems are free to read online, and every one of them is an incredible example of what speculative poetry can do.

In other news, my first short story of the year came out in March, in Lightspeed Magazine. “The Tide Folk” is one of my signature “no plot, just vibes” stories, inspired by my many visits to the coast of Maine. I poured each of the brine-filled chambers of my ocean-loving heart into this little flash piece, and I hope you enjoy it!

Lastly, I want to thank everyone who entered my raffle by donating to a local mutual aid organization. The winners have been drawn and the little knitted creatures have made their way to their new homes—but more importantly, we raised almost $300 for organizations helping immigrants and other members of our communities. Thank you so much for being a part of this effort!

Keep caring for each other; we’re all in this together.