What Is Realism and How Can We Destroy It?
Renate Reinsve in Sentimental Value (2025) Recently I was reading an interview with Renate Reinsve and Joachim Trier, star and director of Sentimental Value,...
How Art Finds Its Audience
Sorry there was no newsletter last week — I was recovering from endless travel, making tons of progress on my next novel (!), and appearing at a handful of...
Visions of the Future Should Come With an Expiration Date
Before I launch into a shortish rant, I ought to mention that my novel Lessons in Magic and Disaster makes a wonderful holiday gift for your loved ones....
"The Enemy of Imagination": Here's the Speech I Gave Last Night
I had such an incredible day yesterday, y’all. First I was at the Trans Day of Literature at George Mason University, talking with incredible authors...
Why the Suck Fairy exists
Hi! Just a quick note to say my novel Lessons in Magic and Disaster was just named one of 2025’s best SFF novels by Kirkus Reviews. And this fantastical...
My Favorite TV Shows and Music of 2025... Plus One Must-See Movie
Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy In case you missed it, I have a new novel called Lessons in Magic and Disaster about a woman who reconnects with her...
One Of My Worst Writing Pet Peeves, and How to Avoid It
Before we dive into newsletter-town, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that my novel Lessons in Magic and Disaster makes a fantastic holiday gift for...
Why I Don't Like Halloween
Hi! Sorry, no new newsletter this week… instead here’s a re-run from 2023. This week just kind of got away from me with podcasting and travel and other...
Gonzo WTF Movies That I Utterly Love
Hi! Thanks for reading my newsletter. My new book Lessons in Magic and Disaster has been out for a couple of months. It’s about a trans woman who teaches her...
We Don't Need More Industry Consolidation
Just a quick reminder. I’m going to be in a bunch of places this coming week: Tomorrow I’ll be in the Koret Auditorium at the SF Public Library talking about...
They Want To Ban Books To Keep Us From Coming Out
Quick housekeeping! I’m doing a flurry of events once again: Tuesday I’ll be in the Koret Auditorium at the SF Public Library talking about banned books for...
You're Not as Smart as You Think You Are
First, some housekeeping! I have written a novel about a trans witch who teaches her broken-hearted mother how to do magic. She also researches a mysterious...
I Can't Stop Writing About Violence
Hi! My book Lessons in Magic and Disaster has been out for a month, and I’ve been blown away by the response so far. So many people have told me that my...
What Is Dark Academia? I Asked 3 of my Favorite Authors
Gonna be a short newsletter this week, because I’m still recovering from a month of constant travel around the release of my new novel Lessons in Magic and...
They Call us NPCs, Because That's What they Want us To Be
I am so grateful to everyone who has read my new novel Lessons in Magic and Disaster already. And especially to everyone who’s been reviewing it, shouting...
It's Another Handful of Mini-Rants!
Hi! I’m so grateful to everyone who subscribes to this weekly newsletter — and especially to the folks who’ve taken the time during my book tour and...
What We Can Learn From Superman Defeating the KKK
My book Lessons in Magic and Disaster has been out for a week now, and I’ve been so thrilled with the response so far. Bookseller Rowan Julian with The Novel...
Lessons in Magic and Disaster is OUT TODAY. Here's the origin story...
Yes! It’s here! Lessons in Magic and Disaster has been unleashed upon the world! It’s my heartfelt, spiky, overthinky story about queer families and magical...
Neither Monsters Nor Saints: Mothers can be... people?
Some street art I photographed back in May 2020 (artist unknown) When I was in the middle of revising Lessons in Magic and Disaster, one thing worried me...
How To Be A Resilient Writer
First and floormoose,1 I have a book that comes out in two weeks. It’s called Lessons in Magic and Disaster and it’s about a witch named Jamie who decides to...