it’s been a rough month. I learned the other week that the university I work at will close at the end of this semester. looking for a new job is going to suck, especially in this job market, but I’m trying to view this as an opportunity: for some time off, for one thing, since I’ve been saying forever that I need a goddamn break, and maybe to try something new, like working in the arts or with the parks or a queer organization.

luckily, book stuff has been going well, as you’ll see below—and so has writing, for the first time in probably 18 months. (knock on wood.) last year, The Lord of the Wood was the only story I revised, finished, or even worked on extensively. everything else felt like pulling teeth—not because I’m burnt out on writing, but because I’m burnt out on the rest of life.

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this month, however, I’ve been doing near-daily word sprints with friends in the evenings. I’ve mostly been adding to a single story that I started by accident on vacation back in November. I’m sure I’ll get stuck at some point, because I always do (usually around the thirty- to forty-thousand word mark), but for now I’m enjoying enjoying writing.

I’ve also been having brainwaves and doing research for some other projects, so maybe with my time off later this year I could get a couple books done.

blurbs for the lord of the wood

one bright spot this month has been the many kind words that other authors have said about my upcoming queer cozy horror, The Lord of the Wood. here’s a little of what they had to say.

^{preorder The Lord of the Wood here: link to Bookshop}

An exquisite tale of love and family, wonderfully told! This is the kind of book that envelops you as you read and stays in your heart after you finish.

Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

^{buy The Spellshop here: link to Bookshop}

E.M. Anderson has delivered another gorgeous and heartwarming tale rooted in love—for one’s family, for one’s partner, and for one’s self . . . One of the best books of 2026, hands down.

Kamilah Cole, USA Today and national indie bestselling author of An Arcane Inheritance

^{buy An Arcane Inheritance here: link to Bookshop}

Told in a lush prose reminiscent of the best fairy tales of yore, Anderson gives readers a cozy fantasy that strikes the perfect balance between feral adventure and folk horror.

B.R. Myers, Mary Higgins Clark Award winning author of A Dreadful Splendor

^{buy A Dreadful Splendor here: link to Bookshop}

Anderson imbues the novel with grace . . . to discover who you are, and . . . to arrive when you're ready. A necessary read for many, especially for those of us who need a respite before getting back to our feet.

Mia Tsai, author of The Memory Hunters

^{buy The Memory Hunters here: link to Bookshop}

The epitome of cozy horror, unsettling and tender in equal measure. This genre buster is perfect for fans of Over the Garden Wall and Princess Mononoke. A prickly hug of a book.

Rosiee Thor, co-author of Dead & Breakfast

^{buy Dead & Breakfast here: link to Bookshop}

as you probably recall (because I can’t shut up about it), this book seriously kicked my ass. so seeing authors I admire getting such lovely things out of it makes me so happy.

the keeper of lonely spirits:
over the rainbow bibliography 2025

I really wanted to write, like, a whole thing on my thoughts and feelings to seeing The Keeper of Lonely Spirits on the American Library Association’s Over the Rainbow Bibliography, an annual list of “books that exhibit commendable literary quality and significant authentic LGBT content for general adult readers.” but to be honest, my feelings are too big for my thoughts to be coherent.

so: it’s on this bibliography, and you can see what other books made the list (as well as those that were seriously considered) here: link to ALA’s Over the Rainbow Bibliography 2025.

odds & ends

recent reads

• unsurprisingly, what with how my month has gone in my personal life, I haven’t finished a book this month

• that said, I am partway through both Maddie Martinez’s The Maiden and Her Monster and Cass Biehn’s Vesuvius and enjoying them both!

• at bedtime I’m also supposedly rereading Jane Eyre, but uh. mostly I’ve been just. going to bed early

recent watches

• finally got around to watching 10Dance! I enjoyed it a lot but was thrown by the ending happening so suddenly (and what do you MEAN we don’t even go to 10Dance with the characters??). I’m holding out my bowl like a Dickensian orphan. please, sir, I want some more

recent listens

• mostly, I’ve been listening to a couple playlists I have to get myself through the workday. one is Celtic music, while another is called “songs to cry to,” so make of that what you will

recent birds

• my annual birdlist has started over now that it’s 2026, starting with our year-round residents like juncos and woodpeckers

until next time!