It’s finally, finally spring in Vermont. Some of the trees have leaves again! There are flowers! It was warm enough one recent afternoon for me to sit outside reading in my hammock!

There are things I love about winter, but as someone who grew up in the Southwest, with about 360 days of warmth and sun a year, Vermont’s slow creep toward spring feels like an eternity.

This month, I’m thinking a lot about character motivation, floating castles, grounded storytelling, and maps. But more on that in a minute…

I didn’t manage to get this newsletter out at the end of April, mostly because the draft was inexplicably gone when I opened it to finish it, and I was just too exhausted by that to start over. But it’s just as well, because now I have news to share:

• My poem, “Renfield at His Windowsill,” is a Rhysling Award finalist!

• And, I’ve sold another poem to Small Wonders, which should be out very soon! 🐾💫