News

Feb

Muses

There’s been a fascinating conversation going on about muses. I think it started with Carrie Ryan. So far I’ve read posts by Jackson Pearce, Saundra Mitchell, Lisa Schroeder, and Tessa Gratton, all fabulous. It made me stop and think. I don’t think of it as a muse. When I think of it all, I suppose it’s as "the flash." I read Emily of New Moon at a very impressionable age. Emily (or L.M. Montgomery–I often wonder how autobiographical this was for her?) writes of "the flash": She never knew when it might come, and the possibility of it kept her a-thrill and expectant…[she] called it that, although she felt that the name didn’t exactly describe it. It couldn’t be described…It had always seemed to Emily…that she was very, very near to a world of wonderful beauty. Between it and herself hung only a thin curtain; she could never draw the...

Feb

On Women & Confidence

Jessica

I asked for a raise today. Totally out of the blue, I was solicited by another department on campus to fill their soon-to-be-vacant admin position. I would rather stay where I am–I am both fond of and very comfortable in my routine at the press- but the other position would involve a substantial pay increase. I told my boss about the offer and that I would welcome any incentive to stay. He’s retiring this summer after thirty years as director. I’ve been there for almost eight, and my presence would definitely help preserve the institutional memory, and we both know that. I know negotiating like this is the smart thing to do. But somehow I feel…guilty. As though I’m being demanding or troublesome. And I started wondering about why that is. What’s wrong with knowing my own worth? What’s wrong with asking for what I want? I was talking with...

Feb

Saturday Six

Jessica

1. Steve had a lunch meeting in Silver Spring today, so I tagged along. Now that I live in the city, town centers are sort of exciting. I did my yearly makeup-update (teal eyeliner–is it for me? I dunno yet). I also bought the first two books in Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls series, and I think I convinced an actual teen to buy Heist Society. Which, btw, has amazing front-of-store placement at Borders. 2. Also, I went to CakeLove and had two luscious cupcakes (s’mores and vanilla with raspberry frosting). I am thinking my thirtieth birthday party might be cupcake & Cosmo themed. As in, bring unto me a cupcake in celebration of my nativity and I will make you a Cosmo (or the drink of your choice). It worked well last year. 3. We are expecting to make a decision re: Inheriting Garolass submissions this week. 4. Almost as...

Feb

Catch-all Catch Up: Books, Theatre, Theatre, Books

Jessica

I read a fabulous debut book last week, Dia Reeve’s Bleeding Violet. The main character, Hanna, is bipolar, biracial, and bicultural. She wears only purple and talks to her dead father, so, yeah, she’s kinda strange. But when she comes to Portero to find her estranged mom, she finds a town that’s stranger yet. I love the lush horror of this book. Gorgeous descriptions, unusual plot, characters who are ugly and broken and lovable all the same. The monsters are genuine and scary, not the kind you want to make out with, and happiness doesn’t come without a price if it comes at all. I highly recommend. We also saw a great show last week, Synetic Theatre’s Antony and Cleopatra. If you live in DC, I highly recommend this company’s silent Shakespeare series. They’ve done Hamlet, Macbeth, Midsummer, and Romeo & Juliet (my favorite). I know: Shakespeare without the words?...

Feb

Question Friday: Olympic Edition

Jessica

Wow. After a week of snowcation, I’m back at work today. I’ll do a more substantive post on my snowy activities soon, but I haven’t done one of these in awhile, so in honor of the Opening Ceremonies tonight: Winter or Summer Olympics? Figure skating or gymnastics? (These are my favorites.) Swimming or skiing? (Probably my second favorites.) Ski jump or snowboarding? Watching the Opening Ceremonies: Yay or nay? Bonus: what’s your favorite Olympic sport?

Muses

On Women & Confidence

Saturday Six

Catch-all Catch Up: Books, Theatre, Theatre, Books

Question Friday: Olympic Edition

FIND ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA

BOOKS AND ANTHOLOGIES

POSTS FOR WRITERS