“A monster lies in wait in me, A stew of wounds and misery, But fiercer still in life and limb, The me that lies in wait in him.” ― Clive Barker Dark speculative fiction sometimes demands a dark protagonist. Not just one with vices and virtues, but rather, somebody who you can see both active … Continue reading The Swarm and the Flyer – Chapter 7: To Argyle (Part 2)
Persistence is the key to becoming a successful writer. I'm getting the hang of this. I've been showing up and writing five days a week, which is a great start in pursuing my writing career. However, my next goal is to make my blog into a stronger platform, one where networking and swapping comments are … Continue reading The Swarm and the Flyer – Chapter 6: The Semi (Part 2)
Welcome back to my post-apocalyptic series! If you haven't heard, my two most recent novels are all about Rayland Mark Calderón trying to escape the Swarm, a flock of cloud-like creatures that have wiped out much of the human race with their deadly sonic wave attacks. The only problem is, Rayland is outrunning the Swarm … Continue reading The Swarm and the Flyer: Chapter 3 (Part Two)
Hey there, welcome back to You Young Adult Nostalgic. Tonight I'd like to share a bit more from my latest work, The Swarm and the Flyer. For those who haven't yet heard or read, The Swarm and the Flyer is book one in my postapocalyptic diptych. Huh, say what now?! Diptych! You know, two halves of the same … Continue reading The Swarm and the Flyer Excerpt
Good evening, WordPress community! I hope your night has been treating you well. I'm happy to report that I successfully moved into my new apartment this past weekend! There's nothing quite as peaceful as living alone, and I'm starting to get used to this newfound freedom. I'm also looking forward to hosting small dinners and … Continue reading The Swarm and the Flyer – Chapter 1 (Revised)
This week life has been astoundingly great to me. I finally got my counseling license in the mail, which I had been worried about for the past several weeks (insert subtle panic attack here). I also took the final step in securing my next job opportunity, which I will have more details on next week. But most … Continue reading Life Update and New Pinterest Character Board
On my 21st birthday, my dear friend Navroz Kwatra gifted me perhaps the greatest literary challenge of my life: Infinite Jest. This is David Foster Wallace's earth-shaping magnum opus, a literary voyage about addiction, prestigious tennis players, and political hilarity. This is one gargantuan tale. For the past four years I've danced on and off … Continue reading Infinite Jest: My Final Push
I seek out tips on how to craft a compelling character in Writer's Digest. I read YA novels to garner new talking points for my latest blog entry. And I still (still!) delve into David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest, finding grief and irascible humor in the lives of his Ennet House residents, his Quebecois wheelchair assassins - and our … Continue reading Why I Write
To all those who have followed me with support and eagerness, I am sorry to say that I'll be taking a break from uploading chapters of my first YA novel, In the Words of Your Love. I have to dedicate more of my free time to finishing up scholarship essays and applications, now that I'm headed … Continue reading Hopeful Hiatus
Hey all! Sorry for being late with chapter 14. I made a trip to Houston Tuesday night for my grandfather's birthday on the first. A life filled with 91 years of parenting, working, and faith is awe-inspiring. In this chapter, I explore Johan's dark anxieties and flesh out Mal and Ross' yearbook project. As always, … Continue reading In the Words of Your Love – Chapter 14
