what can I tell you

I tell my own ghost stories. I tell my mother’s lost stories. I tell my grandmother’s secret stories. I tell my father’s forgotten stories. I tell my children’s stories yet to come.

I’m going to lie to you. 

My Mother Sang to Me

Storytime from Ancient Sumer

After another story, the Queen of Heaven was brooding. Her ego had gotten ahead of her, her pride a thing stronger than humans can understand, she made a mistake. And her mistake caused her sister pain. Her mistake killed her brother in law. Her mistake was a mistake that her brothers and nephews could have…

Hey, Anyone Remember Anne Rice?

That sure is a stupid title for a blog, isn’t it? So. You understand I write horror. And if you clock my age-I’m over 40 now-you assume, “Oh, Mena def was obsessed with Anne Rice’s vampire books.” Louie and Lestat from the new Interview with a Vampire? I am stoked. I am so stoked. Cannot wait for…

Writing Through Cracks

Movement from the other side of the wall–an apartment away–drew your attention to something you hadn’t noticed before. A small crack in your own wall. Not small enough that it should have gone unnoticed. In your room now with the lights off, you can see light coming through the tiny hole. You peek, then realize…

why i wrote reaching out

Just a side note here. I plan to be a little raw about explaining the challenges I face, day to day in life. Things Molly draws from in many ways. I am choosing not to mention any diagnosis I may or may not have because the challenges matter, not the labels. And I’ll thank you…

Willie and Patsy and writing today

Content warning for casual use of ablest slurs and a discussion of that. One of the songs my mother used to sing, maybe one of my favorite of her songs is Patsy Cline’s version of the Willie Nelson song Crazy. I don’t have a recording of my mom doing it, I don’t think, so you’ll have…

A Writer’s Ritual

Every real writer you know knows at least one of a set on 29 perfect rituals. These rituals vary in usefulness depending on their age, usage, and intent of the writer. You will often see debates and arguments as to the definition of ‘real writer’. That is, what makes one legitimate as a craftsman or…