A Quick Update

It’s been a minute since I’ve posted. I’ve almost forgotten how to do this. First I want to say, I’ve missed it, I constantly feel guilty when I don’t get a post out each week, but I’m here to let you know what I’ve been up to during this break.
I post so much about poetry, I sometimes wonder if people remember that I write horror too. I’ve been working hard on editing a horror novel tentatively titled “Kanashimi Forest.” The last round of edits was a tough one, and I have one more that I hope to tackle within the next couple of weeks. After that round, hopefully, it will be ready to submit to my publisher. I’m so ready to get this one off my to-do list. I love this story, but I’ve been working on it for so long and I want it to finally be out in the world, and I’m really excited to write something new in the horror genre, which I haven’t allowed myself to do while completing this novel.
Next, I have a poetry book called “Origami Stars & Hot Air Moon” that is being published by Winter Goose Publishing. Last week, I received edits from my publisher, which were just great catches on their part and painless on my part when accepting them. So that project, while a bit delayed due to the pandemic, is moving forward. Winter Goose Publishing has been such a dream to work with from the moment I first pitched this poetry collection to them. The ease of the editing phase surprised me; I don’t think I can ever expect it to go that quick and effortlessly again.
I’ve managed to write so many poems over the last several months. It’s on my mind to start editing them (which has already started for a few poems) and placing them into another collection. I already have a title in mind for my next poetry book, I just need to see what poems I have, how they fit together, and if they fit the vision I currently have for the next book.
A little over a year ago, I took on the role of Vice President for an organization called WyoPoets, which is the state poetry society for Wyoming. At the start of July, I officially started my term as President. It’s such an honor and so exciting to be part of this organization and given the opportunity to help lead it for a bit. With all the unexpected things happening in our world this year, it has created unprecedented challenges, but I’m so thankful to be part of a community of such amazing, inspiring, and supportive poets.
I’ve hosted a monthly Poetry Night at Barnes and Noble since August of 2018, which means next month will be the 2-year anniversary. Over the last several months, since we couldn’t meet in person, I’ve been hosting Poetry Night on Zoom, which is fantastic because it opens it up to people who live farther away. We held our first Virtual Poetry Night in May and have continued it every month since then. It’s created a great opportunity to invite WyoPoets’ members too, and they’ve loved it so much I’ve told them I will keep hosting an online version even after the local group can start meeting at Barnes & Noble again.
There are so many, many more things that have occupied my time, but there’s a broad overview of the projects I’m working on. My mind is very much on continuing to blog, but I’m not forcing myself to post weekly as I get some of these bigger projects pushed onto the next stage.