My writing focuses on the intersections of horror, fantasy, science fiction, memoir, and/or the planet. My first novel, After World, is out now from Simon & Schuster. In addition, my favorite organisms are Green Wood Cups and Pixie Cup Lichens, my favorite forest is Morgan Hill State Forest, and my favorite hike is the Onondaga Branch of the Finger Lakes Trail. I’m eternally grateful to the Department of Environmental Conservation’s forest rangers for not only protecting New York’s natural areas but also for airlifting me from Algonquin Mountain after a hiking accident.
You can follow me on Instagram, Goodreads, or iNaturalist.
I used to write little essays for my web site. Here are my favorites.
- writing, depression, and going on antidepressants
- writing on antidepressants brief update
- trying to find meaning in an a hiking accident
- going on a writing residency as a parent
- starting a dystopian book club with your child
- I make up a category called “slow-paced genre realism”
- the joys of list-making, part 2
- why forests are essential to good stories
ANTHOLOGIES WHICH INCLUDE MY WORK
- Terraform: Watch / Worlds / Burn, MCD x FSG Originals, 2022
- The Year’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy, 2020
- Junior Great Books Grade 8 (2020)
- Best American Experimental Writing, 2020
- Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, 2017
- New Stories from the Midwest, New American Press, 2013
My writing has also been named a notable essay or distinguished story in Best American Science and Nature Writing; Best American Short Stories; Best American Essays (twice); Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy (four times); and Best American Mystery Stories. One of my stories has also been a Pushcart Prize special mention.
INTERVIEWS / READINGS
- Matt Meade and I read for Story Hour!
- After World reading for the Alaska Quarterly Review
- Alaska Quarterly Review discussion with Jessica Powell
- Scrivener podcast!
- Interview with The Rumpus
- Vice’s Cyber podcast
- Interview with Esquire
- Imaginize interview with Jane McConnell
- Interview with Paul Semel about my novel After World
- Lightspeed interview 2
- Sense of Decency interview
- Alaska Quarterly Review benefit reading series
- NYU Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Awards reading (I’m at the end, reading from an early version of my novel!)
- Q&A for the Rona Jaffe Foundation Writer’s Award
- The Sun interview
- Interview with Jestine Ware about writing for children
- The Southern Review interview
- Lightspeed interview 1
- Fantasy & Science Fiction interview
AWARDS / FELLOWSHIPS / RESIDENCIES
- Rona Jaffe Foundation Writer’s Award, 2019
- Otherwise Award Long List, 2018
- Otherwise Award Long List, 2017
- Notable story, storySouth Million Writers Award, 2016
- Winner, Highlights for Children Fiction Magazine Contest, 2015
- Finalist, the Canopus Award for Excellence in Interstellar Writing, 2015
- Virginia Center for the Creative Arts residency, 2014
- Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts residency, 2014