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The Literary Titan Book Award bestowed upon Born of Dirt & Dust tells me that, yes --- writing these stories to widen the lens for readers to fully experience the world in which these characters, as portrayed in the book, felt trapped, how they chose to move forward, and how the ripple effect of those choices touches each of us --- there is always room in our hearts for empathy, acknowledgement, compassion and friendship.

In addition to the launch of my third book, Unburied Bones of the Broken – a collection of dark poetry and flash fiction available on Amazon and Bookshop.org – I’m delighted to share that my acclaimed, 3x-award winning book, Born of Dirt & Dust, is now available at Barnes & Noble through their online shopping.

Poetry That Haunts. Stories That Linger. Step into a world where beautiful language meets the shadows—where every poem leaves an echo and every story follows you long after the final page. This haunting collection of poetry and short fiction explores the hidden corners of memory, loss, longing, survival, and the truths we carry in silence. Atmospheric, emotionally charged, and impossible to forget, it is the perfect read for anyone drawn to dark beauty and stories that stay b

We've got the month of October loaded with spooktacular fun. Most importantly, Banned Book Week begins on Sunday, October 4. Make sure to get your hands on a banned book and protect your freedom to read.

For now, my primary focus currently remains on writing and completing my manuscript --- a psychological, twisty and haunting thriller centering around the questionable death of the main character's toddler brother. I leave you with this questionable thought --- a line straight out of my novel in progress ...

At the Spinal Dread event, I'm delighted to sign my award-winning book, Born of Dirt & Dust, a collection of speculative fiction filled with psychological horror, urban dread, dark fantasy, and a bitter taste of sci-fi. Bite-sized stories you can sink your teeth into again and again.

Whew! I hope you enjoyed reading the above excerpt from my current novel in progress -- a haunting thriller with the main character's toddler brother as the primary victim of a questionable death.

The narrative twists and arcs and pivots, and I feel I'm on a haywired ride ... one that opens my mind at the same time, admiring the futuristic sci-fi tech and dark fantasy and horror elements that don't overwhelm but complement the characters' and the story's overall development. It's worth a second reading and, perhaps, a film adaptation. I would be very pleased with a graphic novel of the story, too. Already, I can see the mind-boggling illustrations spilling across each

I gain tremendous pleasure capturing memorable moments chatting with new friends who stop by my booth, ask about my books, my writing process, and me. But most of all, the gift I receive is their friendship and hearing more about their creative spirit, the joys and challenges in their life, and their journey achieving their wildest dreams.

There are no rules to constructing a zine; nothing to hold you back from expressing who you are, what the world means to you, and where you want to go, taking your readers along for the ride. It's the perfect medium for exploring new ways of free-form expressionism.

With one foot in the past and one foot in the future, I straddle decisions about beneficial ways to increase visibility of my recent book, Born of Dirt & Dust. Keep in mind I'm an independent author who isn't backed by a corporate publishing house. This means, I'm challenged with distribution limitations. However ...

I've always believed that Indie authors bring a special magic to the world of book publishing, especially when it comes to writing niche, unfiltered, authentic stories that shed light and truth about our humanity and the world we live in.

Recently, I grabbed hold of a graphic novel depicting the life of Vincent Van Gogh that deeply explored his life and death, his emotional turmoil, his madness. I couldn't help but feel a strong desire to pay tribute. I ended up writing a short poem of a love lost---a brilliant warmth faded until it no longer exists.

If we choose to listen with an open mind, an open heart, together we can be a light that never fades.

For me, storytelling is about shining a bright light on characters reflective of our humanity, life's challenges, and the decisions we're forced to make to survive brutal circumstances. Born of Dirt & Dust is a genre-bending mix of sci-fi, dark fantasy, and urban horror, with a desire for genuine love at its core.

This coming month in June, I'm filling my weekends with opportunities to build more relationships and to be present in our local communities. Where there are opportunities to give back and grow stronger together, to hear from new friends and to highlight their stories, I feel an unbreakable amount of hope that is truly meaningful to me. Every voice matters. Every life brings value. I will always carry your story in my heart.

When we join together and encourage one another, not only do we create a beneficial and embracing community, we also build a creative force that propels us forward together, infinitely. There is always space to showcase your work and always your community to appreciate all that you do.

Live events can be a surprisingly powerful lever for indie authors—not just for selling books, but for building a sustainable career.

Although the short stories in the book tend to lean towards genre-bending horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and urban tales, I want the best for my characters. I want their burning souls to rise up from the ashes of their smothering circumstances and know their existence matters.

At The Untold Story Bookstore, the warm and comforting vibe is very intentional. It's a place where everyone is welcomed to grab a book, take a seat, relax and read for as long as you desire. It's a safe community space, where local poets, writers, readers, artists, jewelry designers, cookie bakers, families and their children come for that cozy feeling of belonging. Of knowing you're embraced by friends.