The Book Launch PartyThe launch of Painting Celia on May 11 was a momentous occasion for me. After three years of dedicated writing and editing, seeing friends…May 15, 2024May 15, 2024
The Art of Storytelling is the Art of Community BuildingI have written since I could hold a pen, but almost never shared my stories. I’ve always been reserved with friends and family. The…May 7, 2024May 7, 2024
The Privilege of ExpressionIn March 2020, the pandemic lockdown began. “Just stay indoors for a few weeks,” we were told. The lucky ones baked sourdough and completed…May 7, 2024May 7, 2024
The Lion, the Rose, and the DeadlineI am not a believer in Tarot or I Ching or reading chicken guts. I do, however, believe that people can find meaning in them, like when you…May 7, 2024May 7, 2024
From List to LaunchThe final throes of publishing Painting Celia have been overwhelming. I somehow manage to add two tasks to my list every time I cross one…May 7, 2024May 7, 2024
My Name is Maya, and I’m a PerfectionistMy hard work reeled me backwards, away from my goal, and I’m pretty sure that’s exatly what I wanted.Feb 2, 2024Feb 2, 2024
My Characters, Brought to Life through AIWhen I was 11, a teacher wheeled a computer into my classroom and showed us some BASIC programming. First he told it to print “0,” which it…Jul 31, 2023Jul 31, 2023
I Heard You’re Writing a Book. When Will It Be Finished?Yesterday, I finished the sixth draft of my novel, Painting Celia. Technically, I finished today — it was 2 A.M. on a Sunday night, and I…Jul 25, 2023Jul 25, 2023
Blue Is More Than a ColorA character in a book walks into a room filled with glowing golden light. Good, right? Now the light turns dark red. Uh oh, bad!Jul 18, 2023Jul 18, 2023
Plotter, Pantser, and the Power of SpreadsheetsThere’s a certain kind of magic that comes from organizing thoughts, ideas, and characters into a cohesive narrative. It’s a bit like…Jul 11, 2023Jul 11, 2023