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 15May 15
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 7May 7
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 7May 7
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 7May 7
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 7May 7
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 2Feb 2
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