Category: Reading and Writing

  • A Small Elbow Kinda Thing

    A Small Elbow Kinda Thing

    Even a small surgery makes me nervous and introspective. The last time I was in surgery (2016) my vein had just blown and I woke up on the operating table, early. I remember hearing people talking in loud voices over one another, before opening my eyes and seeing the blurry, busy scene. Someone shouted, “She’s…

  • The Melon Princess and The Heavenly Demon

    I’ve got quite a few subscribers to my blog who aren’t following me on other social media thingies, so I wanted to post a little update. Aside from my podcast (Uncanny Japan), I have this other side hustle I’m very passionate about. That is, digging up obscure Japanese folktales, translating, retelling/reimagining them, and then recording…

  • 2018-Happy New Year-Tumultuous Dragons and Affectionate Minnows

    Well, hello there, 2018! You really snuck up on me. I just sat down and re-read last year’s New Year’s blog post and had a hearty chuckle. I might have grimaced and winced a couple times, probably wiped away a few tears. There I was sure that the previous year (2016) was so insanely tumultuous…

  • What I’ve Been Up To With Bullet Points

    Ever since I got back from the States in early September, it seems like I’ve refashioned myself into a kind of plate spinner, albeit a somewhat neurotic plate spinner. So as a reminder to myself and a heads up to anyone interested in what’s going on in my life, here is a bullet point list…

  • The Worst Part of Being a Writer

    I’m a writer. It’s what I do. It’s who I am. I’ve had stories published, and I’ve had people from all over the world read them. I’ve had people love them, hate them, and be absolutely indifferent to them. Sometimes, when I’m lucky, I even have people take valuable time out of their days to…

  • The Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Scholarship

    I am tickled pink to announce that I have won this year’s Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Scholarship.  I would like to give a world of thanks to The Horror Writers Association for providing female horror writers with such a wonderful opportunity to invest in and hone their craft.  And thanks and appreciation also to the HWA Scholarship Committee:…

  • “The Spider Sweeper”

    Several years ago I wrote a short story I was incredibly smitten with but  knew in my heart might never find a home.  It’s called “The Spider Sweeper” and it just felt very odd. It’s a horror story. It’s a love story. It’s set in Japan during the late 1800s. I sent it out and…