Dear friends,
It’s been a tough week as a writer, a tough week as a queer woman, and a tough week as an American. It likely has been for you too. I’m coping by signing up to volunteer with the mutual aid organization in my neighborhood, and by reading On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by historian Timothy Snyder, about how to survive what’s to come. His first lesson is Don’t obey in advance. In other words, don’t shut down, don’t disengage, don’t let them win before there’s been opposition.
I’m also continuing to write, which for me is related. For kids, my first book Muhammad Najem: War Reporter demonstrates the importance of journalists to fight against autocratic regimes, and how even young people can make a difference in their communities. For adults, my second book 24 Hours in Charlottesville: An Oral History of the Stand Against White Supremacy, tells the story of local activists standing up against the alt-right and defending their town when the government and law enforcement couldn’t or wouldn’t.
My next book for kids comes out in April and is available for pre-order now. Renegade Girls is, as my publisher put it, “a queer tale of romance and rabble-rousing,” featuring a lesbian love story and undercover reporting by a teen reporter who wants to expose corporate wrongdoing.
And then my next book for adults 24 Hours at the Capitol comes out ahead of the fifth anniversary of the January 6 insurrection in 2026.
But the stories I’m working on myself are only a small piece of the puzzle, which is why I think it’s imperative to support other writers in all mediums and across genres. Today happens to be the one year anniversary of my writing company, Longform Lab, which is dedicated to providing writing education (through our signature course, private writing lessons, and more), client services (like research, fact checking, and publishing guidance), and original development (especially pairing marginalized writers with co-writers to share their stories more broadly, like Muhammad Najem and I did with his book.)
In honor of Longform Lab’s first birthday, I commissioned a new logo from Damjan from Coric Designs, who specializes in hand-drawn illustrated branding– perfect for an organization that prioritizes artists!
I love how it turned out. We’ll be announcing a few different new projects in the new year, but in the meantime there are a few more spots available to enroll in our signature course (renamed the Incubator Program) that includes six weeks of instruction, accountability, and mentorship from yours truly. If you have any questions, please let me know! If you would like to take part but are limited by finances, there is an honor-system discount code on the website, or email me for a full scholarship.
So, all in all, thanks for being a part of my community. Toward a better future!
