For I Have Sinned

When Jesus walked into the nuthouse, I knew things would get interesting. Our savior wore a muddy gray t-shirt, a pair of ripped jeans my mother would never allow past her seasonal welcome mat, and a pair of really rad, orange converse.

Flight

Published on Reflex Press: Eyes snap open, stirred by a silent alarm. She peels stiff covers from her frigid skin, chilled by a thermostat set to 64 degrees, even in winter. Gray-socked feet hit the stained carpet, and she wiggles her toes. They’re painted a forbidden red.

Long-term Love

Published on Medium: Long-term love is the non-judgmental caring and support that lingers until you are healed. After our short attention spans have moved on, long-term love steps up without a timeline for grief and says, “I am here for you until you don’t need my help anymore.”

Breaking My Silent Heart

Published on Medium: Yesterday, I read a news update from my state’s governor. He’s making changes: changes to how we address the pandemic, changes to how we train our police, changes to how we respond to protests. I think these are needed changes because the status quo isn’t working.

The Human Superpower

Published on Medium: After a rough day, a meltdown, or a tantrum over a splattered scoop of strawberry ice cream, I take my daughter’s hands and remind her that she has an amazing superpower: at any moment, she can choose to change.

Tips for Bad Writers

There’s no way around this: you’re a bad writer, but that’s okay because I’m a bad writer too. A bad writer is not the same as an untalented writer. Below are five tips I gave a friend of mine the other night at 2 am (it’s always 2 am).

Carnal Knowledge

Mistress of suspense, Rachael Tamayo, is back with another hair-raising thriller. Carnal Knowledge a riveting, heart-pounding, double-check-your-locks-and-close-your-curtains novel about a killer with an unquenchable lust for blood.

Writing the End of the World

In 2019, I began work on my novel Her. Like most of my ideas, it started as an image: a mother holding her young daughter, looking out over a crumbling road as a weary sun set on a sickened, dying world. I didn’t know then—how could anyone?

Ready to Publish? Not So Fast!

Published on Where Writers Win: A quick checklist for writers looking to live dangerously and forgo an editor. Is your manuscript ready?

Living with Porphyria

Published on APF: I wrote a member story for the APF about my experience living with HCP; I hope my story can show others with chronic illness they are not alone.