AAH!! My literary novel, The Ashes, got funded! Proof that grant writing isn’t as useless as it feels when you’re in the midst of it!
Now it’s time to finish up the third draft of my dragon novel and hand it over to a trusted few so I can dive into the rewrite of my early oo's-set family drama examining neurodivergence, dx bias, queer community, religious trauma, punk music, and first loves.
I’m excited! Terrified! Ready to dive into old wounds, excavate them, and fashion them into fiction for public consumption! Some of you Tumblrinos read the first round over a decade ago, before I knew I was autistic. My MC’s terror at the prospect of socializing may’ve been a giveaway, but honestly, there are at least half a dozen neurodivergent characters in that book and I’m excited to rewrite it with more intention. Also. Ready to get into some religious trauma that I only dealt with in the vaguest ways. I wasn’t ready to tackle certain things when I wrote it. I’ve been mapping my way back into the story for years, and this grant will give me the time to fully revisit, rewrite, and let’s be honest, retraumatize myself (a tiny bit! in a good way!) so I can finally get Chloe, Anne, Arnold, and Nishan out into the world.
I’ll be coming off my newsletter hiatus as soon as I finish the third draft of my dragon novel (hopefully within the week.) This is a summer full of project announcements, so much more soon!