And Now We’re Three
Oh, Happy Day!
What’s that they be saying? “I won’t keep you…” Ha! This is a short update because NEWBORN. That’s gonna be my answer for a lot of things for the next few weeks. Can you…? Will you...? Do you think you can…? Um, nah. Because NEWBORN.
And baby makes three!
A couple weeks ago, my wife and I welcomed our first child, a lovely, beautiful, joyful, curious, and bright-eyed baby girl named Zaria!
I want to go on official website/blog/news record to say: My wife Jasmine is AMAZING! She did that!!
We’re excited for our family and this new addition, and while the work is slowing, it ain’t stopping… because, um, NEWBORN.
We want to thank everyone for their generosity and support, their well wishes and genuine love. We are so grateful for the abundance that is our life. THANK YOU.
More soon with all kinds of deep reflections and questions and all kinds of new sentences and paragraphs about this monumental change in my life, but for now, dig these updates for when and where you can catch me in these literary streets. Appearances are limited, you know, because: NEWBORN! :-)
Holla at Me When You See Me in the Streets!
My calendar is sloooooooooowed way down like a chopped and screwed Badu joint! But, as a teaching artist and writer, I can’t just go all the way off the grid, no matter how much I just want to sit and stare into my daughter’s eyes for hours on end.
I have a select few events and appearances over the next couple months, and I’d love to see you! Also, with the aggressive assault on the arts we’re experiencing at the hands of this diabolical fascist regime in the White House, showing up to support art and artists has never been more important.
Call your representatives, support artists and arts organizations with your time, talent, treasure, or testimony. We need YOU now more than ever.
Celebrate Earth Day with #CREEKSHED!
Join us on Earth Day 2025 (April 22!) for the launch of #Creekshed, an online story map that asks, "what are the human and natural stories that drain into the Gulf?"
When: Tuesday, April 22nd, 4:00-5:30 p.m. EST
Where: The Nelson Poynter Memorial Library (USF-SP)
Who: Julie Armstrong, Pedro "el Poeta" Jarquin, Tyler Gillespie, Sheree L. Greer, Amanda Hagood, Thomas Hallock, Gary Mormino, Gloria Muñoz, and Diane Roberts. Special musical guest, songwriter Rita Youngman.
** Special thanks to the Frank E. Duckwall Foundation and to Creative Loafing for media support. **
FIVE Years of Vulgar Genius! You Already Know!
Represent Represent! I met the brilliant Veronica and Dennie attending a live taping of their podcast featuring the talented Minda Honey a couple years ago, and I been stirring it up (Steve Biko, Steve Biko) with the Vulgar Geniuses ever since!
“On Sunday, April 27th, we will gather at the epicenter of all things good to hear six of the most talented writers to grace the stage at Stardust Video & Coffee. This star studded night is sponsored by the Florida Humanities, and your favorite publisher's favorite publisher, Burrow Press.
Kizzy's Books & More and the Orange County Public Library will also be in the house!!” - Vulgar Geniuses!
The Climate of Us
Come through to Tombolo Books for a live reading of the online poetry series “The Climate of Us: Poems Between the Land and Sea” featuring local poets living in Florida!
This series was created in partnership between Gloria Muñoz, the Poet Laureate of the City of St. Petersburg, and the Florida Humanities to make poetry more accessible throughout the city. It will also be the final celebratory reading for the City of Writers Festival for Poetry Month in April!
Mineral Point… MOUNT UP!
You know what time it is! Join me and a host of talented writers for the ninth annual Writing Retreat at Shake Rag Alley, Mining Your Stories, May 16th - 18th, 2025!
The weekend kicks off with a visit from Kao Kalia Yang reading from her NEA Big Read The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir (all participants get a copy of her book!) then moves into a weekend of writing in community across storytelling, fiction, memoir, flash, poetry, and small press publishing with retreat faculty Sheree L. Greer, Raki Kopernik, C. Kubasta, Rebecca Jamieson, and Kristin Mitchell!
The weekend features engaging full day workshops, open mics, gallery visits, lunch, and opportunities to explore the lovely Mineral Point community!
My workshop, “So What?” asks us to identify the emotional resonance and narrative power at the core of our lived experiences. We’ll get serious and silly as we explore memoir and personal essay craft. Just so you know, there are only FOUR SPOTS left in my workshop!
There are also manuscript consultations with faculty (available on a first-come, first-served basis and at a very affordable price). Book a one-on-one for a specific deep dive into your work!
Retreat Registration is OPEN and seats are filling fast! There are scholarships available (APPLY HERE) and college students get a 15% discount!
Full Circle Moment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, all those exclamation points!!!!
Rainbow Beach, Chicago, 2005
I quit my promising and lucrative job as an IT consultant for an international tech firm and moved to Chicago to follow my dream of being a writer in August 2005.
I’m returning to Chicago this August to teach for a week-long writing retreat with my friends at Story Studio Chicago.
Did y’all do that quick math? That’s right. It’s been EXACTLY TWENTY YEARS!
It’s going to be a homecoming to remember! Hope to see you there!
