Orion Returns to the Omega Institute June 2025 & Applications Are Open

Orion’s Environmental Writers’ Workshop returns to the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY from June 15th to 20th.

“Join a community of writers, improve your craft, and reimagine how you think about nature. Guided by award-winning instructors, the Orion Environmental Writers’ Workshop provides an intimate space to connect with writers, artists, and editors, spark creativity, and renew, illuminate, and deepen your relationship with place. This week-long workshop is cosponsored by the Omega Center for Sustainable Living.

Whether your passion is nonfiction, fiction, or poetry, the Orion Environmental Writers’ Workshop is a creative laboratory for anyone seeking to reflect their environments through their work. The course features breakout sessions dedicated to intensive craft practice, faculty readings and lectures, student readings, and panels on publishing.

Workshops seats will be limited in size so that each participant receives individualized attention, feedback, and focused time with faculty members and Orion editors to discuss whatever is on their minds. Throughout the week, literary agents and editors will stop by for panels and conversations to answer questions and offer advice on bringing out your work in the publishing world.”

Faculty include Hannah Dela Cruz Abrams, Alison Hawthorne Deming, Sabrina Imbler, Michael Kleber-Diggs, Chris LaTray, Joe Wilkins, and Felicia Zamora.

You can learn more about the program and submit your application here.

"A Box of Winter" is now live at Flash Fiction Online!

My odd, little flash story, "A Box of Winter," about Robert Redford is up at Flash Fiction Online. The first few lines are below, but you can read the whole (quick) affair by clicking here.

"I was watching a documentary about Robert Redford when Robert Redford walked in. He was still dusted over with snow from skiing. In my paint ­covered jeans and beanie, Is howed him around the house. He lifted things gently and asked questions. I answered carefully. ‘Over there is a music box I’ve had since I was a baby.’ He wound the little box, and it played a warbly tune. ‘Here is a stone from the Great Kei River in South Africa.’ He held the stone . . ."

With great thanks, too, to editor Suzanne Vincent.

New poems in Four Way Review. Feeling tired? You can listen while I read them to you.

By some sweet coincidence, Mamie and I are in the same issue of Four Way Review.

You can read/listen to my two poems "Letter in Exchange For" and "Apology to the Narrow Moment" here and to Mamie's "Letter to Yasha in my Third Period AP Lang Class Morning after that Girl She Likes Blocked Her on Instagram" here.

I'm insanely happy to be in her company. And with deep thanks to poetry editor Ross White and the whole team at Four Way--this is a gorgeous issue all around.

A tiny essay for your Monday.

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my mother, rowing the laundry ashore (circa 1984)

Three years ago, I published a very brief, lyric piece of nonfiction in Waccamaw. It's called "Glass House: The First Moment of Her Leaving," and it's about my mother first meeting (or seeing) my father. You can read it here. With thanks to the lovely Cara Blue Adams.

In Ben Steelman's "Bookmarks."

Thanks to the wonderful Ben Steelman at the Star News for this mention of my essay, "Between Dog and Wolf: Essay as Ideolocator" and its notable status in Best American Essays! The column also features a link to a recently published poem, "In the Painter's House" (dedicated to Sullivan Anlyan), in the inaugural issue of the University of Miami's journal, Sinking City!

My poetry and Sully's art now live at Sinking City. Plus, a piece from Emma Bolden.

My poem, "In the Painter's House," accompanies the art of Sullivan Anlyan in the inaugural issue of the beautiful new literary magazine out of the University of Miami, Sinking City! You can read the poem and see Sully's beautiful painting here. We are keeping the loveliest company in this issue, including that of Emma Bolden who contributes "Under the Threat of Eden."

With many thanks to the Editors, and to Chantel Acevedo, in particular. Honored to be included in this beautiful issue.

A new, lyric essay forthcoming in StoryQuarterly.

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My lyric essay, "Three Myths from the Northern Mariana Islands," is forthcoming from one of my favorite literary magazines, StoryQuarterly. The essay is divided into three parts, or three myths, from my native islands, the Marianas, also known as the Isles of Sails and the Isles of Thieves: "Creation Myth," "Myth of the Ancients," and "The Myth of the Lourdes Spring." I'm heart-happy and honored to be included in the issue, and I'll let you know when it drops.

Poems coming out in Four Way Review alongside Mamie Morgan.

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with writer Mamie Morgan in 2014.

I have two poems, "Apology to the Narrow Moment" & "Letter in Exchange For," coming out in the next issue of the beautiful Four Way Review. My friend for twelve years, Mamie Morgan, has work in there, too.

Poems forthcoming in the Olive Press.

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Awaiting the Time for Carrying Out Her Plans on a Large Scale. Pen, ink, and oil on canvas.

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Odyssey. Acrylic, ink, and pencil on wood panel.

Two poems, one dedicated to artist Sullivan Anlyan and one dedicated to, and written after the art of, Severn Eaton, are forthcoming from the Olive Press!

"Sully Writes Haikus" considers, in part, the relationship between memory, desire, and language. Its origins lie in a conversation with Sully about haiku battles.

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Fathom. Acrylic, ink, pencil on wood panel. Hanging here in the Refinery Gallery in Asheville, NC alongside the poem written after it.

"Letter to Severn No. 1" is written after Sev's painting, Fathom, and concerns itself with bliss and transcendence.

New poetry in response to art by Severn Eaton here...

My poem, "Letter to Severn, No. 1," an ekphrastic response to Severn Eaton's painting "Fathom," is now hanging alongside its inspiration at The Refinery Co-Op run by the Asheville Area Arts Council.

Severn Eaton is an Asheville-based artist whose work, whether through sculpture, painting, outdoor sound environments, or construction, examines and questions the divisions and barriers we create and rebuild in our daily lives and global interactions. You can read more about the artist and see more work, here.

In print with Sully Anlyan.

I'm thrilled to announce that Sullivan Elaine Anlyan & I are making our ekphrastic debut together as a team in the inaugural issue of the University of Miami's journal Sinking City. My poem "In the Painter's House" will be alongside Sully's painting "Moonage Daydream."

With endless thanks to the irreplaceable Chantel Acevedo.

"A Box of Winter" forthcoming in Flash Fiction.

This has been a difficult spring in many ways. But there are little balefires here and there. Here is one: my brief story, "A Box of Winter," is forthcoming in Flash Fiction Online. I'm happy it's found such an illustrious home.

'Life after Life' published in Arrive Magazine.

'Life after Life,' explores my father becoming unhoused and my becoming a guardian to two small children on three days' notice. The piece has been published in Arrive, Amtrak's on-board magazine.

Thanks, too, to Editor-in-Chief Leigh Flayton, art director Rob Smith, and publicist Whitney Peeling.

Two Poems Accepted by MemoryHouse

Very happy to have had two poems, 'Shelter' and 'No Easy Stars,' accepted by MemoryHouse Magazine.

Three Poems Now Up at Toad the Journal.

Deeply honored to have three new poems up at the illustrious Toad.

You can read the poems here.

Upcoming Panel with Jason Mott and Chris Ledbetter.

On October 21, I'll be on a panel about writing diverse characters with Jason Mott and Chris Ledbetter for the NC Writers' Network. We will be waiting for you at 11:30am in the Masonboro Room at the downtown branch of the New Hanover County Library.