"A Question of Karma" finds its home at the Berkeley Fiction Review

I’m delighted to share that my short story, “A Question of Karma,” has been published in issue 43 of the Berkeley Fiction Review. I especially love this illustration by Tracy Sun. It means a lot for me for this piece to find a Bay Area home, as this is an especially regional story. Many thanks to the editorial staff housing this story about intentional living.

on beginnings and endings

The year of great change doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

This month, our country made history by electing the first woman vice president, Kamala Harris, who is Black and southeast Asian. Two weeks have passed and I am still absorbing this news, exciting and hopeful as it is. The 2016 presidential election left an indelible impact and the past four years have left a lingering, chronic state of anxiety and fatigue. Still. On Saturday, November 7, when president-elect Joe Biden was deemed the winner by AP, Fox News and CNN, I ran into my daughter’s bedroom and started sobbing on her chest, murmuring, finally, we won. She was only six months old when Trump was elected. (I was in such denial.) When, at last, I had the words to tell her what had happened, that we had made history, that maybe our postcards had made a difference, that we had a woman vice president, and a woman of color at that, she responded by saying, “Why haven’t they always been women?”

Seems like my feminist reading list is working.

Our work is far from done, of course. There are more books to read and bills to lobby and Senate races to win in Georgia. And we must wear our masks and stay, every day, in the comfort and safety of our bubble until a safe vaccine is distributed. The pandemic is still rearing its ugly head. Racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, ableism all still exist, are all deeply entrenched in our institutions. There is no rest for the righteous. We knew that already.

This election, this pandemic, and the birth of my son earlier this year have forced me to evaluate the impact I can have on the world. What stories can I tell? What impact can they have? How can strengthening my voice affect positive change?

As part of this exploration, I have redesigned my site to better showcase my 10+ years writing professionally. My publications page links to several places where I have published works of short fiction, nonfiction, interviews and poetry. The featured work page shares a few of my favorite features and profiles that I have written for Washington Square, San José State University’s alumni magazine. More can be found on the WSQ and SJSU newsroom sites, as well as my personal LinkedIn page.

While Play On Words remains in suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic, we do hope to return to regular programming once it is deemed safe to do so in person. No matter where I go or what I do, I will always be committed to promoting the work of artists and writers whose voices inspire me.

Our work is just beginning.

Oracle Fine Arts Review

I'm thrilled to share that a series of my 100-word stories have been published in the spring issue of Oracle Fine Arts Review, a wonderful journal published by the University of South Alabama, and edited by the force of nature that is Karie Fugett. (If you haven't yet, you really need to read "Needs a Miracle" in Hermeneutic Chaos Literary Journal. It's gorgeous.) 

Cover art by Micah Mermilliod

Cover art by Micah Mermilliod