Welcome! I write stories about Southern misfits finding their way to art, love, and chosen family. Having grown up in Kentucky and Ohio and spending the last 30 years in Tennessee, I know firsthand the rich culture and complexity of small towns—how they can both nurture and challenge those who dare to be different.
My stories connect across state lines from a Kentucky bourbon town to a Tennessee apple orchard to the home of a relocated Chicago rock star. Characters wander in and out of each other’s lives, building families of choice that celebrate all kinds of love—straight, queer, and everything beautifully in between. In this ever-expanding universe, creative souls heal through art, neurodivergent hearts find their people, and love arrives at exactly the wrong time but turns out to be exactly right.
Is this for you?
I write for the outsiders with dark humor and tender hearts—those who understand why we turn to art when words fail, why we collect broken things to make them beautiful again, and why choosing to love fully is worth every risk. If you’ve ever felt like you don’t quite fit in but found your people anyway, if you believe family is about who loves you best, these stories are for you.
I’m inspired by storytellers who excel at finding the extraordinary in ordinary lives—Rebecca Makkai, Wendell Berry, Fenton Johnson, Elizabeth Strout, Kevin Wilson, Ann Patchett, Anne Tyler, and Barbara Kingsolver.
Why I’m doing this
These stories have been living in my heart—tales of creative souls healing through art, families bound by choice rather than blood, and love that arrives at exactly the wrong time but turns out to be exactly right. I’m sharing these stories here on Substack as they unfold, bringing you along on the emotional ride.
More Kentucky Love Stories
If you enjoy these tales of Southern romance, you might also like my other project, Earl and Mabel: An Appalachian Love Story in Letters. There, I share and explore my grandparents’ real-life World War II love letters, documenting their beautiful courtship through his military service. Their story proves that truth can be just as moving as fiction—especially when it involves two young people in love in the Kentucky hills.
What to expect here
Regular chapters of current stories
Behind-the-scenes peeks at my creative process
Artwork inspired by the stories
Free subscribers will receive:
Regular standalone stories
Writing updates
Paid subscribers will enjoy:
Regular serialized fiction
Early access to new stories
Special access to story development and drafts
Join me in these small towns and hidden corners where art heals broken hearts and love shows up in surprising ways. Whether you’re here for the romance, the creativity, or the found family, there’s a place for you in these stories.