What should readers expect from the book?
Expect to see yourself in the pages. Expect some tears and some chuckles. I write the way I speak. If the reader knows me, they’ll know the rhythm and the cadence. If the reader doesn’t know me, the work is written in a way that makes it easy to catch the flow.
What did you like best about writing Merrill Avenue?
Paying homage to my mother. I was 30 years old when my mother transitioned and I still had so much to say to her. I still needed her. I still need her. I don’t feel like I gave her enough of that when she was living but I get to do it now. She was a ham, so she would’ve loved seeing her image on the front of a book. I hope she’s proud.
What advice can you offer to aspiring writers?
Write. Keep writing. Even if what you’re writing only makes sense to you. The more you write, the better you get. Write what you know. If you don’t know it, either learn it or don’t write it. Read. Build your vocabulary but use language that feels natural to you.
