Friends had told me they really liked the sex scenes in my stories. I sent my first story, “Water Music,” off to an anthology edited by Mary Anne Mohanraj called Aqua Erotica. Alas, it did not sell. Later, when I saw the anthology, I realized why; my story was considerably less literary than what was chosen.

So, first rejection in hand, I went to Cecilia Tan (whom I knew already through a friend who’d sold to her) and asked her where I should send it. Cecilia suggested Best Lesbian Erotica, edited by Tristan Taormino. I can’t remember precisely when I mailed the submission, but it was probably the winter of 1999. On June 30, 2000, I received an email indicating my story was a finalist for the anthology; and on September 11, 2000, I received an acceptance.

The first time I actually finished the stories I wrote, on a consistent basis, was in college.

My current work for Kalikoi [https://www.kalikoi.com/] came about through friends who were independently publishing paranormal shifter romances. I was asked if I wanted to contribute to a charity anthology they were putting together, and after that, we remained in touch. Kalikoi was a later venture of theirs, and it got started at a time when I was once again ready to write some longer stories, and looking for a change from the erotica genre. I committed to writing romance fiction to help alleviate some of the stresses of the global pandemic, for both me and for my readers.

There should always be more lesbians in space.

Having already been published by a major publisher, I knew my current work wasn't suitable for that approach. Indie publishing is both faster and looser than traditional publishing. I wanted that freedom to take a chance on creating my own niche genre.

I love writing dialogue, and after the story is out in the world, I love when readers let me know they've enjoyed my work.

I find my ideas in nooks and pocket gardens all over Philadelphia.

I'm working on completing the A Place of Refuge trilogy.

Many of my current favorite authors write fanfictional epics of found family and trauma recovery, with happy endings. I've learned a lot from them.

I love caring for my houseplants: admiring, watering, repotting, propagating.

A happy ending.