It’s nice to finally sit down, catch my breath, and take a moment to blog today. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind—full of red-inked pages, midnight writing sessions, big decisions, and beautiful milestones. One of the most meaningful moments recently was attending my graduation in person and walking the stage to receive my diploma Summa Cum Laude.
That day was a powerful blend of relief, excitement, and achievement. To feel the weight of the diploma in my hands—representing years of effort, sleepless nights, personal growth, and passion for storytelling—was indescribable. I could feel the pride in the air, not only my own, but that of every graduate around me who had weathered their own storms to stand in that moment. I left the stage with a full heart and a renewed sense of purpose.
Chapter Updates and the Creative Process
To those who’ve been following my journey: thank you. Your support, your messages, and your continued interest in my work have meant more than I can ever fully express. It’s because of readers like you that this journey is even possible.
Currently, Chapter 3 of The Quiet After the Sirens is in the thick of developmental editing—a stage where the structure, flow, and thematic depth of the chapter are being fine-tuned. It’s painstaking work, but necessary to ensure that every page reflects the emotional weight and narrative purpose the story deserves. I’m also putting significant focus into editing the next two chapters this week in hopes to get them into developmental editing as soon as I can. Each one continues to explore the trauma, resilience, and introspection that shape the heart of the memoir, and I’m both challenged and inspired by the process.
A New Chapter: Graduate School
With great excitement and deep gratitude, I’m honored to share that I’ve been officially accepted into the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program at Southern New Hampshire University, beginning this August. This program also includes a certificate in Online Teaching of Writing, and it feels like the perfect next step in both my personal and professional journey.
Read more about the MFA program here
For those of you who know me well, you’ve probably heard whispers over the years about a long-standing passion project called Gemini Project. This speculative historical conspiracy suspense novel explores the hidden threads surrounding 9/11—blending real-world events with imagined secrets to unravel a shadowy plot buried beneath history’s surface. With high-stakes tension and intricately layered timelines, Gemini Project challenges our understanding of truth, memory, and the profound cost of uncovering what was never meant to be found.
It’s a story I’ve been researching, outlining, and quietly developing for over twelve years. It has lived in scribbled notebooks, forgotten folders, daydreams, and countless late-night revisions. Now, with the structure and rigor of the MFA program, I’m finally bringing this long-gestating novel to life—shaping it into a publish-ready manuscript, and eventually adapting it into a screenplay for film or television.
Even more exciting: one of my goals through this program is to learn the craft of screenwriting in order to adapt Gemini Project into a screenplay for a movie or television series. The story is layered, morally complex, and cinematic at its core—perfectly suited for visual storytelling. I’m both nervous and electrified by the challenge ahead.
Teaching the Next Generation of Writers
As part of the MFA experience, I’ll also be earning the Online Teaching Certificate with the intent of teaching creative writing at the college level. I’ve long believed that writing is not just a skill but a calling—a transformative act of self-expression and connection. It’s my hope that through teaching, I can help emerging writers harness their voices, shape their stories, and find the courage to share them with the world.
I believe every writer deserves not just instruction, but mentorship, encouragement, and a space to experiment without fear. I want to be the kind of teacher I wish I had in those early years: honest, compassionate, and fiercely dedicated to craft.
In closing, I just want to say: thank you again for being on this journey with me. Whether you’ve read every poem, followed my EMS reflections, or are just now learning about Gemini Project, I’m grateful to have you here.
As always, I’ll be sharing updates along the way—from the trenches of editing to the academic halls of graduate study. Stay tuned for behind-the-scenes looks at The Quiet After the Sirens, progress on the novel, and glimpses into my new life as a student once more.
Here’s to the next chapter.