I've been keeping a secret
"Sometimes you have to lie. But to yourself you must always tell the truth." -Louise Fitzhugh, Harriet The Spy
Today marks ten years since I first came out as gay. I got this ring to commemorate the occasion (and because I recently turned in my next novel, which always feels miraculous).
I didn't come out all at once. It would be months before I told my family, and I'm still coming out in small ways as my world expands. But it's been a decade since I first said the words out loud, to my closest friends, to the boy I had just kissed, to myself.
I came out later than a lot of queer people my age. It was a long road to get there. I remember being scared a lot. I knew how the world felt about people like me because it made those feelings violently clear. I kept a big part of myself secret for a long time because it was the only way I could keep safe. I lied, to everyone, until I was safe enough to tell the truth.
Since then, so much has happened. I found a family of friends who gave me space and time and understanding enough to be who I am. I've built a career of telling lies that tell the truth (the job of any fiction writer). I've been welcomed by a vibrant, colorful, messy, wondrous community. I fell in love for the first time.
I'm grateful to my friends who have guided me on this journey. I'm grateful to my family, because even in those uncertain early days when things got rough, they were always clear that I would be loved. And I'm grateful to that first boy I kissed, who I would later marry, and who has been with me every day since. I've been lucky.
If you're still in the closet, if you still have to lie to keep yourself safe, hang on. The world is still dangerous, still violent to those it deems too different. But there is a family waiting for you when the time comes. Lie for now if you have to. But to yourself you must always tell the truth.
Every year since we started dating, I gift an illustration to my husband of us and our dog. Here is this year's painting.
I'm busy with multiple book deadlines right now, and so am unable to join the Hourly Comic Day fun this year, so here's a collection of last year's comics!
Every year since we started dating, I've gifted my husband an illustration of us and our dog. Here is this year's artwork!
And here's a few from past years;
"You look so cuddly like that."
I finally watched HEARTSTOPPER! It was very cute, and I had to draw the boys.
Happy Pride!
I'm endlessly grateful to be able to make queer stories for young readers. Here's a family portrait of some of the queer characters from my books! Some you've not met yet, but will soon enough.
Cinder and Fawntine are a couple from the ESTRANGED duology!
Ebbe is from THE LEGEND OF BRIGHTBLADE!
The sepia-tinted characters are from a still-unannounced project
Agatha, Heather, and the Lady are from my upcoming graphic novel THE LADY'S FAVOR!
They're cursed, they solve occult mysteries, and they're going steady.
2022 Hourly Comics, Part 2/2
And we played D&D late into the night.
You can read the collected set, plus lots more art and comics on Patreon!
2022 Hourly Comics, Part 1/2
You can read the collected set, plus lots more art and comics on Patreon!
Every year, since my husband and I started dating, I've given him an imaginative illustration of the two of us for Christmas. Here's the one for this year, inspired by one of our favorite spots in Brooklyn's Prospect Park!
Here's a couple from previous years
Beauty and the Beast
I got my second vaccine dose! My arm is sore and I'm very tired, and very, very happy.
Recent autobiographical sketches
Every year since we started dating, I've gifted my husband a small watercolor painting of us. He got really into plants this year.