He was also a recipient of The de Groot Foundation’s 2022 COURAGE to WRITE grant. He’s currently taking part in Bennington College’s MFA Writing Seminars. His short stories have appeared in Hive Avenue Literary Journal, Punt Volat, A Gathering of the Tribes, Typehouse, decomp and Havik. His poetry has appeared in Rigorous.
Q. What are you most proud of?
A. At this moment, I'm so proud of my short story collection, “The Birthright of Sons.” It was officially released January 9, 2024 by Texas Tech University Press, and it's the culmination of years of effort. I've always dreamed of traditionally publishing a book and sharing my work with a broader audience. That it's happening now is so surreal, but it's also a joyous time. The love and support I've received from friends, family, and my broader network (including alumni and faculty at Flagler) have made this achievement that much sweeter.
Overall, I'm proud of having a truly creative career. After freelancing for the last eight years, I've taken on the role of editor at Northstar Publishing, overseeing the company's main magazine title, PRB+. I'm in the thick of promoting my book. And I'm deeply engaged in the Bennington MFA Writing Seminars, working with an incredibly accomplished advisor and positioning literature at the center of my life. I feel so blessed to have these opportunities, and I know this period is the result of years of hard work.
Of course, the foundation for my career was built at Flagler College, and I recently had the chance to serve as a mentor for the Fort Mose Writers' Room (part of the Cinematic Arts program). It was an honor to share my expertise with this wonderful group of students, and it was a full-circle moment stepping in to advise and lecture almost 20 years after I graduated. (Many thanks to Dr. Nadia Ramatour, Visiting Filmmaker Jim Gilmore and Dr. Tracy Halcomb for inviting me onto the project!)
