Florida is more than just sunshine and seashells. It’s also hurricanes and hiding places. To the outsider, Florida might seem all pastel sunsets and tourist-packed boardwalks—but as anyone who’s truly lived here knows, the real Florida hides in the hush between storms, in the stillness of a mangrove tangle, in the ghost-gray light of a … Read more
Beneath the rolling tides of Florida’s coastal waters, scattered like celestial bodies in the sand, lie the sea stars—more commonly known as starfish. Despite their name, they aren’t fish at all but echinoderms, close relatives of sea urchins and sand dollars. With their slow, deliberate movements and striking symmetry, sea stars have captivated seafarers and … Read more
The waters surrounding Florida have long been known as a graveyard for ships. From Spanish galleons loaded with treasure to forgotten merchant vessels swallowed by storms, the ocean holds stories of adventure, tragedy, and mystery—many still waiting to be discovered. As a writer, I can’t help but be drawn to these lost histories, imagining the … Read more
I’m thrilled to share that my short story, What They Had Taken, has been shortlisted in the Reedsy Prompts writing contest! While I didn’t take home the grand prize, making the shortlist is an honor. Each week, Reedsy receives hundreds of submissions, and only a select few are recognized. Seeing my story among them is … Read more
Suspense is an art—one that grips readers, makes them hold their breath, and keeps them turning pages long after they meant to stop. It’s also an art I’m still perfecting. Recently, I entered my short story No Return into the Reedsy Writing Prompts contest, where the challenge was: “Your character is getting changed in the … Read more
Some stories live and die by their setting. A place can be more than just a backdrop—it can breathe, shift, and carry weight just as much as any character. Think of the windswept moors in Wuthering Heights, the oppressive heat of the American South in To Kill a Mockingbird, or the icy, isolating expanse of … Read more
I’m thrilled to share that my short story Salt, Then Silence was shortlisted in the latest Reedsy writing contest! While I didn’t take home the win this time, being recognized among so many talented writers is an honor. This story holds a special place in my heart, and knowing it resonated with the judges gives … Read more
Some places never leave you. They settle deep in your bones, shaping the way you move through the world. For me, that place has always been the water. I was born in Key West, the daughter of a Navy man, and the ocean was my first home before I even knew how to name it. … Read more
There’s something mesmerizing about the way the ocean breathes—the tide retreating to unveil a hidden world, then surging forward to reshape everything in its path. I’ve walked those shores, watching the water withdraw, leaving behind shells, forgotten relics, and scars carved into the sand. It’s a quiet magic, this rhythm of ebb and flow, and … Read more
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a writer. It was a hunger, like the pull of the sea, something I couldn’t shake. In fourth grade, I wrote my first “book,” driven by the real-life wonder of finding a horse in my backyard. My grandfather and I approached it with sugar cubes, marveling at our good fortune, until a stranger arrived to take the horse away. I turned the experience into a story, complete with dialogue and—recklessly—one curse word. I expected admiration. Instead, my grandmother frowned, my teacher scolded, and the first spark of my storytelling confidence was snuffed out. I learned then to write in secret, to tuck my stories away like treasure buried beneath the tide.