The freedom to read doesn’t exist without the freedom to write
Since summer 2025, I've been working with Massachusetts Authors Against Book Bans and the Mass Freedom to Read coalition to advocate for the passage of An Act Regarding Free Expression, which is Massachusetts' freedom to read bill. It finally passed in August 2026. This is the story of how it happened and some of the lessons I’ve learned from my experience.
Checking in on queer books this Pride month
Several recent articles have reported on how the current crisis of censorship in the US has made publishing LGBTQ+ books much more difficult. I don't doubt this, but I also want to offer a slightly different take on the current situation — one that brings in the broader historical context.
A Lunar New Year Scroll
Last year, I was contacted by Erika Taketa, a book binding artist, who asked permission to turn "New Year" into a book object using some very special cloth: a Pride flag that has flown in San Francisco's Castro District.
Happy anniversary to Last Night at the Telegraph Club!
Five years ago today, on Jan. 19, 2021, Last Night at the Telegraph Club was first published. It has had such an incredible journey over the last five years!
From 2025 to 2026
I'm writing this post sitting in my orange armchair in my attic, under a blue blanket, on the afternoon of Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. I've just had a cup of Ti Kuan Yin tea, after returning from a chilly walk with Leia in the tiny patch of woods in our neighborhood.
Banned Books Update: New Year, More Censorship
Since 2021 and as of today, Feb. 4, 2025, six of my seven novels and two anthologies including my work have been censored in 96 cases across 20 states.
From 2024 to 2025
It's that time of year again: Every new year I write up an annual review of what happened in the past year.
Banned Books Week 2024 — Still Getting Banned!
My novels continue to be banned, challenged, or restricted at a steady pace.
From 2023 to 2024
Every year I do an annual review post in which I look back on what I did professionally and look forward to what I hope to do in the year to come, and I tag them annual review on my blog. This means if you’re interested you can go back to see my annual reviews since the early 2010s.
I just re-read my annual review for 2022, in which I wrote: "I know that I won’t be able to finish a whole new book in 2023, but I do plan to get a good start on it.”