I'm a writer, journalist, EFL teacher, occasional translator & American abroad.
Below are links to some of my published writing and a few current creative projects.
If you'd like me to write you something — or to teach you some phrasal verbs — drop me a line.
I have reviewed books for a number of publications, including the San Francisco Chronicle, The Forward, Publishers Weekly, and Paste magazine. I often write about contemporary African literature and literature by American Jews. Below is a selection of those reviews.
African Literature:
San Francisco Chronicle | "African explores a triracial Ohio town"
Paste Magazine| "Going South: Lonely South Africans at home & abroad"
Bookslut.com | "Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits"
American Jewish Literature:
San Francisco Chronicle | "'The End of the Jews' is more of a beginning
San Francisco Chronicle | "Every happy relationship is different"
San Francisco Chronicle | "Young, unsure—and Jewish, by the way"
The Forward | "Parsing the messy terrain of the heart"
A number of my nonfiction essays have been published. Below are a three of my favorites.
Nerve.com | "The Sushisexuals: The depressing truth about my dating history"
Nerve.com | "Weird Date: The Fortuneteller"
Nerve.com | "Radio Friendly: A non-listener goes undercover at an NPR singles event"
I have conducted interviews of artists, writers and musicians for Nerve.com, Publishers Weekly, Nextbook.org and Bookslut.com. Links to a few are provided below.
Nerve Q&As:
"The Buddha of Suburbia" Q&A with writer Richard Ford
"Californication" Q&A with writer Jane Smiley
"Insane in the Membrane" Q&A with the biographer of filmmaker Ken Russell
"Accidental Tourist"Q&A with writer Cullen Thomas
Other Q&As:
Bookslut.com | An Interview with writer David Markson
Nextbook.org | "Late Bloomer" Q&A with memoirist Harry Bernstein
Publishers Weekly | "A Writer Takes Off at 90" Follow-up interview with Harry Bernstein
For two years, I edited the TV section at Flak magazine. In addition, I covered independent music for Popmatters.com and About.com, running the "About Alternative & Independent Music" site for the latter from September 2006 to April 2008. Here is some of my pop culture writing.
TV Writing:
Flak Magazine | Aaron Spelling: 1923-2006 Obituary for the television mogul
Flak Magazine | Da Vinci & The Code He Lived By TV review
Flak Magazine | Iconoclasts TV review
Flak Magazine | The Crusades TV review
Music Writing:
Flak Magazine | Words Are Enough A short assessment of artist Morrissey's lyrics
Popmatters.com | "Excerpts from the Misery of Grandaddy" A conversation with Grandaddy frontman Jason Lytle
Popmatters.com | "Finally Professional: Nada Surf at Ten Years" A celebration of Nada Surf turning 10
As a copywriter, I've written press releases for local businesses and international bands, business material for online start-ups and literary study-guides for SparkNotes publishing. I'm currently available for a variety of commissioned projects. Below are some samples of my work.
Press Copy:
Band Bio (Coming soon)
Band Press Release (Coming soon)
Business Press Release (Coming soon)
Study Guides:
SparkNotes Guide for Deborah Eisenberg "Twilight of the Superheroes"
SparkNotes Guide for Sue Monk Kidd The Secret Life of Bees
SparkNotes Guide for Henry James The Ambassadors
Business Copy:
(Coming soon.)
In the midst of all this writing of opinion and fact (and, um, copy), I'm also chipping away at the fictional limestone. Below are links two creative collaborations I'm currently involved in—check back soon and I may even post a story.
Nothing In Your Sleep Can Hurt You:
Nothing In Your Sleep Can Hurt You is a collaborative art project fusing serial fiction writing with serial songwriting and visual art-making. Each piece is created in under 30 days and is meant to tell one story. It is a conversation among friends, a workshop of peers, a way to share unpolished work.
Rescue Us Roro:
Rescue Us Roro is described as "a blog for a bunch of creative people who practice all sorts of art." It's "about inspiring, motivating and challenging one another" and is updated regularly by a motley band of visual and literary artists, including, occasionally, this guy.