February 24, 2021

I don't think many folks can pinpoint the exact date they started their professional writing career. Not just writing, but that day that kickstarted your work into the world of being a published and paid contributor to the ever-flowing literary scene.

For me, it was May 29, 2015.

That was the day I was sitting in a warehouse in downtown L.A., surrounded by used books, sweating in 100-degree heat, chatting on the phone with one of my literary idols, who was giving me critical, but enthusiastic, feedback on a story I'd written called "Cocoon."

Laird gave me a lot of stuff to fix, and showed me ways I could do a lot of things better -- lessons I still adhere to -- but he also told me, in so many words, that it was good enough. That I was good enough.

I took about ten pages of frantic notes that afternoon, dripping sweat onto the paper, straining to hear his thoughts through my crappy earpiece, praying I could extend my break just a little bit longer.

Eventually, "Cocoon" became "Mother". After extensive rewrites using Laird's advice and guidance and more than a few of his suggestions, I submitted "Mother" to Dunhams Manor Press, who agreed to publish it as a standalone chapbook.

Since then, I've published over two dozen short stories, a story collection, and two novellas. I've had my work reviewed in The New York Times. This year I'll publish another novella, a second collection and my debut novel.

Every day I'm appreciative to Laird for taking the time to coach up a nobody writer, and I try to pay it back every chance I get.

I'll be dedicating my new collection to Mr. Barron, without whom I would never had the nerve, or belief, to pursue this crazy dream.

Thanks, LB.