First, let me say that I’m not the type of writer that secludes herself inside a bubble plotting my next novel or creating character profiles. This is not to say I don’t do these activities, because I do, but I find that my writing is better when influenced by other artists. For this reason, I actively seek collaborations in mixed media and have worked in theatre as well as with musicians, painters, and historians. I decided early on in my writing career that I needed to say “yes” to projects that made think outside the proverbial writing box. I am a member of the M’ville Salon, which is a salon that nurtures and supports artists working in north Georgia. Founded in 2022, M’ville is named after Marthasville, the second name of three for the city of Atlanta

A few fun projects I’ve gotten myself into: I once collaborated with a musician who wrote a musical composition to accompany my short story, “The Gordy Hall Haunt,” which was performed during Reinhardt’s Contemporary Arts Festival at the Falany Performing Arts Center. Think of a soundtrack for your stories. I’ve created scripts for a living history project at Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery called “Sunday in the Park.” Digging through census records and news articles from the late 1800s to 1950s, I was able to raise the dead and educate guests about the people who were part of Atlanta’s early landscape. One of my favorite readings was when I worked with an American Sign Language interpreter who translated my fiction into American Sign Language.

After graduating with my MFA in creative writing from the Etowah Valley Creative Writing program at Reinhardt University in 2019, I was asked to join Southern Literary Review as an Associate Editor. More recently, I started writing a monthly column for WELL READ Magazine called “TripLit with D. Major” where I share my adventures travelling to literary destinations as well as destinations of the mind. In addition to working on my next novel, I am member of the William Gay Archive and have helped edit and publish the late author’s works. In 2023, I collaborated with the lead archivist, Michael White, and GA Center for the Book on an art exhibit displaying William’s paintings. So many projects and not enough time!

I’ve enjoyed mentoring middle school kids through the Wren’s Nest Scribe program–a program that provides one-on-one mentoring and teaches kids the craft of writing fiction. The anthology debuts every year at the Decatur Book Festival. Through my blog, I have manifested collaborations between writers and artists. There’s so much more, but the point is: GET OUT THERE AND FIND WHAT INSPIRES YOU AND YOUR WRITING!

I am also member of the following organization: Atlanta Writer’s Club, the Horror Writer’s Association, Broadleaf Writers Association (board member), Georgia Writers Association, and Southeastern Writers Association.

I am a long time Atlanta resident and live in in the Old Fourth Ward with my husband, son, a wicked kitty, and my two hell hounds. Before moving to Georgia, I lived in rural Southeast Missouri for seven years amongst farms and the some of the most stunning countryside I’ve ever experienced. The town of Lawrenceton, Missouri and the surrounding area was the inspiration for my book, The Bystanders. While I consider myself a literary fiction writer, I have gravitated into the horror and weird fiction, and love to genre-blend. I am currently working on a novel called One Man’s Graveyard is Another Man’s Worth-Mart (think Grady’ Hendrix’s Horrorstor, but cheekier, with the sense of humor of Rachel Harrison) and a speculative memoir, called The Dandy Chronicles.

Happy Writing!