Today’s Author Highlight is author, memoirist, essayist, TED talk extraordinaire Acamea Deadwiler with an excerpt from her piece, Google Said I Suffered from a Syndrome. We’re honored to have such a prolific writer in our newsletter and we know you’ll enjoy this piece as much as we did.

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Google Said I Suffered from a Syndrome

Excerpt

by Acamea Deadwiler

Curiosity had taken control of my fingers when I typed “fatherless daughter” into Google. After almost three decades of not caring, or convincing myself I did not care, I wanted to know what psychologists and researchers thought of me. Even in my preparedness I was startled by the immediate result. Google guessed what I was about to type next and predicted the word “syndrome.”

Syndrome?

The term sent an offensive jolt up my spine. It made the effects of my fatherlessness sound so dire. Like some debilitating disorder. Like, I was broken.

It’s not that I was unaware of my divergence in comparison to daughters with dads. I just didn’t think I’d missed out on anything especially meaningful. Differences never appeared overt or serious to me. Maybe that’s because I never paid any much attention.

Still, different does not equal damaged. The nerve of those who fed this information to the internet. If I am burdened by a “condition,” when would my initial diagnosis have been?

When the man I called “Daddy” went away on Naval assignment long enough for me to lose my faith in him? Or when my mother explained to me that he wasn’t my daddy at all?

Perhaps it happened when I was eight years old, on the day I sat in front of a window waiting for my biological father to come and claim me.

Attempting to pinpoint the potential onset of an affliction, I hurried through my thoughts—doing 90 down the fast lane of a slow memory. It was only when I eased up on the gas, took my time, stopped and explored landmarks along my journey that I could see where it started to hurt and write into the wound.

Connect with Acamea Buy her books Instagram Threads Facebook

Acamea Deadwiler Acamea is a Pushcart Prize nominated memoirist and essayist. She is the author of the memoir, Daddy's Little Stranger, and Single That, a book lauded by Publishers Weekly. Her work has appeared in Bellevue Literary Review, North American Review, and Beyond Words Literary Magazine, among other commercial and literary publications. Acamea’s media features include the New York Post, Cosmopolitan, Bustle, and the FOX television network. She is a fellow in the MFA program at Randolph College. Residing in Nevada, Acamea is also a TEDx Speaker.

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Questions with Todd

1. What influences—whether literary, cultural, or personal—shape your writing style?

   I love language. So, my writing style has been influenced by creators who you can tell choose every word of their stories carefully. In literature, writers Hanif Abdurraqib and Melissa Febos have been huge influences. I also am fascinated by producers like Shonda Rhimes whose shows are known for characters who deliver strong monologues and emotionally-charged scenes that somehow still feel controlled. I aim to craft art as impactful—that makes people feel something without the feeling overwhelming them.

2. How did revisiting these memories and emotions shape the writing process for you?

   Revisiting memories and emotions shaped my writing process in that it forced me to look at the events of my life as a whole, instead of individual parts. I was able to figure out how it’s all connected and could very much be established as a cohesive story.

3. How did it feel to confront the word ‘syndrome’—and did that reaction surprise you?

   It made me defensive, first and foremost. I didn’t like the weight that word carried and it kind of added to this idea that something was inherently broken inside of me due to circumstances beyond my control. The reaction didn’t surprise me because I don’t enjoy feeling helpless in any aspect of life. I still don’t know if I accept the notion of growing up fatherless resulting in a syndrome, but I understand it undoubtedly shaped me in ways I hadn’t considered.

4. What role do you think societal expectations and definitions play in shaping how we view ourselves?

   I think societal expectations and definitions play as large a role in shaping how we view ourselves as we allow it to. If we seek external validation or allow other people to tell us who we are, we’ll play into that. I’m a proponent of deciding who you want to be and working to become that person. I think life is a journey of designing ourselves.

5. People are very quick to judge that which they do not fully understand. What do you think is society’s biggest misconceptions about experiences like fatherlessness?

   Specifically for women, I think the biggest misconception is that those who’ve grown up fatherless are doomed to seek constant comfort in the arms of men. One of the most common "symptoms" of Fatherless Daughter Syndrome is considered promiscuity. We don’t always consider how it can actually push little girls to the other end of the spectrum, where they resist connection because they never got to build that muscle so to speak.

6. In writing this, did you discover anything about yourself that you didn’t realize before?

   I realized that my resistance to love and commitment was a defense mechanism, not a signal of my strength in aloneness.

7. What advice would you give to someone exploring their own wounds through writing?

   My advice would be to be honest, mainly with yourself. Also, I read something like, “write from the scars not the wounds.” You’re able to better and more healthily write about a painful subject once you’ve started to heal.

8. What’s next for you as a writer?

   I’m finishing a book about children and physical discipline. I also just started working on an essay collection with a central theme of identifying joy even in challenging circumstances. I want to be sure I’m able to do that and not accentuate the negative.

Moxie Press does not own the work showcased in our monthly author spotlights or weekly author highlights, nor does Moxie Press make any commission on the sale of the author’s work. All works are the sole property of their authors.

“Hey, Drake…”

Yesterday, the biggest sports event of the year (okay, namely Kendrick Lamar) lit our televisions on fire. It was a reminder of our obsession with football but also, to quote Kendrick himself, that we “picked the right time, but the wrong guy.” You see, it’s a tough time to be an American right now, but hopefully, our book, Silly American, can help you through the trying time.

Learn about the weird parts of American history like monster trucks, Homecoming, cow’s milk.

You can also learn about (or teach a conservative family member about) very real and serious things like the school-to-prison pipeline, school shootings, circumcision, and more.

Get the ebook or the paperback — your choice!

Listen up! This month’s different!

Okay, it’s not really an emergency, but this month, we don’t have an author spotlight, and in today’s 10-minute podcast, Andrew and Jessie explain why. Watch or listen below.

But first, a word from our sponsor (please click, that’s how we make money)…

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Explore the Author Spotlight Archive

Want to read previous Moxie Press Author Spotlights?

Read them all here >

Moxie Press does not own the work showcased in our monthly author spotlights, nor does Moxie Press make any commission on the sale of the author’s work. All works are the sole property of their authors.

This month, we are not having a big author spotlight and this Thursday, we’re releasing a special podcast to explain why this month is a little different. Hint: The world is crazy and we’re adjusting to it.

Today, however, we do have the first of two author highlights this month. To kick us off, a poem by Todd Sullivan titled “Equator.” It’s a beautiful piece, we hope you’ll enjoy it. Then, stick around after for a little written interview with the author about his piece.

Equator

A Poem

by Todd Sullivan

We're from two separate countries,
the man-made seas dividing us
rolling waves of ethnicity
from one distant shore to the other.
I live in the land of New,
where the laws are written seconds before
I'm forced to decide if I should break them or not.
You live in the land of Old,
where the dead refuse to decompose
and wrap arms around cold flesh to keep on gray bones.

I know your country is stronger than mine,
hell, you have commandments from God falling like rain to flood your homes.
You have thousands of years of teachings housed in haughty fortresses
of culture and tradition.
The penalty of breaking these rules is exile
and you don't understand yet what it's like to think on your own,
alone,
but I do,
for all I have is myself,
and though I've made mirrors to surround myself with so that one becomes legion,
all I truly have is myself
and a gift for hearing unsaid glories destined to become traditions
of their own one day.

My hearing is sometimes on strike,
I admit,
and I make mistakes,
like when I thought what would be said was that I should
invade your country.

So I attempted
and sailed my mirrors to your stone shores
and walked down your marble streets.

I stood in your town square amidst your masses lead by the dead and I
spoke modern words in ancient ears hoping to finally force
arms apart to release cold flesh from gray bones.

The living asked me what I promised them if they turned away from lifeless lips speaking
Old words.

The living asked me what direction could I give to replace the centuries Old directions they
based their life on.

And I stared at them and the dead surrounding them,
knowing I had lost
for how could I tell those only looking to follow that
in my land of New,
each must be their own leader, their own teacher, their own hero.

How could I tell those looking only to follow that in my land of New,
the laws are made seconds before you're forced to decide to break them or not,
there's no time to sit down and think things through.

How could I bring these people to New when the dead voices speaking in their ears
have made even children gray-haired and wrinkled?

I knew I couldn't sail you across those tumultuous man-made seas of race, caste,
and economic class,
so I flew back to the lands of New,
on the winds of defeat and humility.

I continued to exist in the loneliness of Unique and Original,
leaving you to your families of Same and Always.

Connect with Todd The Windshine Chronicles - Book I Butcher (Book) The Gray Man of Smoke and Shadows (Book) Instagram Facebook YouTube Samjoko Magazine

Todd Sullivan Todd Sullivan teaches English as a Second Language in South Korea. His fiction, poetry, and non-fiction have been published internationally. He was listed on the preliminary ballot for the Bram Stoker’s Awards in 2018, and was nominated for a Pushcart Prize for poetry and fiction in 2023. He currently has two book series through indie publishers in America. He wrote for a Taipei play and web series that focused upon African narratives. He founded the online publication, Samjoko Magazine, in 2021, and hosts a YouTube Channel that interviews writers across the publishing spectrum.

Questions with Todd

1. How did you first discover your voice as a poet, and what drives you to explore such profound themes?

   Honestly, I wouldn’t be so bold as to call myself a poet. But I did discover a poetic voice in my late teens and early 20s when I attended the now defunct National Book Foundation Summer writing camp in the late 90s and early 2000s. I was taught by the renowned poets Cornelius Eady and Kimko Hahn, as well as numerous guests that were affiliated with the National Book Foundation and Meg Kearney, the director of the program at the time and also an established poet. The summer camps lasted for three weeks in beautiful Silver Bay, New York, and it consisted of teens and adults in their early 20s. There is a passion that exists in that age group that fuels words, and the foundation for my poetic voice was established there.

   I am driven to explore profound themes from personal experiences. At the camp, the writing philosophy was to create from muses you find within arm reach. At the time I wrote EQUATOR, I was working a customer service job with people from around the world, but mainly from India. I became quite fond of one of the Indian girls who worked there, and this poem is mainly an ode to my efforts to create a relationship with her over the two years we worked together. Being in my early 20s, this was a time when such situations inspired a lot of angst, and I found my efforts to bridge the more modern culture of America with the more traditional culture of India to be a Herculean task that ultimately came to nothing.

2. What influences—whether literary, cultural, or personal—shape your writing style?

   My poetic style is more shaped by personal and cultural influences than literary influences. Almost all of my subject matter comes from direct experiences, for as I mentioned, it is the way in which I was originally taught to write at the National Book Foundation. As a result of this, cultural aspects are bound to come into play when I come into contact with peoples from around the world. When I wrote EQUATOR, I was interacting with many individuals from India. However, now I have lived in Asia for 16 years, and soaking up the culture here has impacted all of my writing, including my poetry.

3. The idea of “laws written seconds before I’m forced to decide if I should break them” is fascinating. Does this reflect modern struggles with identity, freedom, or morality?

   Even in my youth, I found there was something to envy about the more rigid confines of tradition upon the daily lives of people. There is a great burden to be unmoored in life. Where I currently live in South Korea, there are definite banks of tradition that direct the flow of a person’s life. It takes away some decision-making, which makes life simpler. This isn’t a question of better or worse, just a difference between easier or more complicated.

   In my late teens and 20s, my life was quite chaotic, and chaos can lead to many mistakes. Having to figure things out on the fly is a constant challenge. As I’ve gotten older, I will not claim which life, freedom of modernity or strict adherence to tradition, is better or worse. Like all things, it’s probably a balance of the two which brings an individual to the highest levels of personal success. 

4. Do you believe this loneliness is necessary for being a creator or visionary? How do you personally cope with it?

   I do not know if loneliness is necessary for being a creator or visionary, but I do think extended periods of aloneness are important, and these periods can lead one to feeling lonely. Reflection, upon self, upon others, upon society, upon civilization, upon death and life, is probably necessary for being a creator or visionary. Accomplishing these things when you are constantly being assaulted by distractions is probably not ideal in carving reality from dreams. 

   One gets used to just about anything, including loneliness that stems from aloneness. It’s not so much dealing with it, it’s just facing the fact that there are a series of options that you must choose from. Either you engage in groups often, which can create distractions in thought and entanglements with others which invariably slows down the pursuit of goals; or you don’t engage with others often as you hold steady to the path you’ve envisioned bringing you closer to a far future goal. 

5. In an age of globalization and cultural exchange, do you think the tension between ‘New’ and ‘Old’ is growing stronger or fading away?

   I think the tension is growing stronger even as technology forces us to continue interacting with the other. I have read that a lot of recent political upheavals have been populations rejecting globalization and retreating back to their separate communities and borders. Perhaps people are pining for more simplicity in life, which usually means more traditional viewpoints. Again, I cannot fault any group of people for doing this, as having rules and established norms that one feels pressured to follow is simply easier in a human’s daily life. Not happier or sadder, just easier.

6. What role do you think tradition plays in shaping creativity?

   There is a common cliche that one must know the rules before they can be broken. This is something that often makes younger people roll their eyes, but truthfully, tradition exists for a reason. Ideas that survived the grueling competitive nature of life over a period of time did so because they offered some type of positive benefit to people. This is the same for the culture of people as it is for the culture, or traditions, of writing. 

   Knowing the tradition of writing helps one avoid mistakes that were worked out in narrative craft over the generations. There is a type of story that, for whatever reason, is most appealing to humans. There is a way of telling this story, of putting it down as words on the page, which have been shown to draw more readers in across generations. From this solid foundation, you are able to generate creativity far more efficiently than one could probably from a chaotic foundation, or worse yet a vacuum.

   Creativity is more than a sudden spark. It must be shaped, formed, and sustained over time, and this is where tradition can play a major role in making an idea into reality. 

7. How do you deal with the moments when, like the narrator, you feel “defeat and humility”? Does writing help you process those emotions?

   In the end, I do subscribe to the philosophy that either one keeps going, or one gives up. Defeat happens often throughout life, from small incidents to major setbacks. I don’t think it’s so much dealing with them, but more the choices you’re left with: giving up or pushing on. I don’t think writing helps me process moments of defeat, but I do think these negative experiences tend to be fuel for some of my strongest writing. Defeat comes from challenges, and the more challenges you undertake, the more opportunities there are to not gain what you’re seeking. But from challenges, from the struggle of trying to reach some new or higher level, inspiration lies. 

8. What’s next for you? Are you working on a collection or exploring other mediums to expand your creative expression?

   I am not currently working on a collection of poetry, though I would like to one day compile the poetry I’ve written over my lifetime into a chapbook. I have recently finished a draft of a novel, which I hope comes out in the next 24 months. I will soon begin a new novel, and I have several ideas of what that will be about. Despite the books I’ve had released in the last six years, I have yet to go on a proper in-person promotional tour, and that’s been playing on my mind and could be on the horizon.

Moxie Press does not own the work showcased in our monthly author spotlights or weekly author highlights, nor does Moxie Press make any commission on the sale of the author’s work. All works are the sole property of their authors.

This month, we are not having a big author spotlight and this Thursday, we’re releasing a special podcast to explain why this month is a little different. Hint: The world is crazy and we’re adjusting to it.

Today, however, we do have the first of two author highlights this month. To kick us off, a poem by Todd Sullivan titled “Equator.” It’s a beautiful piece, we hope you’ll enjoy it. Then, stick around after for a little written interview with the author about his piece.

But first, a word from today’s sponsor…

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Equator

A Poem

by Todd Sullivan

We're from two separate countries,
the man-made seas dividing us
rolling waves of ethnicity
from one distant shore to the other.
I live in the land of New,
where the laws are written seconds before
I'm forced to decide if I should break them or not.
You live in the land of Old,
where the dead refuse to decompose
and wrap arms around cold flesh to keep on gray bones.

I know your country is stronger than mine,
hell, you have commandments from God falling like rain to flood your homes.
You have thousands of years of teachings housed in haughty fortresses
of culture and tradition.
The penalty of breaking these rules is exile
and you don't understand yet what it's like to think on your own,
alone,
but I do,
for all I have is myself,
and though I've made mirrors to surround myself with so that one becomes legion,
all I truly have is myself
and a gift for hearing unsaid glories destined to become traditions
of their own one day.

My hearing is sometimes on strike,
I admit,
and I make mistakes,
like when I thought what would be said was that I should
invade your country.

So I attempted
and sailed my mirrors to your stone shores
and walked down your marble streets.

I stood in your town square amidst your masses lead by the dead and I
spoke modern words in ancient ears hoping to finally force
arms apart to release cold flesh from gray bones.

The living asked me what I promised them if they turned away from lifeless lips speaking
Old words.

The living asked me what direction could I give to replace the centuries Old directions they
based their life on.

And I stared at them and the dead surrounding them,
knowing I had lost
for how could I tell those only looking to follow that
in my land of New,
each must be their own leader, their own teacher, their own hero.

How could I tell those looking only to follow that in my land of New,
the laws are made seconds before you're forced to decide to break them or not,
there's no time to sit down and think things through.

How could I bring these people to New when the dead voices speaking in their ears
have made even children gray-haired and wrinkled?

I knew I couldn't sail you across those tumultuous man-made seas of race, caste,
and economic class,
so I flew back to the lands of New,
on the winds of defeat and humility.

I continued to exist in the loneliness of Unique and Original,
leaving you to your families of Same and Always.

Connect with Todd The Windshine Chronicles - Book I Butcher (Book) The Gray Man of Smoke and Shadows (Book) Instagram Facebook YouTube Samjoko Magazine

Todd Sullivan Todd Sullivan teaches English as a Second Language in South Korea. His fiction, poetry, and non-fiction have been published internationally. He was listed on the preliminary ballot for the Bram Stoker’s Awards in 2018, and was nominated for a Pushcart Prize for poetry and fiction in 2023. He currently has two book series through indie publishers in America. He wrote for a Taipei play and web series that focused upon African narratives. He founded the online publication, Samjoko Magazine, in 2021, and hosts a YouTube Channel that interviews writers across the publishing spectrum.

Questions with Todd

1. How did you first discover your voice as a poet, and what drives you to explore such profound themes?

   Honestly, I wouldn’t be so bold as to call myself a poet. But I did discover a poetic voice in my late teens and early 20s when I attended the now defunct National Book Foundation Summer writing camp in the late 90s and early 2000s. I was taught by the renowned poets Cornelius Eady and Kimko Hahn, as well as numerous guests that were affiliated with the National Book Foundation and Meg Kearney, the director of the program at the time and also an established poet. The summer camps lasted for three weeks in beautiful Silver Bay, New York, and it consisted of teens and adults in their early 20s. There is a passion that exists in that age group that fuels words, and the foundation for my poetic voice was established there.

   I am driven to explore profound themes from personal experiences. At the camp, the writing philosophy was to create from muses you find within arm reach. At the time I wrote EQUATOR, I was working a customer service job with people from around the world, but mainly from India. I became quite fond of one of the Indian girls who worked there, and this poem is mainly an ode to my efforts to create a relationship with her over the two years we worked together. Being in my early 20s, this was a time when such situations inspired a lot of angst, and I found my efforts to bridge the more modern culture of America with the more traditional culture of India to be a Herculean task that ultimately came to nothing.

2. What influences—whether literary, cultural, or personal—shape your writing style?

   My poetic style is more shaped by personal and cultural influences than literary influences. Almost all of my subject matter comes from direct experiences, for as I mentioned, it is the way in which I was originally taught to write at the National Book Foundation. As a result of this, cultural aspects are bound to come into play when I come into contact with peoples from around the world. When I wrote EQUATOR, I was interacting with many individuals from India. However, now I have lived in Asia for 16 years, and soaking up the culture here has impacted all of my writing, including my poetry.

3. The idea of “laws written seconds before I’m forced to decide if I should break them” is fascinating. Does this reflect modern struggles with identity, freedom, or morality?

   Even in my youth, I found there was something to envy about the more rigid confines of tradition upon the daily lives of people. There is a great burden to be unmoored in life. Where I currently live in South Korea, there are definite banks of tradition that direct the flow of a person’s life. It takes away some decision-making, which makes life simpler. This isn’t a question of better or worse, just a difference between easier or more complicated.

   In my late teens and 20s, my life was quite chaotic, and chaos can lead to many mistakes. Having to figure things out on the fly is a constant challenge. As I’ve gotten older, I will not claim which life, freedom of modernity or strict adherence to tradition, is better or worse. Like all things, it’s probably a balance of the two which brings an individual to the highest levels of personal success. 

4. Do you believe this loneliness is necessary for being a creator or visionary? How do you personally cope with it?

   I do not know if loneliness is necessary for being a creator or visionary, but I do think extended periods of aloneness are important, and these periods can lead one to feeling lonely. Reflection, upon self, upon others, upon society, upon civilization, upon death and life, is probably necessary for being a creator or visionary. Accomplishing these things when you are constantly being assaulted by distractions is probably not ideal in carving reality from dreams. 

   One gets used to just about anything, including loneliness that stems from aloneness. It’s not so much dealing with it, it’s just facing the fact that there are a series of options that you must choose from. Either you engage in groups often, which can create distractions in thought and entanglements with others which invariably slows down the pursuit of goals; or you don’t engage with others often as you hold steady to the path you’ve envisioned bringing you closer to a far future goal. 

5. In an age of globalization and cultural exchange, do you think the tension between ‘New’ and ‘Old’ is growing stronger or fading away?

   I think the tension is growing stronger even as technology forces us to continue interacting with the other. I have read that a lot of recent political upheavals have been populations rejecting globalization and retreating back to their separate communities and borders. Perhaps people are pining for more simplicity in life, which usually means more traditional viewpoints. Again, I cannot fault any group of people for doing this, as having rules and established norms that one feels pressured to follow is simply easier in a human’s daily life. Not happier or sadder, just easier.

6. What role do you think tradition plays in shaping creativity?

   There is a common cliche that one must know the rules before they can be broken. This is something that often makes younger people roll their eyes, but truthfully, tradition exists for a reason. Ideas that survived the grueling competitive nature of life over a period of time did so because they offered some type of positive benefit to people. This is the same for the culture of people as it is for the culture, or traditions, of writing. 

   Knowing the tradition of writing helps one avoid mistakes that were worked out in narrative craft over the generations. There is a type of story that, for whatever reason, is most appealing to humans. There is a way of telling this story, of putting it down as words on the page, which have been shown to draw more readers in across generations. From this solid foundation, you are able to generate creativity far more efficiently than one could probably from a chaotic foundation, or worse yet a vacuum.

   Creativity is more than a sudden spark. It must be shaped, formed, and sustained over time, and this is where tradition can play a major role in making an idea into reality. 

7. How do you deal with the moments when, like the narrator, you feel “defeat and humility”? Does writing help you process those emotions?

   In the end, I do subscribe to the philosophy that either one keeps going, or one gives up. Defeat happens often throughout life, from small incidents to major setbacks. I don’t think it’s so much dealing with them, but more the choices you’re left with: giving up or pushing on. I don’t think writing helps me process moments of defeat, but I do think these negative experiences tend to be fuel for some of my strongest writing. Defeat comes from challenges, and the more challenges you undertake, the more opportunities there are to not gain what you’re seeking. But from challenges, from the struggle of trying to reach some new or higher level, inspiration lies. 

8. What’s next for you? Are you working on a collection or exploring other mediums to expand your creative expression?

   I am not currently working on a collection of poetry, though I would like to one day compile the poetry I’ve written over my lifetime into a chapbook. I have recently finished a draft of a novel, which I hope comes out in the next 24 months. I will soon begin a new novel, and I have several ideas of what that will be about. Despite the books I’ve had released in the last six years, I have yet to go on a proper in-person promotional tour, and that’s been playing on my mind and could be on the horizon.

Moxie Press does not own the work showcased in our monthly author spotlights or weekly author highlights, nor does Moxie Press make any commission on the sale of the author’s work. All works are the sole property of their authors.

Here’s What We’re Reading

It’s a new year, which means we’re in self-improvement mode.

So, what are we currently reading? After a word from our sponsor, you’ll find out…

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What Jessie is reading:
Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap

In a fascist administration, financial literacy is resistance. As you’ll discover in this book, financial education for women is typically about saving money on groceries or encouraging you to stop “frivolous spending” on beauty products. Men, on the other hand, get all the good advice on things like investing and growth. Well, Tori Dunlap is here to change the narrative! And yes, Jessie can confirm that this book has been a game-changer for her.

Get your own copy now

(Moxie Press makes a commission on all purchases of recommended books via the link in this email.)

What Andrew is reading:
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

It’s corny, we know, but sometimes the simplest advice is truly the best advice. Even before the new year, Andrew committed to a back-to-basics approach to human interaction. Between parenting and a pandemic, social skills really took a backseat. Andrew can say, despite being an obvious choice, How to Win Friends has definitely helped. To put it in his words, “It’s great advice!”

Get your own copy now

(Moxie Press makes a commission on all purchases of recommended books via the link in this email.)

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In case you missed it…

Our latest podcast episode with prolific author Mark Salzwedel explores the mind of a multi-hyphenate writer and composer. Warning: He will make you feel lazy.

You can also listen to his short story, An Unexpected Cookie, on this episode. Also, be sure to look out for his upcoming novel, Time Bump, by keeping an eye on his social media.

WATCH THE EPISODE NOW:

And you can listen to it here. Do it both ways, it only helps us!

Explore the Author Spotlight Archive

Want to read previous Moxie Press Author Spotlights?

Read them all here >

Moxie Press does not own the work showcased in our monthly author spotlights, nor does Moxie Press make any commission on the sale of the author’s work. All works are the sole property of their authors.

What Moxie’s Reading

We’re not just about the books we publish or our author spotlights; we read other things. So, we wanted to give some recommendations occasionally to help you stay vigilant and ahead of the curve, which is more important now than ever.

What are we currently reading?

On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder

Written in the wake of the 2016 election, historian Timothy Snyder uses examples from 20th-century tyrannical regimes to teach us how to handle the coming tyranny. And while 2020 ousted Trump from the White House, 2024 has seen him roar back with a vengeance. Learn from history, stay vigilant, and get this book before books go away for good.

Get your own copy now

(Moxie Press makes a commission on all purchases of recommended books via the link in this email.)

Further Reading

To be clear, do not buy the following book. Pirate it, find a PDF, get it from your local library if they have it already, or borrow a copy from your annoying MAGA cousin, but do not buy this book because it supports evil men. That being said, it’s essential to be prepared, and just short of reading all 900 pages of Project 2025, Dawn's Early Light: Taking Back Washington to Save America by former Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts lays out the frighteningly banal, dystopian plan for how extremist Republicans seizing power will reshape this country.

Examples include preferring citizen paramilitaries to police officers, using disinformation openly to their advantage, and more, all for the “greater good,” as it were. Again, we won’t link it here; just seek it out without giving them money and be prepared for the havoc they plan to wreak.

Fun facts: The original title of the book was Dawn's Early Light: Burning Down Washington to Save America, so that’s frightening. Also, the foreword was written by now Vice President-Elect J.D. Vance. You know, the man about to be inches away from the presidency at any moment. You know, the man who doesn’t know how to order donuts and compared mass deportation to eating a Big Mac “one bite at a time.”

Sorry to end on such a down note, but as long as they are around, books will save us.

Be ready,
Moxie Press

ICYMI: Our First Book Festival

For those who did not see this yesterday, we wanted to send out the community story we wrote with attendees of the Las Vegas Book Festival. (We also fixed a typo.) It was an amazing day filled with incredible writers and wonderful readers from all over. If only we could do this here more than once a year.

We started the community story with one line and encouraged people who came to our booth to continue the story. What transpired is just as off-the-rails as you might expect. Enjoy!

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The Las Vegas Book Festival 2024 Community Story

Godspeed You! Black Emperor blared over the record player’s speakers. The boy ran his hand across the upholstery of his grandma’s sturdy old couch. He wanted to feel something comforting. He felt something dreadful instead. (Andrew D.)

Waiting, he decided, was the worst thing ever. Waiting for the microwave to finish was just as bad as waiting for his parents to call and tell him they were alright. Or worse, the call where he was told they hadn’t made it. (Jesse Q.)

They had never gone this long without communicating. When they landed and grabbed their luggage, the phone call would arrive within 20 minutes max. Not this time. He had texted over an ago. It was still unread. Within the dread edging up his body, it began to change. Certainty overtook his thoughts. (Kate S.)

In times like this, he often recalled a poem, one his parents had first shown him at a young age:

”a distance is only as far
as you make it
my heart beats in your hands
no matter how long I take
to reach you”
(Ginny L.)

The start of something new always feels like the end of everything I know. The journey is now vast. I will defeat his kingdom, and he will know true devastation… (Francis D.)

His mind frantically thought with such sudden and intensely random interjection. Much like the staccato traumas of yesteryear, his mind raced from the well-intentioned guidance of his parents to ill-intentioned insecurities of self. He stood as still as he possibly could, waiting… waiting for an absolution that would never come. (Elenis W.)

For he was alone. Always and forever alone. He had tried to erase his past and move forward, but it was useless. Donning his wide straw hat, he grabbed his coat and left the building… (Judy L.)

To bask in the sunset. A molten ball of flame that feeds the world. He thought about his plants and how the sun brought them to life with its rays. He thought of his depression and how the sun lifted his spirits. As his car turned the corner at the Spring’s Preserve… (Vicky S.)

The warmth of the rays began to tingle as they spread through his nerves. By the time he walked out of the lot onto the walking path, the breeze filled his lungs with something odd. Hope. It felt strange to so suddenly feel hope that his external light could be embodied in his mood. (Kelley B.)

Telling your story will be one of the boldest actions you can do for yourself. You will be shy, you will be a little hesitant, but most importantly liberated. Cheers to you for grabbing the pen! Tell it like it is and leave no ink… (Angie T.)

He thought as he walked below the branches of the old oak tree. Even if he was going to be late to class, he was always going to loiter here on his way by. It just held so many memories. (Jenna G.)

Peri looked around and sipped at the coffee from the food truck. Their mark stood across the way, checking out the horror authors’ table. 

“Figures,” he thought. “A murder suspect interested in horror novels… What could be more stereotypical.” Roxie stepped up beside him. 

“Breathe, Peri. You’re starting to give off creepy, vampire vibes.” 

“Well,” he started—

“I know,” she interrupted, “but they don’t need to know.” (Mary B.)

Peri watched the mark scan the crowd. This is it. Peri got his camera ready to capture the money shot and snapped a picture just as the mark picked their nose.

”Wow,” Roxie said, “he sure can get that finger way up in there.” (Unknown)

“Look at this shot I just got,” Peri said to Roxie. “What a beautiful day for this type of photo!” I wonder what else we can get a photo of today. Maybe some trees and sunsets? (Danielle & Kim)

Roxie thought to herself; she wanted a once-in-a-lifetime shot. “We should head to the beach and get something that you don’t usually see?” Peri broke out into a giant grin.

”You know, that doesn’t sound half-bad.” (Brianna)

That soft rays fell onto Roxie’s skin, illuminating it into a radiant red glow. Peri ushered Roxie to come in the space filled with the beautiful melody of the sea. (Raul)

Peri smiled softly, taking in the perfect view of Roxie settling herself down — fixing her hair as the wind whipped around her. The view beyond her was lovely, but Peri had a better idea. Peri lifted the camera while Roxie was distracted, catching the perfect candid shot. (Anna)

Little did Peri know that Roxie was a lesbian. She was only here because her mother was bribing her. Nothing Roxie loved more than attention and money, so she was fine with pretending. (Maris)

Peri wished Roxie wore something a bit more alluring today. The wind was strong this morning, and there was overcast on the weather app. The weather, as always, is unreliable when you least expect it to be. Nonetheless, Peri made the best of the situation with Roxie. (Edward R.)

Her heart beat like a metal band’s drummer as she opened her phone’s contacts app. She inhaled deeply, selected Roxie’s name, and pressed the call button. (Unknown)

She couldn’t help but think, would the clonazepam settle their beating heart? (Janine)

”Hello? You’ve reached Roxie!” I always forget that Roxie answers the phone like you’re listening to a voicemail while simultaneously being welcomed. This did not matter all that much because hearing Roxie’s voice promptly made Peri forget theirs. (Chikas A.)

”Hey.” (Alexis S.)

”Roxie! It’s been a while. Sometimes, I can’t help but wonder and think back to when we were young. So much has changed. It’s almost surreal…” She paused for a moment to take a deep breath. (CM)

”Yeah, it has been a while…” Roxie thought long and hard about collecting her thoughts before responding. (Unknown)

With a jump, Roxie was woken by the phone alert. She knew what those dreams always meant but did not know how to process them after so much time had passed. She thought those wounds had healed long ago. (J. Light)

Roxie lay down and stared at the ceiling, taking a deep breath. (Ariel D.)

She would rather forget what happened that year. (Anna Z.)

Her real frustration was technology — stressed when she could not download stories. (Andy)

Glancing at her phone alert, she noticed the time. “Fuck, fuck, fuck! I’m going to be late!” She shouted to herself as she jerked up in bed. (David B.)

She reached for her keys from the table. Her hand gripped only its beveled edge — and a note poorly written. (Unknown)

And they parked in the very first spot they found. Next to the graffitied dumpsters and the featherless pigeon. It cost $4. (Mitchell)

Then, the featherless pigeon suddenly grew to a massive size. A third eye grew from its rough-skinned head. God was present in the parking lot. (Bianca C.)

They woke up from a long nap and went to the kitchen to make coffee and waffles. They got a text that said, “Want to play soccer at the park at 3 pm today?” I am too hungover to play. Catch up with them next week. (Ziggy)

Then, suddenly, out of nowhere, the giant featherless pigeon appeared in the kitchen window. It’s a massive eye staring at them like glass. They were frozen with fear, breathless, their heart pumping with adrenaline. The pigeon turned to me and… (Michael N.)

“You’re going to be late, Roxie…” the pigeon cooed, rocking her home.

“Can I just have some privacy? I already know I’m late.”

“Okay, but there isn’t much time… You must be ready to go.” (Nyxi F.)

Ready to go or glow? Believe me, no you don’t have to, but you’re glow indicates how controlling you are. Oops — or it tends to be oops — actually, it’s the “must go” that rubs me wrong. Oh gosh, I’m the controller as I reflect. Okay, I’ll go, but not because I must but because I want to. You must chuckle. (Carla B.)

Roxie was clearly going through something. (Andrew D.)

There I go, stuck talking to myself again. Get it together, Roxie!

“You’re going to be late,” the pigeon said again; their eyes studied Roxie as she stood frozen in indecision.

“I know,” Roxie said as calmly as possible, trying to remember where she was going.

The pigeon inched closer, its taloned toes clacking on the her countertop, ticking down the seconds.

“Okay, let’s go,” Roxie responded firmly. This is the moment, now or never. The pigeon cooed in approval and flew toward the door.

“Follow me, Roxie,” he said gleefully. Roxie grabbed her keys and closed the door behind her.

“We’re going.” (Jennilyn)

The pigeon, featherless and visibly disheveled, hurried out the door, screeching for Roxie to follow.

Roxie yelled, “Oh my God, just chill!”

It did not chill. If anything, it became more frantic. Its ruby red eye on its forehead began to flash gold as it stared at Roxie head-on and began to unhinge its beak to display multiple rows of jagged teeth and six long tongues. (Ericka G.)

“Fucking chill! We won’t be late. And don’t even start with that fucking attitude!”

The pigeon growled again before coming over to Roxie and pecking on her bedazzled ponytail. (Phoenix A.)

The ground beneath them began to shake. The pigeon wrapped its talons around Roxie’s arms and lifted her in the air. They flew out the door and into the sky. The apartment complex and Roxie’s entire past sunk into the earth, but she also wondered…

Was Peri okay? Did Peri even exist? Was that record player still spinning Godspeed? (Andrew D.)

THE END.

Thanks again!

To all of our community story authors, Sandra and the team at the Las Vegas Book Festival, as well as writers and readers like Mia, Meka, Dee, Joe, Wolff, and more, thanks for the incredible experience. See you next year, though hopefully sooner.

Author, Actor, Dancer, Pilot

Simon Brading: September Author Spotlight

This week on the podcast, we have Simon Brading, our September Author Spotlight. He talks about how to write action, his former life as a Royal Air Force hopeful, and much more.

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But the challenge of maintaining a consistent media presence can be overwhelming.

Now imagine being able to publish unique content to your website newsroom, social media and top magazines with just A FEW CLICKS.

Without a bunch of expensive tools...

Without a PR agency...

Or even a lot of time (because AI automates 98% of your work 🤌)...

Pressmaster.ai makes it a reality:

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Now back to our regularly scheduled programming…

You can also watch the episode

Connect with Simon: Order the book TikTok Instagram Facebook

Simon Brading I've made a living in quite a few ways, doing things like ballet dancing, acting, modeling, and voice work before finally settling on writing. I still do some acting occasionally, but I spend most of my days sitting at my laptop. As well as novels I also write screenplays which I then don't send to anybody. As a Londoner for most of my life, I moved to Barcelona a few years ago in search of a life that was less focused on work. I don't stick to a single genre in my writing; I tell the stories I want. Up to now, that has included YA, sci-fi, steampunk, and even ballet books for children, but I have ideas for quite a few other things, and I will continue to write whatever catches my imagination.

Explore the Author Spotlight Archive

Want to read previous Moxie Press Author Spotlights?

Read them all here >

Moxie Press does not own the work showcased in our monthly author spotlights, nor does Moxie Press make any commission on the sale of the author’s work. All works are the sole property of their authors.

Wow, that was crazy! I'm sorry for the insane number of partnership logos at the top of this newsletter. Scheduling got out of hand. (Please also be sure to click every ad.) Now, onto why we are all here…

August 2024 Author Spotlight

First of all, thank you to all those who submitted for our September Author Spotlight. If you’re interested in submitting for October, click here.

This month, we’re proud to feature an excerpt from author, actor, and dancer Simon Brading’s book The Battle Over Britain. This steampunk revisionist World War II novel features aerial dog fights, a great female pilot hero, and thrilling action.

Look out for Simon’s episode of the Moxie Press Podcast this Thursday, September 5th.

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Now back to our regularly scheduled programming…

The Battle Over Britain

by Simon Brading

Gwen resumed her scan of the sky, moving her eyes along the horizon from one side to the other, then completing the circuit by lifting her head to look overhead, avoiding the sun so as not to blind herself. The movement was not nearly as automatic as it should have been yet, she still had to tell herself to do it, but she knew that it would come, if she survived long enough; the more experienced pilots said as much.

In the middle of a scan she hesitated, blinking, as her mind tried to tell her something.

Had she seen something? She retraced her scan, going back the opposite way. There!

Was that a dot or just a speck of dust on her canopy?

She was about to slide a magnification lens down over her goggles to take a better look when she was interrupted by a call over the radio.

“Close formation, please, Patin Three.”

A quick glance to the side showed that while she had been searching for the dot in the sky she had let a gap open up between herself and the squadron leader’s aircraft, in turn forcing “Patin Four” to move over with her.

A few soft nudges on her rudder pedals was all it took to put her aircraft back into formation and she cursed Berty Withers silently before keying her microphone.

“Apologies, Leader.”

Gwen’s attention had been elsewhere for less than ten seconds, but when she lifted her eyes to seek out the dot overhead it had grown into an aircraft and spouted fire.

“Break!”

She threw her spring into maximum unwind, simultaneously pulled back on the stick to try to get out from between the two Harridans flanking her.

Her warning came far too late as tracer rounds were already penetrating the small formation.

The effect was instantaneous as the armour piercing ammunition of the Prussians ripped half of the squadron leader’s wing off and he spun and went into a dive, narrowly missing Patin Two. Her own aircraft didn’t come through unscathed either and it shuddered as at least two rounds struck it, opening up gaping holes in the metal of her left wing and damaging the frame beneath.

She had no idea how the other two aircraft in her flight fared, though, and she had no time to look for them as she threw her machine onto its wing and turned sharply after the Fleas.

There were four of them, Muhlenberg MU9’s, agile fighters that had accounted for far too many pilots and aircraft over France.

Gwen had a few of seconds before they closed back into range and she used one to glance over her shoulder and look for the rest of her flight - there was no sign of them, but she thought she saw a flash of white far below, possibly from a glidewing.

She had no time to keep searching for them, though, because the MU9’s were fast approaching.

Instead of climbing back into the sky they had banked and were coming around to get another shot at their victims, obviously supremely confident in their advantage and intending to turn fight.

Gwen grimaced; the Harridan was a wonderful gun platform, stable and capable of accurately delivering a weight of metal that rivalled the Frigates of the Napoleonic Conflict and was more than enough to take down bombers and heavy fighters. It was also fairly manoeuvrable and could out turn even a Spitsteam under certain conditions, but the MU9’s were reportedly far more nimble and under normal circumstances she couldn’t possibly hope to take on four of them.

Fortunately, though, she had an ace up her sleeve - she reached under her seat to a hidden panel, feeling the four switches there and flicked the one on the far right, praying that the modifications she had secretly made to the wings in the dead of the night over four long weeks hadn’t been damaged by the two hits her machine had taken.

She was relieved to hear a high-pitched whirring sound as the small springs uncoiled, extending panels from the wings and altering their configuration. Now she just had to hope that having the odds in their favour and better machines would make the Fleas so sure of their victory that they would become complacent and make a mistake.

Whether they hadn’t been expecting such a quick reaction on her part or they were just as inexperienced as she was, the enemy pilots had already made their first mistake by turning the way they had; instead of banking to come around behind her they had turned the other way and her increased rate of turn meant that she was inside them.

One by one the four aircraft came into range. She was unable to get all of them in her sights because they were at different altitudes, but two of them lazily crossed through her sights and she thumbed the button on her stick, holding it down for almost two seconds.

For the first time ever she fired in combat. The first of her rounds passed harmlessly in front of her intended target because she had overcompensated and led her target too far, but then the Flea obliged her by flying into the stream.

The enemy aircraft disintegrated, literally coming apart in the air.

Stunned, Gwen froze.

She had just killed someone.

All your news. None of the bias.

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Subscribe to 1440 today.

Connect with Simon: Order the book TikTok Instagram Facebook

Simon Brading I've made a living in quite a few ways, doing things like ballet dancing, acting, modeling, and voice work before finally settling on writing. I still do some acting occasionally, but I spend most of my days sitting at my laptop. As well as novels I also write screenplays which I then don't send to anybody. As a Londoner for most of my life, I moved to Barcelona a few years ago in search of a life that was less focused on work. I don't stick to a single genre in my writing; I tell the stories I want. Up to now, that has included YA, sci-fi, steampunk, and even ballet books for children, but I have ideas for quite a few other things, and I will continue to write whatever catches my imagination.

Explore the Author Spotlight Archive

Want to read previous Moxie Press Author Spotlights?

Read them all here >

Building trust and increasing sales has never been easier

As a business owner, you know how important PR is to your company's success.

But the challenge of maintaining a consistent media presence can be overwhelming.

Now imagine being able to publish unique content to your website newsroom, social media and top magazines with just A FEW CLICKS.

Without a bunch of expensive tools...

Without a PR agency...

Or even a lot of time (because AI automates 98% of your work 🤌)...

Pressmaster.ai makes it a reality:

Try Pressmaster.ai free today

Moxie Press does not own the work showcased in our monthly author spotlights, nor does Moxie Press make any commission on the sale of the author’s work. All works are the sole property of their authors.

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Live from London

Well, not live, but Andrew did record a mini-episode of the podcast (because consistency is key) from his hotel room in Mayfair.

From Silly American to the Author Spotlight, Andrew breaks down some important things he wants you to know about!

You can also listen to it anywhere you get podcasts.

Enjoy!

xo
Moxie Press

Storytelling & our civic duty.

In case you haven’t noticed, tonight is the last night of a historic Democratic National Convention. Whether you agree with their politics or not (and yes, we mostly do), one idea came to mind…

In every election cycle, stories play a pivotal role in shaping public opinion and inspiring civic engagement. Whether through novels, essays, or social media posts, the narratives we encounter influence how we see the world and, ultimately, how we vote. For indie authors, especially those with progressive voices, this presents a unique opportunity. Through their stories, they can highlight the struggles and triumphs of everyday people, bringing to life the issues that voters care about most—social justice, equality, and the fight for a better, more inclusive future.

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Whether it's a dystopian novel warning of the dangers of authoritarianism or a memoir chronicling the fight for civil rights, these narratives have the power to move hearts and minds, fostering a more informed and engaged electorate. Storytelling has always been at the heart of democracy. It's how we share our experiences, challenge the status quo, and envision a better future.

As we head into this election season, which has technically begun (though it really begins tonight as Kamala Harris officially accepts her party’s nomination for President), the voices of indie authors are more important than ever. They remind us that every vote is a story waiting to be told, and every story has the power to make a difference.

As you prepare to cast your vote, remember the significance of your voice in this process. Unfortunately, many Republican-led efforts have been made to limit your right to vote, making it all the more crucial to ensure your voice is heard. Check your voter registration, confirm your polling place, and make a plan to vote. It is not just a civic duty—it’s your most powerful tool in our ongoing fight for a just and equitable society.

xo
Moxie Press

Check out the Moxie Press Author Spotlight Archives — a collection of fiction and non-fiction short stories, excerpts, and poetry from a diverse range of authors with progressive voices.

Want to submit your work for October’s Author Spotlight?

How to finally finish writing that book.

On the latest episode of the Moxie Press Podcast, we discuss a very important book from our catalog: Just Write Your Damn Book Already!

It’s a guide for planning, creating characters, developing themes, plotting, sketching out, and writing the first draft of your big novel and beyond.

Listen now:

Episode 7: Just Write Your Damn Book Already!

How can Just Write Your Damn Book Already help you finish your novel? Listen to find out.

Building trust and increasing sales has never been easier

As a business owner, you know how important PR is to your company's success.

But the challenge of maintaining a consistent media presence can be overwhelming.

Now imagine being able to publish unique content to your website newsroom, social media and top magazines with just A FEW CLICKS.

Without a bunch of expensive tools...

Without a PR agency...

Or even a lot of time (because AI automates 98% of your work 🤌)...

Pressmaster.ai makes it a reality:

Try Pressmaster.ai free today

You can also watch us discuss it on our podcast:

Want to finish writing that damn book?

On today’s episode of the Moxie Press Podcast, we’re discussing a very important book from our catalog: Just Write Your Damn Book Already!

It’s a guide on how to write a book from the ground up, starting with themes and characters and then moving into beats, structure, and so much more. It’s also a PDF workbook, so you can print as many as you want! Don’t believe us?

Listen to us talk about it now:

Episode 7: Just Write Your Damn Book Already!

How can Just Write Your Damn Book Already help you finish your novel? Listen to find out.

You can also watch us discuss it on our podcast:

Want to buy the book?

Look no further than our website:

Just Write Your Damn Book Already!

Admit it: You want to write a book. Whether it's your memoir, the next great sci-fi epic, or even a steamy erotic adventure. That's great! JUST WRITE YOUR DAMN BOOK ALREADY! is the solution to getting you started.

It’s time to think for yourself.

At Moxie Press, we have a P.O.V. — leftist, progressive, liberal, call it what you will, that is what we are. But, like many of you, we try to source our news from the most responsible places possible. Like 1440.

All your news. None of the bias.

Be the smartest person in the room by reading 1440! Dive into 1440, where 3.5 million readers find their daily, fact-based news fix. We navigate through 100+ sources to deliver a comprehensive roundup from every corner of the internet – politics, global events, business, and culture, all in a quick, 5-minute newsletter. It's completely free and devoid of bias or political influence, ensuring you get the facts straight.

Subscribe to 1440 today.

Unbiased news is important. It doesn’t tell us how to think, it lets us think for ourselves. But also remember the more important part of absorbing news: It’s only a starting point. Once you find a story that pulls you in, look at the sources, do some research and dive deeper yourself.

After all, you can’t ever be too smart.

xo
Moxie Press

Check out the Moxie Press Author Spotlight Archives — a collection of fiction and non-fiction short stories, excerpts, and poetry from a diverse range of authors with progressive voices.

Want to submit your work for October’s Author Spotlight?

You want to do this full-time, don’t you?

Dave understands

So do we, but it’s hard. Today, we wanted to share that struggle.

We thought we could sell books, and they’d fly off the shelves. How foolish we are. Then we diversified and started running ads and focusing on email, which helped, but we might need to do more. But that’s our point.

Whether you’re an indie writer or a small business owner, just doing one thing doesn’t cut it anymore—at least not in the United States. It’s hard and frustrating, but a lot of us are right there with you.

Sometimes, you just have to hustle a bit until everything comes together and creates different streams of income, but you still have time to write, raise kids, have a little bit of a life, and maybe, just maybe… sleep a little.

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Our point is: This is a difficult part of the journey for all of us, but if we love what we’re doing, we just have to stick it out, and the harder we work, the higher the chance there will be a life of independence and creative on the other end of the tunnel. Take the luck where you can, take every opportunity, sleep a little bit less, just for now.

It’ll be worth it soon enough.

xo
Moxie Press

Check out the Moxie Press Author Spotlight Archives — a collection of fiction and non-fiction short stories, excerpts, and poetry from a diverse range of authors with progressive voices.

Want to submit your work for October’s Author Spotlight?