June 2026
How I am fighting the gloom when the gloom is fighting me back
You’d think by now the swift passage of time would no longer surprise me, but we are halfway through the year and color me Suprised Pikachu. A cursed image, truly - Pikachu with my shit-eating grin is going to haunt some nightmares.
I have a new manuscript out on submission, the dopamine hit of which carried me for several days. Big shout outs to my editors nat raum and Sadee Bee, it wouldn’t be more than a twinkle in my eye without your help. Both are excellent editors and they have my enthusiastic endorsement, if you’re in the market for an editor.
Not much new stuff since May. I did run into the owner of a local bookstore again and we are setting up a reading, so stay tuned for that news. I have only ever done one in person reading in Denver (that I recall, not counting open mics) and I’m stoked to have an opportunity to meet local readers and writers.
My first ever paid publication was in a Denver mag called Birdy, they are doing a fundraising call to stay afloat. I donated, if you’re interested in helping out here is the link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/print-is-undead-help-keep-birdy-alive
Recent publications:
Literally Literary Magazine: “A delicate thing”, “Pearls” and “Wedding favors” (forthcoming).
Major 7th Magazine: “Fruit Fly” in Literary Mixtape Volume 26.
Welter at University of Baltimore: “Ghazal for New York City” in the fall digital issue.
fifth wheel press: “Brain contents” in “brainrot” anthology.
Verse Daily: “Furrows” reprint from beestung, including an audio version read by yours truly on their Substack!
Events:
nothing upcoming, book me! hello at erika gill dot com.
What I’ve been reading lately:
The King’s Peace by Jo Walton. Second in a series, very Arthurian alt-history fantasy-light. Walton is one of my favorite authors and while I am enjoying the series the first book opens with a graphic SA scene and I DNFed it initially before picking it back up and skipping pages to get past it. It was her first novel, and her others don’t center SA the same way at all. I recommend Among Others or the Thessaly series with zero reservations.
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. It’s about a small island where kelpie-like horses rise from the ocean every year and a life threatening race occurs. Stiefvater is another of my favorite authors, The Raven Cycle is so so good.
What I’m listening to (formerly SotM):