Tell us a little about what inspired you to write “Sugar Rush,” selected for Best of the Net 2023.

I really wanted to write a story about the negative impact that Western perceptions of beauty has on multicultural households, specifically in regard to our bodies. Instead of writing a story about only the negative impacts, however, I wanted to turn it into a message of learning to accept oneself through the joy of food. Thus, “Sugar Rush” was born.  

 "A Piece of You" was selected for Best Microfiction 2023. Pieces like that offer a view of life as though through a microscope. What are the top qualities that you look for in such a small space?

I enjoy flash that can explore an intimate sense of closeness, whether to the character or subject at hand, sharp but poetic language, and an ending that leaves such an impact that I’ll be thinking about the piece for days. Short fiction can be hard to pull off, but when it works, it feels like magic. 

How would you compare “Sugar Rush” against “A Piece of You”? Both are windows to complex family ties and the self in their midst.  

“Sugar Rush” is a story of defiance since the main character learns to accept her body through food, while “A Piece of You” remembers loved ones through consuming generational recipes. Food and culture are such important aspects of my work and identity, and I think both should be used more as vehicles to examine family dynamics and relationships.  

Besides your unique voice and writing rooted in family and culture, what are some of the things that define your style? 

While I’ve enjoyed my realism work (and I’m sure I’ll return to it), my new stories are entering the genre-bending world—mixing dreams, nightmares, and the fantastic, to discuss family dynamics, bodies, and personal liberation from Westernized teachings in multicultural families. In addition, my stories have a strong sense of place and are rooted in the South, often taking place in Houston and Central Texas. 

What’s your next project?

I’m working on my first full-length manuscript: a genre-bending collection that focuses on queer femmes of color in the South unlearning Westernized teachings. Be prepared for new takes on haunted houses, Xicanx lesbian vampires, and dream sequences in multicultural households. Though the speculative may feel new for my readers, the root of the work is similar to the messages in older pieces.