What I learned from my book MMMM: and the music that made me.
Have you ever read something that stopped you in your tracks? For me it was The New York Times article: The Ritual Shaming of the Woman at the Coldplay Concert. I'm sure you've heard about Kristin Cabot's story or seen the many spoofs and replays of her jumbotron incident. It's crazy how quickly one persons experience can spread. More importantly, how quickly one persons experience can be ripped apart, dissected, and misconstrued into something completely false. Yes, everyone is welcome to...
I remember learning about haiku poems and their 5-7-5 syllables in grade school (mainly because my brain somehow mixed them up with my area code 7-5-7). I was the kid who had to clap out each syllable. Who am I kidding? I'm now the adult who continues to clap out each syllable. Anyway, in fear that most of my non-fiction essays have already been published in my book, I now use poetry as an attempt to get my work seen. But it wasn't until the haiku I wrote below where I realized most of my...
People interpret art differently and my writing is no exception. I continue to tell myself this to help smooth over any self-doubt. I know my book isn't for those with strict morals or weak stomachs. It’s not for people with trauma triggers or who have no interest in pop culture. Still, I published my authentic story, heavily saturated in these themes.
Feeling apprehensive when turning in my last round of edits would be an understatement. The panic lingers even a year after it has been...
My birthday is this weekend. *Commence singing*
Pink Flamingos (1972), Polyester (1981), Pecker (1998). These are just a few films by John Waters. Some may know him as the Father of Filth or the Pope of Trash. I'd simply call him a man who has a way with words. Oh yes, it was through his books where I first learned about Camp John Waters.
The weekend of September 6, 2025, I drove eight hours with a gal pal of mine to attend Club Getaway in Kent, Connecticut for a weekend of "divine" debauchery at Camp John Waters. It was both our first...
Since childhood, I've always loved taking magazine quizzes that could tell me more about my inner self. Even if it was something silly like which television character I related to the most. As a teenager, I scoured every personality test out there to find my DISC profile and which Enneagram I had. Now as an adult I'm still fascinated by questionnaires; especially the Proust one in the back of Vanity Fair magazine. With this in mind, I hung a dry erase board up in my office kitchen for folks...
**poetry from my Mixed Media Chapter**
in a room full of bad habits, juicy oral explorations, and cryptic signs / semen falls as dizziness injects its pain / close your legs honey; I can read you like an open book / the emotional bleed drips the longest / i wished without mercy tonight
i stole sips straight from the juice carton as you tiptoed behind me / both wearing nothing but a smile / twisting me around you pulled me in / kissing the spilt sticky liquid from my chin / you are my favorite...
Here it is! The condensed list of the 231 Cue songs and the 802 Footnotes from MMMM: and the music that made me. (Side Note: Other musicians and songs were mentioned in the book, just not as a Cue song or Footnote; therefore, aren't listed below.)
Footnotes in the hardcover and paperback
Murder Chapter
1. Mobb Deep, “Shook Ones, Pt. II”
2. Taking Heads, “Psycho Killer”
3. Cat Stevens “Wild World”
4. What Made Milwaukee Famous “Sweet Lady”
5. 50 Cent, Nate Dogg “21 Questions”
6. The The “This is the...
1. Your book is titled MMMM: and the music that made me. Describe why you picked that title and book cover.
The multiple M’s represent all the chapters within the book that start with the letter M. The word 'music' is in the subtitle because it’s practically its own character. The cover image shows a mouth wearing red lipstick. For me, it resembles power and lust (both what goes in and what comes out).
2. What are some themes explored in your book?
The book is a collection of nonfiction essays...
The following are works of art mentioned in MMMM: and the music that made me.
It's true! I'm working with the startup company, SYNTHYA, on an audiobook to sell through BookBaby with the rest of my publications. Hopefully it'll be out before the end of 2025. Patience is a virtue.
**UPDATE** As of September 2025, MMMM: and the music that made me is available as a ten hour and forty-four-minute audiobook! Visit https://store.bookbaby.com/book/mmmm-and-the-music-that-made-me for more details.
