Now, on to the topic of this article: my summer reading!

As a reader, I’ve always had broad tastes—I love to read everything from classical literature to romance novels, modern literary fiction to fantasy, magical realism and fairy tales, noir and horror (as long as it’s not too gory!). However, until recently, I had not yet dipped my toe into one of the most popular genres of the 2020s: romantasy.

Since I can be a slow reader, I have to admit I was intimidated by the huge romantasy books I saw every time I entered the bookstore—not just single novels, either, but 3-to-6-book series! But this summer, searching for escapism, I decided to finally break my romantasy cherry. I began with the series many credit with launching the romantasy trend: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.

If you haven’t heard of romantasy, it’s a fairly new literary genre consisting of fantasy novels with a large emphasis on romance. That was exactly what A Court of Thorns and Roses was, but I was pleased to discover that along with the tortured, compelling romance between a mortal woman and an immortal faerie, the book included a lot of intriguing world-building. The author drew on some of my favorite fairy tales and folklore to create her story, including Beauty and the Beast; East of the Sun, West of the Moon; and the Ballad of Tamlin. All of these folktales feature strong female heroines: In East of the Sun, West of the Moon, the heroine undertakes a dangerous journey past the sun and moon to a troll queen’s castle, where she discovers how to break the evil queen’s spell and free her true love. In Tamlin, mortal woman Janet faces off against a powerful fairy queen to save her lover, and in Beauty and the Beast, Belle sacrifices herself to protect her father.

In A Court of Thorns and Roses, the heroine Feyre is just as strong as these fairy-tale heroines: a huntress by trade, she acts boldly and bravely to protect her family and later, her true love. I always enjoy novels like this one—especially when they’re also romances—where the female lead is an active character, determined to control her own fate and those of the people she loves.

The romantasy genre attracts primarily female readers, and the term “romantasy” itself and the way these books are marketed has been criticized as sexist. The (somewhat valid, in my opinion!) argument is that romantasy novels, with their lush, ornate covers and sexy fan art, are marketed as “faerie smut”—implying that women want to read books of less literary merit than the high fantasy marketed to male readers. In reality, many traditional high fantasies also include a lot of romance—they just aren’t advertised with the romance as the focus!—and most romantasy is not only “faerie smut,” but includes strong plots, characterization and interesting takes on folklore and mythology. So this sexist marketing does not reflect the compelling content of the romantasy books that so many women—and men too!—love to read.

In fact, I think that romantasy itself is not misogynistic, but feminist at its core. To paraphrase a sentiment I’ve seen echoed on social media lately:

The news feels hopeless and depressing. So I open a book where the politics are even more dismal…but I know the situation will be fixed by a strong woman.

That, right there, is why I’ve made 2026 my summer of romantasy!

Earlier this year, I got to take part in a fun fairy-tale photoshoot featuring Snow White’s glass coffin. It was a perfect, romantic early spring day, and the images we created were beautiful.

Despite the beauty of the image and the story, I can’t stop thinking about the intriguing darkness behind Snow White’s imagery. In the original story, her stepmother tried to kill Snow White three times, all with objects symbolizing women’s attempts to be beautiful and the danger involved: a poisoned hair comb, poisoned corset stays, and finally, a poison apple representing all the temptation of ripening fruit, and of growing into one’s sexuality.

I feel lucky to be able to recreate and experiment with Snow White’s story, without having to live within the confines of her world. I see myself as an artist with the power to re-write my own fairy tale adventures, without giving in to the dangers of a life based on chasing fleeting beauty, and without waiting for a prince to save me. I’ll continue to read and write fairy-tale inspired stories, while still constantly questioning how I can live my life with more freedom and authenticity as a modern woman.

If you’d like to check out some modern fairy-tale retellings, a few I’ve enjoyed recently are Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid, The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter, and The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. For more about the history of fairy tales, I love From the Beast to the Blonde by Marina Warner.

Happy reading and imagining!

XOXO Lily

As a child, I always had grand plans for my summers: read 100 books, maybe write one of my own in one of my many pretty notebooks, hike state parks, learn musical instruments and new dance styles. I did accomplish some of these goals, but I ended up whiling away a lot of my time either in the water looking for mermaids, or in the forest looking for fairies. Now as an adult, I don’t look for mythological creatures in the same way, but I do write about them and, occasionally, dress up as them and take pretty photos.

In my current occupation, I still think summer can be the most magical season. Some of my most wonderful extended dates have taken place in the summertime, from exploring sculpture gardens, to lounging by a rooftop pool, to a long, languid day on the DC waterfront. On the other hand, a quick, fiery summer afternoon or evening fling is a lot of fun too! Either way, summer is a time to slow down, disconnect from our devices, and discover the magic in the world around us—and in each other.

One thing I know for sure about summer: it always goes by too fast. Blink, and you’ve gone from sweltering humidity to the first crisp hint of fall in the air. So let’s take advantage of the most magical season while it’s here.

Let me know in the comments—what are your grand summer plans? And what have been your favorite summer adventures?

XOXO Lily

Now to the subject of this article…wanderlust. This year I’ve been bitten by the travel bug. I’ve had the urge to explore, to seek out new cities, diverse cultures, history and architecture and natural wonders. Last month I was able to visit continental Europe for the first time and spent time in the Czech Republic, where I actually have relatives.

My trip started off strong with the gift of flying first class—I’m a lucky girl! I have to admit, after being this comfortable while crossing the Atlantic Ocean, I never want to go back. However, I still haven’t joined the mile high club…at least not yet!

Once I’d made it to the Czech Republic, I spent my days exploring centuries-old architecture, castles and gardens—basically, living my dream! I can’t walk through the stone archway of a castle without imagining myself in a medieval fairy tale, perhaps about to encounter a dragon or a unicorn. Turrets and drawbridges make me light up inside. Even the servants’ quarters bring to mind fascinating stories of daily life many hundreds of years ago.

Gardens are a different type of magic—whether they’re carefully crafted topiary or untamed and running rampant, I always feel at peace in a garden. I can breathe more deeply, appreciating the feeling of the sun on my skin and the beauty of the greenery around me. I could spend hours admiring the flowers and searching for birds and chipmunks.

My favorite part of my trip was visiting the beautiful town of Cesky Krumlov, which feels like a postcard frozen in time. There is a castle, of course, plentiful gardens, cobblestone streets and the Vltava River running through it all. It was absolutely magnificent.

While I hope more travels are in my future, for the time being I’m staying closer to home, searching for the gardens and architectural marvels that are a train or shorter plane ride away. I know there are always more hidden gems to discover, and fresh ways to see the beauty that surrounds me every day.

Would you like to show me your favorite beautiful place this summer? Let’s make it a date.

XOXO Lily

To honor the end of May and the second full moon of the month, I’m writing about one of the activities I’m most passionate about…dance. When I take dance classes, all my focus turns to balancing on my toes, turning without wobbling or growing dizzy, remembering choreography and infusing it with emotion and musicality. For that hour or two of class, I don’t worry about the errands I need to run or the chores I have to finish. I’m magically, completely in the moment, and my limbs crackle with the joy and electricity of it.

Performing brings this living-in-the-moment quality to yet another level, as my adrenaline and endorphins kick in to give me what feels like superhuman energy. The connection between me, my fellow dancers on stage, and the audience creates a container separate from the rest of the world. It is a feeling I am fast becoming addicted to.

I’m so grateful to do work that allows me to make my own schedule, so I am actually able to fit dance classes, rehearsals and performances into my daily life. I’m also grateful for work that is its own kind of dance—a magical connection between two people where we lay aside our phones and our worries for a few hours. Within the container of companionship, we choose to simply exist together and to relish what it means to be a sensitive, sensuous human.

As May turns to June, I hope you’ll consider welcoming in summer with me!

XOXO Lily

My Bluesky popularity was short-lived—I didn’t gain many new followers from this post, and my subsequent posts didn’t receive more attention than usual—but the experience got me thinking about the nature of internet popularity, what it means and why we chase it.

I can’t deny that seeing the constant notifications, the likes racking up, provided a little thrill and a fun distraction from my daily life. I can see how this attention from strangers could become addictive, but at the same time it felt hollow. This wasn’t a post that represented me or even my photography skills—it was something I posted without thinking, and from what I’ve heard from others, viral posts generally arise this way. They are unpredictable, almost random, and don’t necessarily reflect quality or value.

For better or worse, we live in a world where many of us have to promote ourselves online in order to make a living. It’s hard not to get wrapped up in online interactions, even when you have no idea who is truly on the other side of the screen. Social media can be a powerful tool, exposing us to viewpoints and allowing for connections we couldn’t otherwise access, offering us a space to express our creativity and the motivation to do so. But the nature of what garners attention online and what does not can also limit us, narrowing our perspective over time. I’ve been trying not to spend too much time or place too much value on my online identity, with mixed success.

If my “Flower Porn” post taught me anything, it’s that virality is fleeting…and the true beauty of the flowers comes from standing outside in the spring sunshine, admiring them in person.

For me, spring can be a contradiction—part of me wants to embrace my newfound energy and race around doing everything I’ve put off all winter, while another other part wants to slow down and experience each beautiful moment. Above all, spring urges me to embrace connection, whether it’s with the natural world, with animals, or with my lovely paramours.

Here are some activities on my wishlist this spring:

Stroll through a flower garden—Sherwood Gardens is a lovely one right in Baltimore, while Ladew Gardens is a more expansive option outside the city.

Enjoy a high tea at Kneads Bakery or The Ivy Hotel.

Cuddle with baby goats at a local farm like Weber’s.

See a ballet.

Find a pond and feed the ducks.

Share a romantic meal in a courtyard.

Eat ripe spring fruit in bed together.

Perhaps you have some other ideas for how we might while away a spring day…?

I’ll be unavailable for much of May, so if you want to spend time with me this spring, April is the month to do it! I can’t wait to see what kinds of spring mischief we get up to together.

I first became aware of Shy Girl when it was self-published, and I added it to my reading list immediately—as an erotic horror novel that touched on sex work and BDSM themes, it seemed right up my alley! However, the book was bought by a major publisher and the self-published version was pulled from online bookstores before I got around to purchasing it.

Shy Girl was re-released by traditional publisher Hachette in the UK last November, but after book bloggers expressed suspicion that the book was written with the use of AI, Hachette canceled the book’s US release and pulled it from UK bookstores. Ballard herself claims that she did not use AI, but that the editor she hired used AI to edit the self-published version of her book.

As a writer myself, as well as an editor and a reader, I find this story incredibly upsetting on many levels. When I pick up a book, I do so because I want to read an author’s individual vision, not something created by a computer. As a writer, I want to transmit my own vision to paper, with every word carefully chosen and without the intervention of artificial intelligence. And as an editor, I want to correct mistakes and inconsistencies while still being sensitive to an author’s voice and intention—and I believe that using AI would hinder rather than help me in that process. It’s hard for me to understand how anyone who truly loves the written would turn to AI in order to tell stories.

On the other hand, some commentators have pointed out that Mia Ballard, a queer, Black writer, is now being bullied online even though there’s no definitive proof that she used AI. At the same time, white male authors like James Frey have openly admitted to using AI, and Frey hasn’t had his books pulled from publication or received the same level of criticism as Ballard. It’s unfortunate that as in so many cases in the literary world, BIPOC voices are the most vulnerable and subject to criticism and silencing.

I don’t know if Mia Ballard used AI, and I’m sad that I won’t get the chance to read her book. However, I hope this incident discourages authors and editors from using AI and encourages readers to speak out in support of authentic author voices. It’s certainly motivated me to do so!

What do you think about AI in creative writing? Let me know in the comments!

I’ll be touring Cincinnati, Ohio from April 9 to 11, and I’d love to meet you there! However, I can’t tour without pre-bookings, so please do not wait till the day of the tour or a day or two before to reach out. The further in advance you book, the easier you make my life and my schedule.

I’m also planning out the rest of my spring and summer travel, so please comment if there’s anywhere you’d like me to visit, and I’ll take it into consideration!

Now, onto the subject of this post…yoga!

I’ve done yoga for many years, and recently I’ve delved deeper into my practice through a yoga teacher training. I’ve been learning anatomy and alignment, how to cue postures for students who don’t know the poses (it’s harder than you’d expect, especially if you’re not demoing every pose!), and yoga history and philosophy. As part of the process, I also joined my first yoga retreat in January, and it was one of the best experiences of my life!

The retreat was held by the beach in Nicaragua, and this full week away from my daily responsibilities and familiar environment was a true gift—a chance to reconnect to myself and really listen to what my body and soul have to say. With the ocean wind blowing through the yoga shala and the sounds of the waves crashing below, I remembered how free, how healing, and how sensual it can be to move without goals or expectations, simply because movement feels good.

By the end of the week, I realized that my movement practice is not so different from the work I do when connecting with others—both are about truly sensing, feeling and appreciating the body and all it can do, and then sharing that joy and appreciation with others. I’m so lucky to get to do what I love in every way imaginable.

After such a transformative experience, I’d like to attend more retreats—I’m definitely hoping for a celebratory experience after I finish my yoga teacher training in May. If you’d like to contribute, I have a crowdfunded yoga retreat up on my wishlist - any size donation helps!

Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a chance to enjoy moving and connecting with your body this week!

Hello lovely readers! I was inspired to join Substack because sometimes my social media posts—like the image above—prompt a longer conversation than I can fit into a Bluesky or Instagram comment. Also, I’ve become increasingly eager for the chance to share my thoughts and writing, and to give you all a greater (and more delicious!) taste of my personality.

When I posted the image of me doing a split above, I received so many comments expressing admiration or assuming I’d worked hard for a long time to achieve this pose. The truth is…not really. Splits and most aspects of flexibility have always come easily to me, and I can maintain them as long as I make time to stretch at least once a day and stay active in general. Since I love to dance and move my body in creative and artistic ways, making time to stretch and be active is not a trial for me!

More importantly, though…all these comments got me thinking: should people really care about poses like splits at all? Thanks in part to the rise of social media, both the dance and yoga worlds I’m part of have become obsessed with flashy poses that look very difficult. But is the ability to do these poses necessary to be a skilled dancer or yogi? No. In fact, they can be counterproductive. Dance is an art focused on expressing emotion; yoga is a way to reconnect with your own mind and body. Neither of these are about impressive tricks or showing off. I’ve never done a split in a dance routine I choreographed myself, because I think there are much more interesting and evocative movements to do. In yoga, I often avoid taking the fullest expression of a pose (i.e., the one requiring the most flexibility) so that I can focus on strength and stability instead.

So, are splits fun? Yes. Am I sharing these images here because I know my readers enjoy looking at them? Yes. But do splits make a person a better dancer or movement teacher and practitioner? Definitely not. And as I finish my yoga teacher training and rehearse and choreograph for dance performances, a better, stronger, more emotive mover is what I truly want to be.

Thank you for reading! Please let me know what you think in the comments, and let me know what topics you’d like me to discuss in the future!