The Truth About Tigers

If you happen to be in or around Georgetown, TX, I’d love for you to check out Lark and Owl Booksellers. This independent bookstore isn’t just a cozy spot for book lovers—it’s also home to a vibrant literary community that celebrates emerging voices.

I’m happy to share that two of my poems, The Gender Inequity of Sidewalk Superstitions and International Cheetah Day, are featured in their very first literary journal, Kindred Characters. This beautifully crafted collection is a labor of love from local writers, editors, and artists, and it’s available exclusively at Lark and Owl.

Kindred Characters features a compelling collection of prose, poetry, and stunning original artwork by Heidi Acott-Monfre and Camilla Watson. It’s the kind of journal that celebrates the creativity and talent thriving in the Central Texas area—and I’m truly honored to be included alongside such a gifted group of writers, including Brigid Cooley and Laurence Musgrove, whose work I’ve admired long before we somehow ended up in the same journal.

Supporting independent bookstores like Lark and Owl is about more than just buying books—it’s about sustaining spaces that foster creativity, connection, and community. These stores give a platform to local writers, artists, and small presses, keeping the literary arts alive and accessible in ways large retailers never could. When you shop at an indie bookstore, you’re investing in a cultural hub that enriches both its neighborhood and the broader literary world.

As far as I know, there isn’t currently an option to order Kindred Characters online, but if that changes, I’ll be sure to let you know! In the meantime, I encourage you to visit Lark and Owl Booksellers in person to grab a copy. Supporting local bookstores like this one is a fantastic way to champion indie authors, artists, and the literary arts.

While you’re there, treat yourself to a cup of locally roasted Stone Stash Coffee (local, woman-owned) or a literary-themed cocktail from their in-store Alouette Bistro. It’s the perfect spot to settle in with your new read. Let’s keep indie bookstores thriving—they’re the heart of our literary communities!