Works in progress

Stories, Panels, and New Chapters: A Mid-Year Reflection

If there’s one theme running through my life right now, it’s storytelling. Whether I’m leading kids through a collaborative fantasy quest in the library, unpacking the layered morality of anime series at conventions, or planning the stories that will shape my own future, I feel more than ever that I’m living at the intersection of imagination and community.

Librarianship: Building Worlds for the Youngest Readers

At my Library, my days are full of energy, laughter, and the kind of curiosity that only kids can bring. From toddler storytime crafts and projects, to “Tabletop Tales” and “Lit, Lore, and More,” I’ve been developing programs that I hope help young people find confidence, critical thinking skills, and joy in books and games. It really is important to demonstrate that library spaces are flexible, inclusive, and fun. It’s not just about reading a book; it’s about sparking passion, encouraging teamwork, and showing kids that their voices matter.

The long-term goal here is clear: keep strengthening the library’s role as a hub for exploration and connection. I’ve been reaching out to schools, building partnerships, and envisioning ways therapy dogs (including my own Great Pyrenees, Agnes) might eventually be part of a reading buddy program. The library is more than a building; it’s a living story we have the opportunity to write together.

Anime Panels: Shipping Scholarship with Fandom

Outside the library, my work with anime conventions has been equally fulfilling. Presenting at conventions like GalaxyCon, Animate!, and Triad Anime Con has allowed me to merge academic inquiry with pop culture passion. I love taking series like Attack on Titan, Spy x Family, or Assassination Classroom and drawing out the major themes: morality, communication, and family dynamics.

These panels have grown beyond “just fun talks,” they’ve turned into genuine opportunities for critical thinking and community discussion. My podcast, LiterallyNovel, carries this forward by recording panels, campaigns, and reflections for a wider audience. It’s an experiment in archiving conversations that often vanish into con rooms but deserve to be remembered and shared.

Personal Life: A Wedding of Stories

On the personal side, one of the biggest adventures ahead is my wedding this October. My partner and I are embracing a theme that feels completely “us”: dark academia, libraries, autumn, and Halloween. Guests will check out books as wedding favors, there will be trick-or-treating for kids, and the whole event is about honoring the stories and chapters that brought us where we are these days.

It’s also important to us that the wedding be inclusive and mindful. We’ve thought carefully about how to honor those who can’t be with us, how to make sure sober guests feel welcome and supported, and how to keep things family-friendly without losing that cozy, gothic vibe. It’s shaping up to be a night of community, gratitude, and shared joy.

Future Goals: Expanding the Library of Possibilities

Looking forward, I’m focused on deepening and expanding the projects already in motion. Professionally, I want to continue developing youth programs that merge literacy, creativity, and therapeutic approaches. Whether that’s through tabletop role-playing games, interactive storytimes, or larger collaborations with schools and community groups.

I’m also eager to grow my work as a facilitator and trainer in tabletop gaming. Helping others learn how to run inclusive games or lead groups is a passion of mine, and I see real potential to support educators, librarians, and therapists who want to use games and storytelling as tools for social flourishing.

On the creative side, LiterallyNovel will hopefully evolve into both a podcast and a platform for services like peer support, game facilitation, and book narration. Narration is a new frontier I’m excited about — there’s something magical about giving written words a voice and carrying an author’s story into the ears and imaginations of listeners.

And, of course, there are always new panels on the horizon. It started over a decade ago with a group of friends and a fun idea, and I am excited to continue to find ways to share fun ideas about the stories I love. As long as people are willing to sit in a room and ask big questions about fictional worlds, I’ll be there ready to spark the conversation.

Closing Chapter (for Now)

When I step back and look at everything at once — the library, the conventions, the upcoming wedding, my future projects — I see the tapestry of stories in front of me. Some are personal, some are shared with a room full of kids or fans, and some are still waiting to be written.

For me, life isn’t just about moving from one event to another. It’s about weaving those events together into something meaningful, where each role and each story informs the next.

Right now, I feel like I’m at the start of a particularly exciting volume: filled with family, creativity, and opportunities to help others find and tell their own stories.

Here’s to the next chapter.