I still remember we weren't grown up like this
Kicking off spring in style by attending a horror con and saluting a bunch of creative, kick ass women
Hi there! I’m coming out of my post-Oscars haze with clear eyes and a full heart. Now that spring has (finally!) arrived, I’m ready to embrace short sleeves, light jackets (maybe denim, maybe not), and a pair of Chucks.
Know what else I’m ready for? Getting back to writing my Outlander contemporary queer romance. As it happens, I’m already working on part two of Jamie and John’s story. My hope is to finish writing this by the summer with editing to happen in the fall. I’d love to start posting chapters over on Archive of Our Own as early as late fall — though that may be insane optimistic considering the word count is currently at 75K. Keep your fingers, toes, and whatever else you got crossed for me. I’ll take all the help I can get!
LET'S DO THE MONSTER MANIA AGAIN!
One of my favorite things about March is the return of Monster Mania, the horror convention that comes twice a year to Cherry Hill, N.J. (There are also editions in Baltimore and Oaks, PA.) My friend and I hit up the con last weekend where we saw lots of cool cosplay (you can find more photos on my Instagram), met awesome celebrities (Geena Davis! Danielle Harris! Roger L. Jackson!), and visited the insanely talented vendors displaying their wares. I got a few things signed by the lovely aforementioned peeps, while my friend scored some nice merch (including a sweet hoodie featuring Alfred Hitchcock and his films). All in all, we had a blast.
What’s got you pumped lately? Share in the comments!
SISTERS ARE DOIN' IT FOR THEMSELVES
Women’s History Month is celebrated every March and this year, I wanted to do a little something to commemorate the occasion. I’m spotlighting some of my favorite multihyphenate ladies in film and music. These women have created screenplays and movies and songs and albums that have deeply resonated with me. I highly recommend the films and albums of theirs that I've assembled. Their work gives me so much joy. I hope it will be the same for you.
Film
Sofia Coppola / director, writer, producer
Lush aesthetics and introspective characters soundtracked by playlist-ready sonic landscapes are Coppola's forte. As Carly Simon once rhapsodized, nobody does it better.
Where to start: The Virgin Suicides; Lost in Translation; Marie Antoinette; Priscilla
Deep cuts: Somewhere; The Beguiled
Julia Ducournau / director, writer
Unfiltered. Unencumbered by rules or expectations. Ducournau's feature debut and its follow up — her only two films to date — dive into the psyches of their female protagonists without judgment, letting them loose on an unsuspecting world where their survival is not guaranteed.
Watch: Raw; Titane
Nicole Holofcener / director, writer, producer
Emotionally rich, wonderfully complicated women are the heart and soul of Holofcener's work. Her light touch reminds us that there is always joy to be found within the chaos.
Where to start: Walking and Talking; Enough Said; You Hurt My Feelings
Deep cuts: Lovely and Amazing; Friends with Money; Please Give
Adele Lim / producer, writer, director
Her scripts are loaded with humor and heart, making these films equally hilarious and poignant. Lim's transition from television into film has been seamless, judging by her smart screenplays for a pair of blockbusters (one an adaptation of a bestselling romance novel, the other an animation for Disney) and her riotous directorial debut.
Watch: Crazy Rich Asians; Raya and the Dragon; Joy Ride
Gina Prince-Bythewood / director, writer, producer
Regardless of genre, at least one strong woman is at the center of a Prince-Bythewood joint. Also present and accounted for is a fierce emotional intelligence that can never be undervalued.
Where to start: Love and Basketball; The Old Guard; The Woman King
Deep cuts: The Secret Life of Bees; Beyond the Lights
Alice Wu / director, writer, producer
Intelligent romcoms are a rare breed. That Wu has made two of them in a row — her only two films so far; both featuring queer Asian protagonists — is a testament to her talent. She keeps leaving her fans wanting more and the wait has, so far, been absolutely worth it.
Watch: Saving Face; The Half of It
MUSIC
girl in red / singer, songwriter, producer
Marie Ulven, the musician behind girl in red, has an arresting candor that comes across loud and clear in her songs. The alt-pop artist doesn’t shy away from writing about her mental health or her sexuality, earning her a loyal yet growing fanbase.
Where to Start: If I Could Make It Go Quiet; I'm Doing It Again Baby!
Deep cuts: Beginnings
Alice Merton / singer, songwriter, producer
Her lyrics nimbly switch from fun to introspective and sassy to sincere without losing focus. Merton brings listeners along with her, confiding in them like a close friend.
Where to Start: No Roots (EP); Mint; S.I.D.E.S.
Deep cuts: Blindside (EP); Heron (EP); Heron II
MILCK / singer, songwriter, producer
The self-proclaimed gentle rebel channels her advocacy through her music while also revealing pieces of herself. Her pop sensibility perfectly matches her raw, beautiful lyrics.
Where to Start: This Is Not The End; Mother Tongue
Deep cuts: Into Gold (EP)
Karen O / singer, songwriter
She's the iconic frontwoman of the indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs and her artistry knows no bounds. Karen O's music takes no prisoners — as if you would expect anything less.
Where to Start: Yeah Yeah Yeahs albums Fever to Tell; Show Your Bones; Cool It Down
Deep cuts: Crush Songs (solo album); Lux Prima (collaboration with Danger Mouse)
Maggie Rogers / singer, songwriter, producer
Emotionally intelligent lyrics coupled with an alt-indie electronic pop sound, Rogers has been a favorite of mine since her 2019 album Heard It In a Past Life.
Where to start: Heard It In a Past Life; Surrender; Don't Forget Me
Deep cuts: The Echo; Blood Ballet; Notes from the Archive: Recordings 2011–2016
Rina Sawayama / singer, songwriter, producer
With a nod to pop music idols like Britney, Christina, and even Karen Carpenter, Sawayama continues to pave her own way forward. Her songs have become more confident as evidenced with her two albums, where the bubblegum lyrics have been upgraded to a more mature sound.
Listen: Sawayama; Hold the Girl
Soccer Mommy / singer, songwriter
Don’t let Sophia Regina Allison’s lo-fi sound fool you into thinking her songcraft is merely shoegaze pop. Look closer. The artist known as Soccer Mommy’s lyrics have the kind of bite that will leave a mark.
Where to Start: Clean; Sometimes Forever; Evergreen
Deep cuts: For Young Hearts; Collection; Color Theory
Here’s a playlist I made featuring songs from each of these musicians to give you a taste of their awesomeness! Make sure to pump up the volume while you’re at it.
Who are some of your favorite female writer-directors and/or singer-songwriters? Drop your picks in the comments!
Now get out there and enjoy the fact that winter has defeated once more.
Peace out, cub scouts!
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