ABOUT ME
From the time I was a little girl, I always admired my grandmother’s reading prowess. She’d come home from the library with two armfuls of books to get her through her week as a retired literacy teacher. A thousand pages was nothing to her! I was astounded, and mystified by the power of the written word to transform your lived experience to another place and time.
I came to value the escape from the stresses of life (don’t we all?😅)…especially as a #MilitarySpouse to a Navy Pilot. If you haven’t heard, we move a lot. We’ve lived everywhere from the US Territory of Guam in the middle of the Pacific Ocean (basically, the middle of nowhere!) to Japan, Pensacola, Florida, and San Diego, California!
“My books are my companions, and no matter where in the world I’ve lived, I find myself at home whenever I am immersed in story.”
As my career progressed,
I naturally gravitated toward a career teaching High School English and Humanities. I fell in love with talking about and teaching literary criticism, deciphering the author’s hidden message, trying to intimiately understand the characters in novels, and leading Socratic dialogue with my students.
Eventually, I pivoted and joined a software company.
I love my day job, and wouldn’t change it for the world, but I miss everyday discussions about literature, characters, plot, and symbolism.
And if you’re anything like me, you might miss these kind of discussions too!
As my corporate career took off, I did notice that it was hard to keep up with novels, and especially keeping up with the novels my friend groups decided to read together. None of us wanted to miss out on the fun camaraderie - but, keeping it #real - none of us had time to read the same novels AND talk about them at the end of the month. Realizing that, I decided that someone had to put together a short story literature club, and that someone was ME!
My hope is that the Short Story Society is a place for you and your girlfriends to rejoice in your friendship, forge deeper bonds, and make happy memories together in a way that is accessible and low effort!
A FEW OF RACHEL’S
FAVORITE THINGS
(Other than reading, of course 😉)
01. TRAVEL
Who honestly doesn’t love to travel? ✈️ Certified Wanderlust Enthusiast here! 🧳
I was traveling in Japan in this photo, and trust me when I say traveling is so good for the soul.
It has also given me so much inspiration in my writing too, as a whole. Try traveling to Kyoto (absolute favorite) for one, and you’ll find yourself burning the midnight oil night after night! ✒️
02. HIKING
As you can see, I love hiking only a normal amount. 😁 That BIG grin right there shows it!
Forever seeking for more fun adventures, I enjoy basking in the outdoors, breathing in the fresh air, and feeling the warm sun on my skin!
Seriously, it’s so good to just go outside and touch some grass! 😀
03. COOKIES & CHEESCAKE
While I’m not exactly a HUGE sweets fan, I do enjoy a delectable treat every once in a while! Like… cookies and cheesecake, for example. It’s simple, tasty, and not-too-much to the senses! 😉 Honestly, just a perfect way to celebrate a special occasion with friends and family!
04. WOMAN’S BEST FRIEND
Meet my most precious gem, Boone! 🐶 He’s my best friend in the whole world!
Believe it or not, Boone actually helps with my motivation and writing. There are some days when he’ll end up picking the pen for me (literally, for fetch). He’s my companion and sits close to my desk, as if he watches over me, reminding me of the deadlines I need to catch up on.
Did I mention that Boone’s also a celebrity with his own page and everything? ⭐