Today at work I made a joke about how my annoyance with a subtle chemical smell, which turned out to be the wafting paint fumes from a graffiti artist in the nearest alley, kind of made me a superhero. For a moment, I indulged in a fantasy where bringing this toxic airborne compound to myContinue reading “On sensory defensiveness and being a mutant”
Author Archives: Katie Botkin
Reading into fiction
I recently completed a novel, and after a few rounds of edits have just begun sending it out to agents. During the editing process it occurred to me more than once that fiction, while hinging on reality, while gaining power from the truth of what we already know, needs to be both tidier and moreContinue reading “Reading into fiction”
Alt Christmas
Our family holidays are special, in every sense of the word. Often, it seems, there’s a whole lot of sitting around and waiting. Case in point, it’s Christmas afternoon and we have yet to crack open the bulging stockings. Two of my brothers are currently wrapping presents in the basement of our sister’s house, usingContinue reading “Alt Christmas”
Cultural survey
I have an idea for a research project, which I will probably explain once I’ve gotten more actual research on it. If you’d like to help out, go take my short cultural survey over at Polldaddy. It’s a perfect way to waste time in the next few slow weeks.
The Quaker and the homeschooler
In 2001, at the age of 20, I went to live in France for four months. I had taken one semester of French, and I opted to live with a French woman who spoke no English in the effort to force myself to become proficient. My program was part of the University Study Abroad Consortium,Continue reading “The Quaker and the homeschooler”
The War on Christmas: Fight back, for Peace
When someone says something so subversive and offensive as “happy holidays,” they might as well be blowing up your church. It’s straight-up religious persecution. I mean, I know, I know, the root of “holidays” is “holy days,” so in a way there’s still the acknowledgement of something non-secular there, but it’s too vague. Because ChristianityContinue reading “The War on Christmas: Fight back, for Peace”
This Autumn in New York
The last time I went to New York City, I was two years old. I remember very little of it. The turnstiles in the subway, for some reason, stuck out to me. They were just as I remembered, except they were no longer at head height. This time, the subway system was not fully functional.Continue reading “This Autumn in New York”
Adventures in online dating: the power of anti-flirting.
I’ll admit it, I’m bad at flirting. I’ve never been able to do what those girls I grew up with did, with the downcast eyes lifting all starry and shining through carefully-blackened lashes, those girls who insinuated with the sweet high-pitched quaver of their voices that whomever they were talking to was so manly andContinue reading “Adventures in online dating: the power of anti-flirting.”
Thanksgiving weekend
Between the two houses, because my parents bought a place next to my sister, there is a lot of space to sleep and to cook. So we’ve started having holidays there rather than up on the farm, what with its grand total of three bedrooms. Well, fourth of July… that’s different, because you can sleepContinue reading “Thanksgiving weekend”
A taste of Vermont
I’m going to be in Vermont for an evening and a day, which isn’t much. Joel picks me up and I tell him we should stop by the grocery store for flour so I can make artisan bread. He’s game. Halfway through scouring the unfamiliar shelves, I ask, “hey, you got any meat?” “What kindContinue reading “A taste of Vermont”
Botkin Creative 