Modern Witnesses Q+A

I was happy to answer a few questions for Modern Witnesses. Gabriella is doing good work with this site over in NYC, encouraging ordinary women to tell stories of God's faithfulness.

Tell us a bit about how you grew up and your childhood: 

I grew up with a Jewish father and an Italian Catholic mother in a small Indiana city. There were a lot of complexities there: I’m an introvert, and my Italian family is loud and spirited, with extra helpings of spaghetti and meatballs at the ready. My Jewish family is smart, urban, and cool, but I didn’t grow up around them. My dad converted to Christianity in the 70s, and unlike his siblings who moved to the East or West Coast, he decided to stay in the Midwest.

The dynamics of not-quite-fitting in were formative for me, for better or worse. In high school, I starting thrifting, writing poems, and found other folks dipping their toe into 90s subculture that centered around college rock and Manic Panic hair dye. I loved coming of age in the 90s, where Seattle hovered like a dream in my teen mind. The mythical land of Nirvana and coffee is where I’d end up, but it would take another decade to get me here.

Full interview is here.