Welcome to Referential

A new space for conversations on books, art, pop culture, and esoteric obsessions

Hello and welcome to Referential! I’m really looking forward to launching this project and appreciate you stopping by. If you’ve ended up here somehow, you’re probably wondering wtf this is and why I’m starting a newsletter.

Who am I?

I’m a freelance writer and editor based in Portland, Maine, and I love talking to creative people about their work. A few years ago, I started interviewing writers about their books for Esquire, NYLON, The Millions, Shondaland, and Interview.

After completing my MFA in fiction in North Carolina, I moved back to Maine and dove into a career in communications. Last June, I made the leap into freelancing full time. Through that work, I’ve gotten into travel writing and have spoken with artists, potters, and designers for various outlets. I’m working on a novel and spend a lot of time consuming media.

What is Referential?

Over the last several months, I’ve watched multiple media outlets close their author Q+A verticals. Interviewing writers has always been one of my favorite streams of work. I love reading, thinking about books, hearing from writers about the ideas underneath their work, and then sharing those recommendations with readers. Author interviews have been a way for me to learn about creativity, craft, and to connect with other people.

Referential will be a weekly-ish newsletter (though I’ll likely begin on a slower cadence) where I’ll speak with writers, artists, and other creative people about their projects and processes.

I’ll start with what I know best and interview writers, but I’m looking forward to expanding and adding other departments and features. In these conversations, I want to speak with people about smart and original books, discuss craft, and open conversations around creativity, flow, and what ignites people’s curiosity. It’s like the Goop podcast except it’s a newsletter, and I’m not Gwyneth, and I’ve never listened to the Goop podcast.

Why Referential?

My brain works in references (what better way to understand that than a reference to this interview). I’m always thinking about something in terms of things that came before them.

In these interviews, I’ll be asking people about where they derive their inspiration, the texts and media they’re consuming, and the things that are bringing them joy these days. We’ll talk about media, pop culture, and obsessions. I’ll also be making connections between books, media, and trying to find new sources of creative connection.

If all this sounds good, subscribe and follow along. I’ll be kicking off with some author interviews in the coming weeks, and I’m really excited about what’s lined up.