ask me anything!
answering your questions <3
Hey Marbles! Welcome to the first ask me anything! I want to personally thank you for Marblehead reaching over 900 subscribers. When I first started my Substack, I had no idea I would find such a beautiful community. Truly, thank you so much for being here. I love you all.
do you think bracelets should exist
Yes, I do! Iāve been liking bangles and chunky silver bracelets, but they also overstimulate me at times. Watches are also quite beautiful, and I like to wear one occasionally. I feel bracelets can add such a fun aspect to an outfit, especially if theyāre layered. Leather and thread bracelets are super cute as well!
what was the fandom that defined your life ?
Percy Jackson! In middle school, I was obsessed with that series, the Kane Chronicles, and the Heroes of Olympus series. I have fond memories of my time reading those books, and they certainly inspired me to write one day, whether I knew that at the time or not. Also, PokƩmon.
whatās your favourite species of spider? :D
Honestly, I donāt have a favorite species of spider because they kind of freak me out. Arachnids give me the creepy crawly chills. I do care for their little lives, however. But, I wouldnāt go out of my way to let one near me.
What keeps you going when you feel you can give anything back
Nature. When I feel I canāt give anything back, the birds offer their songs, the breeze wraps around me, and the trees bend to dance. Hiking and walking have repaired my well-being more times than I can count. The Earth gives continually, so when I find myself in a spot where I canāt give, she pours into me. I return to my dwellings and people refreshed.
who do you look up to and why?
I look up to my family members. Parents, grandparents, and siblings. Weāre not perfect whatsoever, but I have really good examples of wisdom, love, and maturity Iāve grown up with. The women in my family are resilient, and they are the picture of wisdom to me. I experience a special kind of soul connection with the women Iām surrounded byāthey mean so much to me, and I only hope I can mimic some of their kindness. The men in my family have shown me what healthy masculinity looks like, what loving sacrifice is, and how men should treat others. Also, itās a very Christian answer, but I do look up to Christ as well. His actions and words in the gospels display a humble and kindhearted person who loved people, and I want to model that in my life too, though I will inevitably fail at times. Iād like yāall to know that anyone is welcome here, and Iām happy youāre around. My table is big enough for everyone to join.
what is your writing process like? love you queen btw
For my writing process, I have a of couple ways of going about things! Poetry often strikes me with a feelingāsomething out of a moment in time. Then, I get out a piece of paper or my notes app and write down the words I associate with that feeling or moment. I arrange the words and lines and edit until the poem is right (and what that means is up to you personally as a writer). My fiction is generally inspired by images, whether I see them on Pinterest or Cosmos, or my brain creates mental pictures. Sometimes Iāll listen to a song and get inspiration that way as wellāwhether from the lyrics or music. I like to read widely, including fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and scientific/historical articles. Thereās a lot of creativity to be found in what we consider non-creative spaces!
Love ya as well! <3
what is one hobby that you had as a kid that you donāt have anymore ?
Making dirt stew. Back in my younger years, I considered myself quite the master potion creator. These concoctions were likely filled with all sorts of inedible plants (do not eat any part of the pokeweed plant, but the berries create a beautiful magenta dye. handle them properly and carefully if you try this!). Perhaps brewing herbal teas using healthy, edible plants is my way of keeping the shimmer of that experience fluid as an adultāsort of like reviving the magic.
what is your favourite piece of jewelry?
The sterling silver ring I wear on my thumb is my favorite. I bought it from an estate jewelry seller at a small market a while back. When Iām anxious, I twirl it around and run my finger over the grooves carved in the metal. Feeling the sterling against my skin grounds me in reality when I start to not feel like Iām here (for lack of a better explanation). It means a whole lot to me. Iād be alright without it, but itās become an immensely special piece in my jewelry repertoire.
Do you have a favorite story you wrote as a child?
Yes! Iām not sure what specific story, but my brother and I wrote a series of stories when we were children surrounding a plushie we both loved. It was a Beanie Baby mouse, and it became the star of all our creative writingāit had quite the impish personality. For a bonus anecdote, this same plushie became our version of Elf on the Shelf because we thought the trademarked doll was terrifying.
do you believe in soulmates/ twin flames
I think so! Probably not in the typical way the term is understood, but I do feel that there are people in the world we just click with better than othersāwhether thatās a platonic or romantic connection. Itās like finding someone who understands your soul, and you understand theirs, at some base level. With romance, though, I donāt believe thereās one person perfectly suited for another person, and if you donāt find them, youāre doomed. As the saying goes, thereās a lot of fish in the sea.
I think sometimes the idea of soulmates or twin flames can get us stuck in thinking, āThe chemistry is so perfect with this person, what if theyāre the only one whoāll understand me?ā It can scare us into believing thereās only one best friend or one romantic partner for us in the world, but I just donāt think thatās true. Weāre going to meet a lot of awesome people on our life journeys. Some will stick with us for the long haul, and others may be with us briefly. Either way, though, the connections we have, whether theyāre long or short term, mean something. Everyone is worth much, and every person has valueāthey may just not be your person.
Hi Em! What is your all-time favourite literary memory?
Iād have to say reading Howlās Moving Castle for the first time. Itās the book that got me back into reading fiction regularly while I was going through university. I remember how much I adored Sophie, and that, for as lovely as the Ghibli film is, the book was certainly better in plot, at least in my eyes. It was my initial foray into whimsical writing, and I have a fond spot in my heart for the book. Because of this, I think itās important for us to read widelyānot just books explicitly intended for adults. Thereās so much beauty to be felt in art created for younger audiences in mind.
How did you get started on writing here? Any advice for new Substackers?
I started writing on here after I was heartbroken dealing with unrequited feelings. Marblehead started as Confessions of an Introvert, a private publication where I posted stuff directly from my notes app. It began as a third space for my psyche, a place I could write down my feelings and send them out into the aether of the internet. Along the way, I realized others might feel similar to how I did, and I made it public. Since then, Iāve met some of the kindest souls, and Iām so thankful for you all and this writing journey. Iāve positively changed as a person and grown in ways I never thought possible.
My advice for new Substackers is to be authentic. The algorithm may or may not promote your authenticity, but people connect to it, and thatās what builds community. No need to share every thought you have, but show up as yourself. Human interior life isnāt curated and perfect like our Pinterest boards. We find connection with others when the facade is dropped; we find kinship when we relate. Obviously, weāre still going to show others our best online, but even when showing our best, we can share ourselves among all the messy facets of existence. Try not to be transactional with connectionāif you donāt resonate with someoneās work, donāt force it. Read what you want, and support those whose work you enjoy.
Enjoy the journey! This platform has changed multiple times in vibe and will continue to do so. What matters is the community formed here. Find your crew and let your crew find you.
iām curious what do you think is more important, the action or the intent behind it
While Iām not certain of the context of this question, I would generally answer that the action is more important. Our intentions stay within our mind bubbles, but our actions are the true fruition of those intentions. We can say we intend to do something, but what is an intention without actionāwords of conviction without work? And this is heavily dependent on context, because human beings can have good and bad intentions.
If you could tell your younger self anything, what would you tell her ?
I would tell her not to be afraid of trying. I know itās like telling an anxious person not to worry. But, courage grows us more than residing with our fear. We all have our museums of failures, but what if we reframed that idea into having galleries of experience? Itās okay for what we envisioned not to work out. Thereās so much more out there for us to feel and do. Whether it means relationships, friendships, writing, art making, or job venturesāfailure is only a collapse if we donāt grow from it. Thereās almost always something to learn from, and itās alright to not know everything from the start. Risk is okay, and āfailingā doesnāt make you a failure.
what is one country youād like to visit and why ?
Definitely Italy! Some of my familial roots reside there, and I want to see the cities where my family immigrated from. I want to meet people there, experience the architecture, art, and food. The historic churches and religious works of art are so gorgeous. Italian is also a language where Iād like to learn some basics. Iād be going with an empty journal and equipped for exploration.
Whatās one thing you always wanted but never got?
I have always wanted a treehouse. As a kid, when I had more dexterity in my knees, I liked climbing trees too. I was never as good as my brother, but I tried. If I had the opportunity now, Iād build a treehouse for writing and painting, equipped with the coziest seating and desk space. Nature beckons me!
how did your love for ladybugs begin?š
I had a pair of ladybug rain boots as a child and adored them. Ladybugs have always been an insect I donāt mind being on my hand when they land from the sky. Thereās something delicate and strong to them, which I find alluring. They were always on pieces of clothes I wore and my room decor. Perhaps it was subliminal. Iāve been a bug girl since I became aware of my own consciousness.
Thoughts on beans? Pinto beans? Lima beans? Mexican jumping beans? Is there a hierarchy of beans in terms of goodness, or are all beans equal under the law?
What an interesting question! Your mind is fascinating. My thoughts on beans are that we donāt eat enough of them, theyāre one of the best vegetarian protein swaps, and they contain fiber in abundance which is necessary for good gut health. Regarding hierarchy, I believe beans are equal in value but different in usage. So, Iād view beans more on a spectrum rather than a pyramid or ladder. I find myself favoring black beans and cannellini beans most often when I cook with legumes. Side noteālentils are also amazing legumes, and this counts as my public service announcement to Substack about my endorsement of lentils.
A snap opportunity comes up to visit and spend a month in any one place, but you can only bring and wear the one outfit you have on. Where would you go, and what would you wear?
This is so fun, I love this question! I would spend a month in Cape Codāhopefully in the summer. My one outfit would consist of a baby tee, a flowy maxi skirt, a pair of sandals, and my favorite jewelry. Iāve been before, but as a costal-born girl, the ocean calls to me like a siren, and I long to follow it. Perhaps a siren herself is calling me there.
what fictional character do you relate the most to and why ?
I relate to Jo March quite often. Seeing her loyal connection to family juxtaposed with her ambition and independence is like looking into a mirror. The way she doesnāt care about societal norms for the sake of them, and her creative thinking feels like me. Iāve always been intensely stubborn and strong-willed, yet I am quite soft at heart.
what is your favourite thing about yourself ?
I appreciate my optimismāthe outlook I have on life. Even when I go through the valleys, where everything seems lost and I feel nothing, thereās still a beam of sunlight that peeks into my soul. Itās like a thread of warmth. I hold onto it and walk toward the future amid uncertainty. I think the best word for this is hope, but I canāt take full credit for that. My conviction is that this life is beautiful and thereās even more to come, because thereās a loving God who holds everything together. And despite the bad we see every day, it doesnāt compare to the goodness, like comparing darkness to light. Even the smallest flame illuminates the night.
Fav color?? Luv u <3
Iād have to say green! I love it because there are so many shades inherently part of nature, and itās super calming. Luv you 2 <3
How do you feel about being an absolute diva and a trendsetter? Also, if you could live in any other country which one would it be and why?
Youāre so sweet and kind, thank you! I love fashion so much, and it brings me a lot of joy to share my outfits with yāall! I feel so happy to post about my outfits here, and if even one person has been inspired by what I share, I consider that a high honor. As a teenager, I wanted to work in fashion when I became an adult. I used to sketch out dresses and designs (albeit they were very 2010s Disney Channel teen coded).
If I could live in another country, I would probably choose Spain or Portugal. They are totally different nations, but the architecture, food culture, and weather in both are something I long for and respect. I find many European countriesā ways of living quite beautiful, especially from the perspective of currently living in a car-dependant nation. Iād love to be able to walk more and get to the places I need without relying on personal, individualized transportation. Also, Iāve heard the food is of such a higher quality there compared to American standards. I yearn for fresh ingredients like you wouldnāt believe.
how do you find inspiration to write and what genres would you like to explore?
I find inspiration in almost anything! Birds, the way shadows fall, evening stars, tv shows, films, music, academic books, vintage trinkets. When Iām struggling to find inspiration, though, I tend to involve myself with nature, or I force myself to be more social than usual. Iāll take myself on solo dates at the coffee shop, or get a ticket for something Iāve wanted to attend and go alone. I canāt recommend enough getting comfortable with your own company for creative and personal fulfillment. And when I feel like I canāt write, I choose to fill my cup via experience.
Genres Iād like to explore are thrillers and slipstream. I think trying out some suspenseful and stream of consciousness style odd writing would be fun! Iāve even considered the western genre at one point, but Iād make it so strange that it wouldnāt really be a typical western once I was done with it.
Thank you for being here, Marbles! Cheers to you and the future of Marblehead <3
Loved the voiceover! Also, love your perspective (on life in general) and optimism
this was lovely to read <3