Hi there! I’m Daphne and I’m here to disclose real-life stories with thought and purpose. Many stories are diary-inspired and reflect my Gen X coming of age. I write essays to help me process and move forward. And I share them because I’ve benefited from reading so many stories other people have shared.
I also share interviews here with authors and writers. It’s so interesting learning how other people are navigating life while processing their own past experiences.
I live near Madison, WI with my husband. We’re down to three kids still at home. Our oldest is out of college and living nearby with her fiancée. Our youngest still covers the floors with dinos and Legos. While everyone around me is figuring out what they wanna do, I am too. Aren’t we all?
My writer POV
My faith and outlook grew from the townhome blocks of my first childhood home, filled with families of different backgrounds, religions, cultures, and financial means. Differences were something to respect and appreciate—everyone is interesting and everyone matters. Everyone needs help and deserves more than a chance.
Sameness could always be found, too, running around in and out of homes with other free-range kids. We shared the same space. Played together. Ran around together, outside and in. It was uncanny how I’d find familiar family dynamics in every home. And how finding a friend had nothing to do with sharing the same family background.
Though my perspective as a child had a sunny Sesame Street naivete, differences and sameness both make life beautiful, bigger, and hopeful—then and now. That outlook still shapes how I see the world and why I write.
Common ground is vast. It may not always be perfectly true—and often doesn’t seem true—but it’s more true than not.
How writing helped me in my 40s
I think it’s normal to reach a point in life when everything starts feeling déjà vu. This hit me in my early 40s, during 2017 MeToo, when the world in general was starting to feel more Etch-A-Sketchy with everything shifting all at once. In so many good ways, but maddingly, some things never seem to change, at least not for long.
Writing has helped me feel grounded, without feeling stuck.
At first, I started journaling. I felt like my kid-self again, back when I filled stacks of Hallmark diaries with my bubbly-cursive thoughts. But this time, I shared what I wrote with the people closest to me. That’s when my Gen Z daughter planted a seed: “You should pitch this somewhere. Someone would want to read it.”
A few months later, I pitched Jumble & Flow (now The Midst) with my first story, “GenX and ‘80s Control Culture: Isn’t it ironic?”
Why I’m disclosing more than I ever imagined
I’ve always been a private person. I was never on socials. The exposure of kids worries me. The words “follower” and “influencer” still seem odd, along with the idea of liking or not like something, as if there’s no in-between. But I do care deeply about people. I like people and I’m curious about life. Connections that are good are good no matter how they happen.
Substack is one (imperfect) place to find slower, deeper thoughts, connections, discussions, and stories that matter, but not for how sellable they are. I came here as a reader and am still here as a reader. I share the types of stories or experiences that others shared and helped me. It’s easy to forget that helping one person matters. There’s too much focus on numbers, even when there’s no marketing reason.
I encourage everyone to share their stories, when they’re ready, and on their own terms. Stories don’t need to be written or shared publicly. But stories shape us for better or worse, so it helps to know the narratives. And it’s worth asking yourself: Do I want my stories to die with me? Could it help someone to know? Should it be documented? There are no right or wrong answers, but too often we never ask the questions.
At some point, it’s also good to ask: If not now, then when?
My brother unexpectedly died late 2022. He was only 52. I also work in a cancer center. So I know I don’t have forever, or even a moment more than I might expect. It’s a reminder for me to share, reach out, and connect any time I can in meaningful ways. Knowing it’ll always be imperfect. It’ll never be enough. I try not to overthink it. I try just do it. Again and again.
I’m most comfortable in three-dimensional spaces, my own headspace, living life in conversation, and getting lost in stories, ideas, and work. But you can also find me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook. I still feel like a kid plopped in the middle of a freeway whenever I visit. So I only go when I’m the mood for the buzziness of a Frogger Atari game and I remind myself to leave as soon as I’ve had my fill.
Professional bio: I’ve been a pharmacist for 25+ years and currently hold a position in oncology specialty infusion and behavioral health community pharmacy. I’m also a medical writer passionate about giving consumer, patient, and HCP audiences the *best* possible information on health science topics. My approach is versatile to support the purpose of the content and I love the collaborative process. Respecting the audience is always front of mind.
On Substack, I also contribute to Those Nerdy Girls and co-launched Meet Me at the Medcart in collaboration with the MedShadow Foundation.
I’ll always love narrative essays. They’re my favorite type of reading. I love writing them. And I love sharing them in purposeful ways. Moving into fiction writing seems like a natural next place to go.
Writing Disclosures:
I choose the story and the direction, then write the draft myself.
I don’t say anything I wouldn’t say in real life.
I use tools like Perplexity and Grammarly to speed up edits for readability or to jog my memory for a word or background on a topic.
All thoughts and opinions are my own—and subject to change, which humbles me and tempers judginess.
