Hi there! I’m Daphne and I’m here to disclose real-life stories with thought and purpose. I write essays to help me process and move forward. 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 girlfriend. 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?
I feel more like a writer than any other thing I’ve done.
Professional bio: I’m an oncology specialty pharmacist, medical writer and reviewer. I contribute to GoodRx Health, Forbes Health, and MedShadow Foundation. For HealthDay’s Custom Content team I write oncology patient educational materials. On Substack, I write essays and interviews on Daphne Discloses and contribute to
.
Why I started writing 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
) with my first story, “GenX and ‘80s Control Culture: Isn’t it ironic?” Since then, I’ve expanded into parenting, health, and medical content spaces. But 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.Why I’m disclosing more than I ever imagined
I’ve always been a private person. I was never on socials. Honestly, I don’t care to know everyone’s random thoughts or experiences, especially if they’re selling something or looking for likes. But I do care about people and am curious about life. Substack is one (imperfect) place to find slower, deeper thoughts, discussions, and stories. I came here as a reader and am still here as a reader.
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 with everyone. But stories shape us for better or worse, so it helps to know the narratives. And at some point, it’s 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.
