Midnight Musings – A journal by Jade Walker

Can’t Get Over These Women

October 13, 2026 / No Comments

Let me introduce you to some rock star writers – and dear friends of mine. Like the female characters on “The West Wing,” these women are “capable, loving, energetic and dedicated.” They’re also incredibly talented and I highly recommend you subscribe to their newsletters.

Litsa Dremousis is the author of “Altitude Sickness,” a book that Seattle Metropolitan Magazine named as one of the “20 Books Every Seattleite Should Read.” She recently launched a self-titled newsletter, and it’s already #12 on Substack’s “rising in Health Politics” category. Litsa writes essays about the illnesses that have left her disabled, the failures of the government and medical establishment, and the decades she’s spent battling for herself and others. She also has a wicked sense of humor, particularly when discussing current events, so be sure to check out her latest essay: “Other Stuff the Pentagon Can Livestream.”

Courtney Mroch is the author of three novels and a travel book of Halloween hotspots, a frequent contributor to the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series and the former publisher of Haunt Jaunts, a website that explored the sensational and scary. In her newsletter “On Lessons Learned From Horror Movies,” she examines how these films can serve as a mirror to the world. Be sure to check out the issue “Movies That Scare Us Most” which focuses on the frightening flicks that stay with us long after the credits roll. Even if this genre is not your jam, Courtney’s thoughtful takes will give you something intriguing to read during this spooky season.

When Jen King isn’t busy marrying couples or volunteering with the New South Wales State Emergency Service, she’s busy writing features and obituaries for The Guardian, the Sydney Morning Herald, ABC News (Australia) and The New York Times. Now she’s launched “Dying To Meet You,” a newsletter that reveals the challenges of being a freelance obituary writer. How does someone capture a deceased person’s entire life story in 800 words? Lemme tell you, it’s not easy! Two essays you must read: “I Write Obituaries and It’s the Best Gig Ever” and “Women Balancing the Obit Pages.”
Late night conversations

October 3, 2026 / 2 Comments

Do you ever have conversations with yourself while reading online? Not imaginary chats with the author or comments to other readers, just internal dialogues about the words streaming across the screen.

I do.

Earlier this week, I was reading an article in The New York Times about 26 books that are coming out this month. Novels by Barbara Kingsolver and Stephen Graham Jones, biographies of Larry David and Frank Capra, and tales of horror that make perfect reading during spooky season were featured. As I scrolled through the list, I stopped to read the summaries of the books that bore an intriguing title or an eye-catching cover, or because I’ve enjoyed the author’s work in the past.

When I discover a story that sounds appealing, I open a new tab to learn if the book is available at my local library. That’s when the conversation with myself begins:

Will the book be available in large-print? If yes, then definitely put on hold.

No? Fine, let me see if there’s a Kindle version on Libby.

Seventy-eight people have it on hold? That’s insane! Perhaps the print copy will have a shorter wait time? Yes, it does. Come to mama!

Back to the tab featuring the list of books.

“Peck & Peck” by Bonnie Garmus —Absolutely add that one. It may have taken ages to read “Lessons in Chemistry” because of that terrible, cartoony cover, but it turned out to be one of the best books of the year.

“The End of Everything” by M. John Harrison —Yes, check that out. Literary fiction isn’t really my jam, but this was the only novel on the Booker finalist shortlist that sounded like it had a riveting plot.

“Every Story Is a Love Story” by Imbolo Mbue —My goodness, what a great title!

“Wolo’s life is upended when his pregnant wife dies in a car accident.” —Oh no! Clearly this is going to be a tragic romance.

“Three years later, he finds unexpected solace…” —Yes, this does sound like something I’m going to want to read.

“… in sharing his heartbreak with an unlikely companion…” —His wife’s ghost?

“Victoria, the driver who killed her.” —Oh hell no! So much freakin’ nope.

“Their meeting sparks a reckoning…” —There’ll be a reckoning, allright. And it starts with the words “Avenge me!”

“… about life, love and how to move on without letting the past die.” —I don’t think so, Imbolo. I am just not your target audience. Next!

And so it goes. Me, reading articles in the middle of the night and talking to myself.

You don’t do this too? Ah well.

Then let’s just forget I said anything.
Writing at night

September 13, 2026 / 1 Comment

“At night, when the objective world has slunk back into its cavern and left dreamers to their own, there come inspirations and capabilities impossible at any less magical and quiet hour. No one knows whether or not he is a writer unless he has tried writing at night.” –H.P. Lovecraft
A look back at 9/11

September 11, 2026 / No Comments

Even 25 years later, I’m still saddened by the horrors of that day in September – and all of the death and destruction that followed.

But I also remember how people in NYC, DC and Pennsylvania joined together to help others. How teams of first responders from other states and countries came to our aid. How the folks in Gander, Newfoundland welcomed/fed/clothed thousands of strangers. How ordinary New Yorkers stood on the sidewalks and cheered the fire trucks as they drove down to Ground Zero. How restaurants and bodegas gave away free food and water. How hundreds lined up at hospitals to donate blood. And how a small band of journalists and support staff at the New York Times (Dan Bigman, Fiona Spruill, etc.) worked together to tell the world what was happening.

You all are in my thoughts as the spotlights pierce the sky and the bells toll for the dead.
Goddamnit, Donut!

August 9, 2026 / 2 Comments

I know I’ve been rather quiet of late.

I could easily blame the news. Between covering the wars and natural disasters and political fuckery, things have been busy. I could blame the summer, which all of you know is my least favorite season (migraines and sweating and bugs, oh my!). Both scenarios accurately explain my absence from this blogging space. But, there is a third reason.

I’ve joined a cult.

The cult of “Dungeon Crawler Carl.”

It’s M’s fault, of course. He listened to the first book in Matt Dinniman’s LitRPG series and was so impressed by the story and the vocal talents of Jeff Hays that he encouraged me to join too.

“You probably won’t like Carl, at first,” he said. “But give it a chance.”

I did. Soon I was also trapped in a post-apocalyptic world with Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, forced to battle monsters on an intergalactic reality TV show where survival is not guaranteed.

So far, I’ve read the first four books in this funny, fierce and horrifying fantasy series, all on Audible. M’s picked up a handful of the books on Kindle and we’re thinking about contacting a local independent bookstore to put in an order for the first eight books in hardcover. Yes, we love “Dungeon Crawler Carl” and we’re not alone. The series has sold over 14 million copies.

When we’re not reading them individually, M and I discuss the books. We sprinkle the catchphrases into our conversations:

* New Achievement! Reward?
* Hi Zev!
* Mongo is appalled!
* You will not break me.
* Now get on out there and kill, kill, kill!

And like good cultists, we do our best to convert others.

What do you have to lose? This is a bad timeline. Let’s join forces and read for a while, then regroup and change the world. The powers that be have no idea what’s coming.

As Princess Donut says: “Viva La Revolucion, Carl!”