I reminisce upon the first night I had you near me, drunk on wine,
Intoxicated elation, the citrusy musk of your cologne
The scent of your skin befuddling my being

I linger upon secret seductive smiles and come hither
Glances across the room, the indulgence of your kiss
The embrace of your arms

I wit-wander with wonder, how we enveloped each other
The enchantment of our love
The bliss we had.

Biography:

Josh is a proud Aims alumnus who has returned home to the college after receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in sociology from UNC and gaining experience within several other organizations. His writing is more than a craft; the paper, pen, computer screen, and keyboard have served as vital counseling roles throughout his life. There is a specific magic found when he is truly in the moment, allowing the words to flow freely from mind to hand. It is when he is in “the zone” he finds a unique blend of comfort and excitement, especially as he begins to truly get to know the characters he has created.

An avid gamer, Josh often uses Dungeons & Dragons as a creative laboratory. He is known to build his fictional characters through gameplay first, playing them out at the table to get a feel for their voices and motivations before translating them into his novels. This passion for storytelling was deeply rooted in his developmental years, inspired by his grandmother’s love of writing. His primary goal is to create works of fiction and poetry that center on LGBTQ+ characters because he wants to have younger readers who identify within the community a safe space to relate to characters that make them feel seen. He draws additional inspiration from a diverse range of authors, including TJ Klune, Nicky James, Jay Bell, Holly Black, Mercedes Lackey, and Laurell K. Hamilton.