Hi y’all. Welcome to Moth to flame.
I decided to create a newsletter about my work in Alabama, which includes writing and reporting on mass incarceration and all things criminal justice. I’ve been a journalist for over 20 years, and for the past decade, I’ve been investigating Alabama’s prison hellscape. There is so much to say about what I’ve learned, the process of reporting on closed institutions and state corruption, that I needed a separate space to process all of this madness.
Why moth to flame? The expression itself is a metaphor for a strong attraction to something, and for me that’s the unknown. I want to know what goes on behind the curtain and this curiosity drives my work. Beyond the mere desire to know is a deep empathy I feel for all living beings, and a moral responsibility to alleviate suffering. We can’t end suffering if we don’t even know it exists. That’s why I work to expose it and amplify the stories of people living it.
Moths can also represent determination and transformation. They reside in dark places, but they are always seeking the light, determined to reach it, even at risk to themselves. I’ve been through an incredible evolution in the last few years, surviving a heart attack, leaving a long career in television news and finally finding my way back to myself in a new place—as writer, independent journalist, creator. I am a moth to flame in the work that I do and the way I live my life. I’m glad you are here and hope you’ll subscribe, leave comments, ask questions and let me know you’re here!