Kayleigh Diaz
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kayleighdiaz.com
Kayleigh Diaz
@kayleighdiaz.com
660 followers 700 following 3.5K posts
Mother, educator, bibliophile. Aspiring author with a penchant for acquiring entirely too many old books. 📚
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kayleighdiaz.com
😅 Diego
Diego blows his breath out slowly. “Okay, so, what now?” “Now,” Daniel says, taking a seat heavily, glancing back at Davis’s office. The blinds are shuttered. “We work quieter.” Diego closes his eyes for a beat. “How did I know you were going to say that.” “There’s something off about this, and you know it.” “I didn’t say otherwise.” He shakes his head slowly. “All right, man, but if you get me suspended, you’re going to have to explain it to Lea.” “You’re still seeing her?” “‘Course I am.” “But not the other one.” “Evangeline? Nah, man. She’s old news.” Daniel snorts. “Player, player…” “Hey, we’re not exclusive.”
December 19, 2025 at 8:33 PM
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#WIPSnips | high

Another one from my domestic suspense #WIP, and then I'll go back to my happy post-apocalyptic story 😅

MC sitting at a bay window, watching the world pass by.

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #amwriting
Writing snippet: It’s a balmy, sunny day, laced with wisps of cloud. Distantly, she can hear peacocks cawing. It had once made her feel a sense of wonder—a slice of exotic novelty woven against the backdrop of her busy morning—but now it reminds her more of the call of the loon from her childhood, lonely and piercing. The espresso burns her tongue as she lifts her eyes to the clouds. “What are you looking at?” She jumps, and the steaming coffee slips down her chin, staining her white cotton robe. “Fuck,” she says, turning to Daniel. “You scared me.” He raises his brows. “I’m sorry.” “It’s fine.” She wipes at the coffee with one hand, like she can erase the stain, and sets her cup down. “I’m not looking at anything.” He hums. “You had a pensive look.” He lifts a mug to his lips and sips. “Like a painting.” She doesn’t feel like a painting—makeup-less, her curls more frizz than coil—but on second thought, she imagines herself frozen in time, plastered against canvas, strokes of acrylic slashing down her body, pinning her flat. He points out the window. “There, hon.” “Hmm?” She follows the track of his finger. “A pack of wild moms.” A group of five or six high-ponytailed, black-legging-clad women race by with their jogger strollers, the bright blond hair of babies and toddlers blowing in the wind, chubby cheeks whipped pink. “Maybe you could join them,” he says. She rolls her eyes. “I don’t need [redacted for title-related reasons]. I need [also redacted].” He chuckles, then does a double take when he sees her eyes narrow thoughtfully. “Wait, you’re not serious.” “Why not?” She chews on her lower lip, considering it. “They have Meetups for Mommy and Me. I’ll just make one for the Mommies. Without the Me’s.” There will be wine, charcuterie boards, double-dose SSRIs…
December 19, 2025 at 9:49 AM
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It is, but the conversation doesn't get much better
Writing snippet: “How young?” “Young, all right, ‘Del?” He strides to the nightstand and grabs the gun, releases the mag, pulls the slide back to show her the empty chamber and drops it in his lockbox. “We done with the inquisition?” “Jesus, Dan.” “Look.” He sighs, rubbing a hand across his face before stepping toward her. “I told you I had a bad day.” “I’m not interrogating you. I asked a question.”
December 16, 2025 at 7:06 PM
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#WIPSnips | moist/damp etc.

Kind of forgot about my domestic suspense #WIP & honestly don't have the mental fortitude to write anything this week, so, presenting: whatever dynamic this is. 😅

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #amwriting
Writing snippet: The hallway to the master is lined with portraits, all gleaming teeth threatening to draw her attention, and she picks up her pace. When she pushes open the paneled doors at the end of the hall, her eyes are dragged like a magnet to the gun on the bedside table. The bathroom door is cracked, shower running, steam suspended in a wedge of light. She grits her teeth and storms forward, shoving it open. “There’s a gun on the table.” The sharp splash of water hits porcelain and skin. “It’s unloaded.” “I don’t care if it’s unloaded. What kind of cop leaves his gun out?” She can barely hear his sigh over the steady stream. He shuts off the tap and lets the shower head drip for a moment before stepping out onto the bath mat and snagging a towel from the wall. He pulls it roughly over his hair first, beads of water flying, before drawing it slowly down his face. Dark eyes scan her, assessing. He keeps his gaze locked on hers as he lowers the towel, knotting it at his waist. “It’s been a long day, Adela.” “There are children in this house.” “I know. I like to think I had something to do with their making.” “Well let’s not unmake them.”
December 16, 2025 at 1:27 PM
kayleighdiaz.com
@pamelaelaela.bsky.social
A comic of a deer and fox. Text: Deer: Hey, Pam Fox, the creator called us rascals. Fox: Oh, deer. I prefer PJ RAPscallion, myself.
December 15, 2025 at 6:17 PM
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#WIPSnips | blanket

From my post-apocalyptic #WIP w/ a misfit trio of kids.

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #amwriting
Writing snippet: He tucked the blanket around her and Shrimp, frayed edges just long enough to seal them into its meager warmth, then set his pack in the dirt to use as a pillow. “What about you?” she asked. He waved a hand. “Nah, I run hot.” But when she woke in the night, the forest floor flooded with moonlight, she saw that he was shivering.
December 15, 2025 at 10:14 AM
kayleighdiaz.com
#WIPSnips | line

Reposting this because I couldn't figure out what else to write for line but ALSO bc this is the scene I hope to comm from @nushdeco.bsky.social. 😊

From my post-apocalyptic #WIP w/ a misfit trio of kids.

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #amwriting
Writing snippet: “C'mere and take a look.” She sighed as she padded over and sat heavily in the dirt, reaching her arms back to cushion her head as she lay beside him. “What'm I lookin’ at, Micah.” He pointed up. “See that square with the line off to one side? And the smaller one that looks like it above?” She squinted and shook her head as a thin veil of clouds passed over. He took a long look at her, then moved closer, positioning his head next to hers and taking her hand. He waited until the clouds parted, closed one eye and held up her pointer finger, encircling the rest of her fist in his. Then he traced the stars. “That,” he said, voice low, moving her finger along the path, “is the handle and the bowl.” Their hands dipped down together, hard lines that cut across the midnight blue. “And this here”—he glanced at her—“these two that’re right next to each other, they point in the direction of the North Star.” She took over, stretching an imaginary arrow to the first star they led to. “Okay, and what does it matter?” He released her hand gently. “Well, that's how you can navigate, if you're ever lost.” He paused and moved back into his own space. “In case anything ever happens to me. You and Shrimp…that's how you find your way home.”
December 14, 2025 at 9:52 AM
kayleighdiaz.com
#WIPSnips | control vibes✨

Micah taking control of a situation with a little knife throwing.

(CW: violence, stabby stab blood etc.)

From my post-apocalyptic #WIP w/ a misfit trio of kids.

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #amwriting
Writing snippet: His eyes went wide for a second as blood welled—lips parted in a barely exhaled oh—and then he fell to his knees and slumped forward into the dirt, blinking in a daze. “Jesus,” Lennie muttered, staring at the man. He was gurgling, clutching weakly at the hilt embedded in his neck. She looked up, pinning Micah with a glare. “What the hell was that?” Micah put his shoe to the man's shoulder, nudged him right-side up and retrieved the knife with a twist, wiping it on the hem of his shirt. “What?” “What?” He frowned down at the bloody blade as he continued to clean it. “He pulled a knife on you, Len. What’d you expect me to do?”
December 13, 2025 at 8:58 AM
kayleighdiaz.com
#WIPSnips | pipe

Featuring the Others & Lennie’s enviable survival instincts 😅

From my post-apocalyptic #WIP w/ a misfit trio of kids.

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #amwriting
Writing snippet: “Is it them?” Lennie whispered. Micah put a finger to his lips, back pressed to the earth. The steady clop of hooves grew closer, and Lennie turned onto her stomach, edging forward through the brush. Micah grabbed her leg, but she batted at his hand, shifting their cover, and he released her with a barely audible curse. She found an opening, pushing aside a couple thin branches to see better. They passed by in rows of two, hooded and cloaked in a patchwork of hides—slumped forward on their mounts, faces hidden—a collection of weapons strapped to their backs. Battered pipes, rusty blades, the odd rifle. But it was their skin that drew her eye. Every inch of exposed flesh, from fingertip to forearm, was scarred, desiccated, flaking and gray, carved into grotesque patterns of runes. “Holy hell,” she muttered, and one of the leading men held up a hand, bringing the convoy to a dead stop.
December 10, 2025 at 11:00 AM
kayleighdiaz.com
#WIPSnips | empty

From my post-apocalyptic #WIP w/ a misfit trio of kids.

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #amwriting
Writing snippet: “It's here,” he said, tucking the map away. “This is it.” Lennie glanced around the clearing that housed the small building. There was nothing around, no signs of life. The remains of a charred campfire covered in fallen leaves. One window stood open, a frayed curtain blowing through in the frosty breeze. “Oh, Micah,” she whispered. He caught her eye and looked away again. “No, this is it.” He kept the bow low as he approached the door, but Lennie didn't follow; because she knew whatever was left in there was not what Micah had hoped to find, that it was either empty or home to a rotting corpse. There was no plan, no miraculous savior. But that was something he'd need to discover for himself.
December 7, 2025 at 11:13 AM
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#WIPSnips | hook

Umm idk what to tell you about this one. It's what came to mind when I saw “hook.” Shrimp being weird…again. 😅👽

From my post-apocalyptic #WIP w/ a misfit trio of kids (one a little stranger than the rest).

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #amwriting
Writing snippet: Micah pierced the wriggling worm onto the hook just as Lennie dropped hers for the second time, cursing. He glanced over. “Need help?” “I can do it,” she said, picking up the bait again. “Damn, wriggly mother—” “Yeah, I'll help,” Micah said, setting the rod on a stone beside him. He sat next to her, took the hook and worm from her muddy fingers, slid the little thing on and handed the rod back. “Thanks,” she mumbled. Then her eyes went over Micah's shoulder to where Shrimp stood, Micah's line and hook in hand, as he dangled the worm over his open mouth. “Shrimp, don't!” But he'd already dropped the worm, hook and all. He smiled at her for a moment. Then frowned.
December 6, 2025 at 9:22 AM
kayleighdiaz.com
#WIPSnips | city

From my post-apocalyptic #WIP w/ a misfit trio of kids.

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #amwriting
Writing snippet: The city hung beneath a cloud of smoke, roadways choked with the remnants of cars, a few tanks. Streaks of black shadows painted across the asphalt, crumbling and scarred, pitted by mortar shells. All was quiet, but they kept their distance. Even if there were supplies somewhere down there, everyone knew that whoever ventured into the cities didn't emerge. Claimed by the irradiated landscape, maybe, or overtaken by roving gangs, lost to the emptiness of the past, collected by the Others—though that last one was mostly a child's tale. At least, she was pretty sure.
December 4, 2025 at 12:14 PM
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Two Button Meme of a character sweating between two options. Text: "magical art of characters stargazing" "pay car registration" "Me" *sweating*
December 3, 2025 at 1:10 AM
kayleighdiaz.com
Yesterday was rough, but at the end of the day, my kiddo crawled into bed to read with me, and while we were reading, he quietly put his hand over mine, and it was one of those small, simple moments I wish I could bottle up and relive, over and over, for the rest of my life.

Silver lining. ♥️
Photo of my 8YO's hand over mine while we both read our own books. (Chapter 22 of The Passage by Justin Cronin for me)
December 2, 2025 at 1:06 AM
kayleighdiaz.com
Also, @sayaashrah.bsky.social, idk why I thought this was included in the pic I shared 😅. I bought it a while back, but just wanted to say that I love the concept, and the cover is gorgeous! ♥️
Cover of Nicole Hidalgo's "This is How Immortals Die"
November 30, 2025 at 5:32 PM
kayleighdiaz.com
#WIPSnips | number

Amos teaching Lennie about the importance of the humanities. 😊

From my post-apocalyptic #WIP w/ a misfit trio of kids.

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #amwriting
Writing snippet: “I was always good with my numbers,” Lennie said. “Not so much the other stuff.” Amos smiled. “Yeah, well, numbers are important. Calculating distances, for one. Navigation. Hell, math is what we needed to live, back in the old days. All that technology. It's what kept things running.” He leaned in a little, closing the book softly. “But the humanities—philosophy, literature, art—those are what I look to, when I'm searching for a reason. Where I find beauty, where I find hope.” He pressed the book into her arms. “And there's always room for a little more hope in this world, don't you think?”
November 30, 2025 at 10:59 AM
kayleighdiaz.com
Also added @kiraofthewind.com and @chrisakins.bsky.social to the collection after the initial pic. 😊
"Merchants of Knowledge and Magic" by Erika McCorkle "Grim Portents" by Christian Akins
November 30, 2025 at 5:39 AM
kayleighdiaz.com
Naught for me, but I'll always share for these lovely folks!

Thanks for hosting, @sagetgreene.bsky.social! This was a lot of fun. ♥️

#WritingCommunity #Novmemeber
Stack of novels: "The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle" by Steve Hugh Westenra, "Sordaneon" by L.L. Stephens, "Soulkeeper" by T.D. Gonzalez, "Against an Alpine Sky" by Nicole Leland, "Wings in the Valley" by Aud Connelly, "Dance of Demons" by Alyssa Lauseng, "The Ghost Princess" by M. Walsh, and "Etheri" by Sage T. Greene
November 30, 2025 at 5:39 AM
kayleighdiaz.com
#WIPSnips | dedicate vibes ✨

Making these kiddos dedicated to each other through it all.

(Context: Lennie escaped a scary situation. Luckily, Micah will always be her safe harbor. ☺️)

From my post-apocalyptic #WIP w/ a misfit trio of kids.

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #amwriting
Writing snippet: She stared absently at him—the familiar depths of his eyes, the warmth of his skin, concern catching in every taut line etched into his brow—but she couldn't quiet her panicked breaths. “Damn. C’mere,” he said, pulling her close. “It's okay.” He gripped tighter as she collapsed into his arms. “It’s okay. You're safe.”
November 29, 2025 at 10:03 AM
kayleighdiaz.com
I teach my kids that it starts with understanding cognitive biases, logical fallacies, methods of persuasion. This one is especially important, methinks.
The backfire effect: when some aspect of your core beliefs is challenged, it can cause you to believe even more strongly. We can experience being wrong about some ideas as an attack upon our very selves, or our tribal identity. This can lead to motivated reasoning which causes a reinforcement of beliefs, despite disconfirming evidence. Recent research shows that the backfire effect certainly doesn't happen all the time. Most people will accept a correction relating to specific facts, however the backfire effect may reinforce a related or "parent" belief as people attempt to reconcile a new narrative in their understanding. "It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." - Mark Twain
November 28, 2025 at 10:42 PM
kayleighdiaz.com
#WIPSnips | global/world ✨🌎

Lennie mostly talking to herself (😅) w/ her otherworldly friend who doesn't speak.

From my post-apocalyptic #WIP w/ a misfit trio of kids.

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #amwriting
Writing snippet: “Do you think there are other worlds out there, Shrimp? Ones where they got it right the first time over? I like to think there are. That maybe somewhere there's another girl and her uhh”—she elbowed him in the ribs and he shied away, grinning—“trusty sidekick.” She chuckled once, but the smile slipped from her face as she contemplated the distance between them and the heavens. “Only, they're dining on the best foods out there, maybe dancing in moonlit halls. Wearing clothes made of starlight…” She trailed off, and Shrimp turned to look at her. She glanced at him. “Okay, yeah, you're right, that may be a bit too much, but anything's possible out there in them other worlds, right? ‘Specially if it's in a different time.” She sighed and shook her head, but she met Shrimp's gaze—saw the frown digging between his brows—and offered a small, encouraging smile. “Well, I don't know if you dream, but that's what I see when I close my eyes at night.” She grabbed his hand and held tight. “All them silly renderings in the stars.”
November 23, 2025 at 10:39 AM
kayleighdiaz.com
The wall is a character
Tom Snout as Wall in A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999)
November 22, 2025 at 5:46 PM
kayleighdiaz.com
#WIPSnips | crystal

🌊

From my post-apocalyptic #WIP w/ a misfit trio of kids.

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #amwriting
Writing snippet: She stood staring out at the crashing waves for a long time. She wasn't sure what she'd expected—crystal-clear water lapping at her ankles, warm and soothing, welcoming her with whatever secrets it held on its salty breath. This water was cold. She could tell without touching it. And some small part of her knew that if she waded in, she would never leave. Shrimp slipped his hand into hers and looked up at her. “Well, it ain't exactly what I thought,” she said, watching the gray waves slosh. “But it's still beautiful in its own way, isn't it?”
November 22, 2025 at 9:14 AM
kayleighdiaz.com
#WIPSnips | direction

Bit of stargazing. ⭐

From my post-apocalyptic #WIP w/ a misfit trio of kids.

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #amwriting
Writing snippet: “C'mere and take a look.” She sighed as she padded over and sat heavily in the dirt, reaching her arms back to cushion her head as she lay beside him. “What'm I lookin’ at, Micah.” He pointed up. “See that square with the line off to one side? And the smaller one that looks like it above?” She squinted and shook her head as a thin veil of clouds passed over. He took a long look at her, then moved closer, positioning his head next to hers and taking her hand. He waited until the clouds parted, closed one eye and held up her pointer finger, encircling the rest of her fist in his. Then he traced the stars. “That,” he said, voice low, moving her finger along the path, “is the handle and the bowl.” Their hands dipped down together, hard lines that cut across the midnight blue. “And this here”—he glanced at her—“these two that’re right next to each other, they point in the direction of the North Star.” She took over, stretching an imaginary arrow to the first star they led to. “Okay, and what does it matter?” He released her hand gently. “Well, that's how you can navigate, if you're ever lost.” He paused and moved back into his own space. “In case anything ever happens to me. You and Shrimp…that's how you find your way home.”
November 21, 2025 at 9:44 AM
kayleighdiaz.com
I don't even have a working title 😅

#Novmemeber
Document with my current WIP entitled: Writing Stuff
November 19, 2025 at 6:17 PM