Writer at Work – Dennis D Montoya

Seven Days at Sea: Forged in Salt and Sky

From a 2 a.m. wake-up to a penthouse tub with a skyline view, Day 0 was all nerves, laughter, and anticipation — the calm before the ship set sail.

An Alaska Cruise, a Snakeskin Hat, and the Rock Star We Didn’t Recognize

We spent an Alaskan cruise whispering jokes about the guy in the snakeskin hat acting like he was famous. Spoiler: he was Bret Michaels.

The Resting Irritated Face

I caught my reflection mid-thought the other day — jaw tight, eyebrows furrowed, eyes narrowed like I was interrogating my own mirror. Classic resting-bitch face. The truth? I was just trying to remember the word metaphor. I’ve been told I look angry when I think. Not passionate or focused — angry. I blame the eyebrows. They’re thick, serious things. Left untrimmed, they could probably claim diplomatic status. When they furrow, I go from approachable to “you’ve disappointed the council” in half a second.

January 1, 2026

Every year around this time, I’m reminded that New Year’s Day has excellent branding. It convinces us that one night of fireworks and bad sleep is enough to reset an entire life. That clarity will arrive with the calendar flip. That motivation will follow shortly after the coffee. Somewhere between breakfast and noon, gym membershipsContinue reading “January 1, 2026”

The Death Of A Cosplayer

Dylan had heard the stories, creatures prowling the night, hunting for bodies. Ghouls, zombies, vampires. Vampires were his favorite version. No one really believed them. Not even him. The comic convention had been a bust. Maybe a dozen people showed up in costume, and not one recognized his Strider cosplay. Disappointed, he ducked out early,Continue reading “The Death Of A Cosplayer”