Stories about identity, culture, and lived experience.
I write essays that blend personal reflection with cultural insight—stories about learning, aging, queer identity, and the meaning we make from our lives.
Whether drawing from my own experience or uncovering another’s, I explore the moments that shape us and the ways they impact the world we live in.
On the 80th anniversary of the Holocaust, I reflect on how Anne Frank’s story challenges us to confront today’s world. (The Red Hook Star-Revue)
A chance conversation at a publishing lunch reconnected me with someone from my very first job—and reminded me how a quiet moment of encouragement can stay with you for years. Read more.
A ceiling collapse prompts a vintage collector to reconsider what really matters (“Readers Write” in The Sun)
For The Drift, “the lit mag of the moment” (The New York Times), I offered a brief analysis of the costumes from the 1988 film, Mystic Pizza.
Italian fashion meets same-sex love in 1990s New York (“My Story” in The Gay & Lesbian Review)
Struggling to find the right way to mourn a dead ex-boyfriend (Finalist for the 2021 Brooklyn Film & Arts Nonfiction Prize)
Storytellers’ True Stories About Love, Volume Two, edited by Judi Lee Goshen and Anne E. Beall, PhD
My contribution to this anthology began as a performance piece at New York City’s legendary experimental theater Dixon Place. Learn more.
I grew up shopping at thrift stores and church rummage sales, cultivating an eye for beautiful old things. These two books feature my vintage collections and my thoughts about them:
Design*Sponge
Sneak Peek
"This glimpse into Michael Quinn's Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn apartment showcases a true generosity of spirit."
—Amy Azzarito, Editor
Zandl Slant
"A day in the life of Master Michael Quinn—artist/event designer extraordinaire!"
—Irma Zandl, editor