My name is Andre Gardner but you might know me as LP Kindred, the Chicagoan-Angeleno speculative fiction author, editor, teaching artist, podcaster at Just Keep Writing, and cocoa-founder of Voodoonauts.

Long story short, I was fired from my job as a server in the week following Thanksgiving. I was with the company for the past 7 years and haven't been unemployed in more than a decade (minus covid closures). This shocked the hell out of me, tbh.

I am taking the firing in stride. I've talked to a lawyer, I'm applying for jobs, and I'm taking this as a sign from the Universe that I need to pour more into my creative career.

I'm embracing this transition but my credit card minimums, rent, and phone bill aren't as patient as I am.

My expenses are as follows:

$1000 for rent to maintain housing

$100 for my phone bill to answer calls from people trying to hire me

$100 for credit card minimums

$100 for internet to look for more work and access unemployment insurance

I'm only asking for as much as I'll need to get through December. I should have a pay check or an unemployment check by January, but I know all process will be slowed with the Holidays only moments away.

I hate asking, at all, and especially during the holidays. I just

know I can't be a productive creative, let alone a subsisting human, without this support.