Jeremy McLaughlin played trombone in marching and concert bands, in a garage swing band, and, as a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, at several Sacramento-area peace rallies. Under carceral conditions (where trombones are considered “weapons stock”) his pen has become his musical instrument. He delights in composing short stories for his daughter, son, brother, friends, and any other poor soul who tolerates his noise. He also finds writing a powerful anodyne in treating the internal battle wounds he suffers from his combat service as a navy corpsman. The 2025 Fielding A. Dawson Award in fiction is his first honor in writing.