This year has been a nail-biter from the start to the finish. Lots of ups and downs and life changes and figuring things out. To bullet point it rather than write out everything long form (because you’d be here for hours):
- Released Fallen in January
- Had my shoulder surgery in March and was able to play violin again
- Started ADHD medication in June
- Received my autism diagnosis in November
- Was more “out” as non-binary than I ever have been and changed my nickname
- Gained 2,000 followers on TikTok
- Revamped my YouTube channel
- Grew my writing group on Discord to over 130 amazing people
- Edited Hot & Cold
- Wrote Always Winter (working title of book 3)
- Started The Unintended Garden (working title of mystery project)
- Published seven short stories in the #minithology series
- Reconnected with family I had been estranged from
- Learned to knit
- Did work for more editing clients than I have before
- Created and have been working on preparing for the Neurodivergent Publishing Conference
Most of this hasn’t had so much to do with my writing, but at the same time, I know you read this blog to get in my head, too, not just for writing tips. So… this is a bit of a more personal post than usual.
It’s been a heck of a year over here in my household. And we’re finishing it off with my husband breaking his foot while I prepare for the release of Hot & Cold and the writing conference I am running in February. I hadn’t looked at everything that’s happened this year all laid out in front of me like that before writing this, but reviewing all of those things, I’m pretty proud of everything I’ve accomplished this past year. Recovering from shoulder surgery has been a lot — it was a six-month process where I couldn’t even lift a jug of milk — but it was worth every minute of it.
My mental health stuff has been a big thing this year, too. The autism diagnosis was almost a year in the making (it took me eight months to get an appointment to be diagnosed), and the ADHD medication has made a radical change in my life and my ability to function day-to-day. I am still every bit myself; I am just a more focused version of myself who is able to do the things I need to do with more ease.
I also got into day planning this year and have spent a lot of time studying productivity and minimalism. While I’m not quite there yet, I am steadily working in the direction of minimalism and trying to dig myself out from under the avalanche of clutter I’ve survived in for almost forty years. I’m not looking to throw everything I own out or what have you, but letting go of things that aren’t serving me in favor of owning less (which subsequently means it’s easier to keep my space tidier) is a project I am still on.
Next Year
With how well this year has gone, I am hoping that next year is going to be even better. I have several major events already in the works and planned for next year.
- Hot and Cold released January 13
- The Neurodivergent Publishing Conference, February 17 – 19
- Caribbean cruise with a friend, June
- 10-year wedding anniversary with the husband, September
- 20books Vegas, November
- Edit and prepare Always Winter for January 2024
- Finish writing The Unintended Garden
- Plan and write Book 4 in the Boston Blight series
- Continue writing short stories with the #minithology crew
There are a lot of big things coming next year. I’ve never done much of any travel and haven’t been on a traveling vacation since 2002, so going on two trips out of my immediate area next year is going to be huge. I’ve also never been on a cruise nor have I ever left the US (not even to Canada, and I’m not far from the border). So this should be a heck of an adventure.
I feel like somewhere recently, my life turned a corner, and something has begun to change. Maybe it’s me settling into author life. Maybe it’s having slowly created my writer/author friend network over the last fifteen years coming to fruition. I’m not sure what all exactly is going to be coming my way, but… here I am.
Thank you to everyone who is reading this. You are all part of this journey and part of this experience, and I would not have it any other way. I appreciate you.
