December 2024
Thoughts on surviving debut year, and looking ahead to 2025!
Hello, my dears. 2024 is coming to a close, and with it, my debut year. And what a year it’s been! I posted this to my instagram earlier this month, and I think it sums up my year pretty well:
You might not know from looking at this, but 2024 was a year of incredible highs (my dream of traditional publishing came true!) and incredible lows (the losses of my grandfather and great-grandmother after the nonstop losses and upheaval of 2023).
I wrote and revised my first book under contract in under nine months while working full-time and promoting A Deadly Endeavor. I celebrated my first foreign sale and earning out my advance. I cried, a lot. I read some incredible books and had adventures in Puerto Rico and adopted a dog who everyone told me to return after he ate our sofa, but has turned out to be almost a good (but anxious) boy (he’s trying).
I started three new projects and decided to rewrite an old one. I learned not to read reviews. I received incredible messages from readers (THANK YOU!).
I wrote. I read. I loved. I survived. And I’m looking forward to 2025!
Speaking of 2025…I have plans for this newsletter, thanks to your poll responses. More on that in a bit.
Word of the year: thrive.
Every year, I pick a word to see me through. In 2024, my word was breathe. In 2023, it was bloom. And now? In 2025? It’s to thrive.
This is the year I’m releasing my sophomore novel. I currently have no books under contract, which could be a scary thing, if I let it be. But I’m choosing to think of it as a gift—I get to spend this time reading, recharging, and writing what brings me joy.
Right now, I’m rewriting the book of my heart into an adult romantasy, while outlining future Edie and Gil adventures (and hoping that I’ll get to continue writing their story, which I can only do if we sell books! Remember to pre-order A POISONOUS SILENCE here (or a signed copy via One More Page), and I’d love it if you can leave reviews of A DEADLY ENDEAVOR on Goodreads, Storygraph, or wherever else you review books!).
What are your plans for 2025? Do you pick a word to guide your year? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you.
2025 Plans for Book(ish)
I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want this space to be. Years ago (over a decade ago at this point!) I helped to run a writing blog called The Great Noveling Adventure. It was born from a place of wanting to capture and create community, and share our journeys towards publication. It petered out somewhere around 2015-16, but I think about it often. I learned so much, and made some many great connections. I don’t think I have the time or energy to recreate that magic, but I do have this tiny platform, and I’d love to use it to share knowledge, advice, and thoughts on a writing life. So. Moving forward, I’ll be sharing my own thoughts, but I’ll also be regularly featuring others.
A Word from the 2024 Debuts
Our debut year is finally over, but we’re not going anywhere. I’ll spend this year featuring my fellow 2024 debut authors, and share our reflections on debuting, advice on navigating a life in publishing, and what we’re doing next.
Guest Posts
I’ll also be featuring posts from other authors, interviews, and cover reveals/book releases. I will primarily be focusing on authors of YA and Adult mystery, fantasy, and romance, and thanks to my friends in the Guppies and the 2024ever debut group, I have a great lineup ready to go. If you’d like to be featured, please fill out this form and I’ll be in touch!
Writing Advice from yours truly.
I’ll also be sharing my own advice. I’ve been writing seriously for nearly 15 years (?!!!!!) and I’ve learned a thing or two along the way. Have a question you’d like me to answer? Need advice, or encouragement? Send me a note, and I’ll try to tackle it in an upcoming newsletter.
What I’ve been…
Reading: Glitter in the Dark by Olesya Lyuzna: this debut (coming April 1!!) is amazing so far, and I’m looking forward to finishing it over winter break. I’ve also been re-reading the Ravenels Series by Lisa Kleypas, and just started The Secret of Three Fates by Jess Armstrong (which is the sequel to the INCREDIBLE Curse of Penryth Hall).1
See all of my monthly book picks on my Bookshop.Org page »
Writing: I’m in the thick of drafting an adult romantasy that is turning out to be SO MUCH FUN. I hope I’ll get to share more about it one day!
Watching: All Creatures Great and Small. Eric and I are really getting our money’s worth from our PBS Passport subscription!
That’s all I have for you this month. See you in 2025, friends!
Note that these are any links to Bookshop.Org are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commision if you choose to purchase after clicking!