Closing Time
The Long Haul
I have the 1998 song “Closing Time” by Semisonic in my head, and it feels fitting with 2024 coming to a close. 2024 was filled with the full spectrum of emotions, as I am sure is the case for many.
Joy: my debut novella published in September, my kids continue to grow to be amazing and curious little humans, we got a new puppy in October, her name is Gina, and our senior dog Eleanor has been incredibly patient with all of us.
Fear/Rage/Grief: all of which encompass the unknown ahead of us and the world as we know it. I am trying to fight the growing feeling of hopelessness. This is where rage becomes a balm. We should not obey in advance.
My goal for 2025 is to be more present, less doom-scrolling/social media, and be kinder to myself. In the depths of anxiety spirals, I have been incredibly and downright mean to myself. I’ve been so afraid of failing that I won’t move forward. My latest WIP awaits, and I miss it, I want to write it, but there’s such fear and the underlying guilt that I should be doing other things (work, parenting, cleaning, etc.) rather than indulge my craft. I have lost a lot of joy lately because of this, but I’m crawling my way back. I love uplifting and spotlighting others, though I often feel I have nothing great to offer.
I want to be more confident in myself. To embrace joy, in spite of it all.
The Short Haul
To start, I recently posted my Favorite Reads of 2024 on my website, in which I fangirl over my favorite books and short stories. I plan to keep adding to this over the next month. I just added All the Hearts You Eat by Hailey Piper, which I read over Thanksgiving break. I did a lot of book reading, and Piper’s book is such a triumph of horror. Vital and haunting.
Don’t forget about the stories publishing in November and December issues! It’s hard with the holidays, I know, but give love when you can! If you have a story that published/will be published in November or December, respond to this email and I’ll add it to my TBR!
A couple of weeks ago, I quietly published my own eligibility post. Hopefully, by the time this email goes out, I’ll have at least shared it on Bluesky and other socials. I’m immensely grateful to have published a novella, a novelette, and five short stories/flash in 2024. One such story, “She Builds Quick Machines” was featured on LeVar Burton Reads this past Spring. I’m grateful for your consideration during this nomination season, but of course and as always, vote for what you love.
And now, finally, some short story recs for you:
“Snare” by Seán Padraic Birnie in hex literary. A quiet, unsettling story. I live for flash stories like this. Listen to those who hear knocks on doors.
“On the Water Its Crystal Teeth” by Marissa Lingen in Uncanny Magazine. This is from Uncanny’s Nov/Dec 2024 issue, and wow, what a breathtaking, heart wrenching story. On love and loss, and allowing those who love us to come back in their own time.
“When the Tide Comes In” by Annika Barranti Klein in Small Wonders. A beautiful story about dating the moon, and when the sun gets involved. Klein’s ability to balance an immeasurable depth of emotion and humor is one my favorite things about her writing.
“Hands Like Gold and Starlight” by K.S. Walker in Uncanny Magazine. This story published in the May/June 2024 issue, and it is a heartsong of a summer story. Glorious and sad. If you’re wallowing in seasonal depression, this love story, with all its yearning on the beach, will do your soul good.
Happy New Year
That’s all for now. I’ll have a new Book Riot article forthcoming soon about genre defying science fiction tales. Stay tuned!
Take care of yourselves. I hope your have a safe and fulfilling new year. Be kind to yourselves.