Welcome to my monthly newsletter! I'm so happy that you're here.

January 2025

Happy New Year subscriber.first_name | strip | default: "there",

We've crossed the threshold into a new year and I am both excited to do the work in this new year and sad to lose the time of rest that end of the year brings. I hope you had a safe and happy holiday season and that you are feeling inspired with the energy of fireworks and kisses as we enter the new year.

I'm probably not the right person to advocate for this (you all have seen my other newsletters, I do the absolute most sometimes) but I do also want you to take this time to use that inspiration to rest and dream. We're firmly in the winter season and I think it would be a good idea to climb into your bed (or someone else's I don't judge) and spend some time dreaming about what you want to achieve this next year rather than striving. If you have the energy to do more, do more but honor the part of you that might not be ready to be ripping and running yet.

Perhaps this is the old lady in me, bowing to the old person in you and saying, I see you. Rest is perfectly acceptable way to usher in the year. You don't need to get in the gym or write a 100,000 words yet or whatever else is on your mind. That's what's on my mind at the moment. Sending you restful energy.

I wrote my 80k Words! Did I finish the book? Well...That took another 2,632 but whose counting? Which as you might guess means I didn't take that rest I intended but that's ok, It's done and the new year brings new things!

I'm hoping to manage two actually "short" short stories in January this year and to edit something I wrote last year and got lovely beta notes on. Thank you, friend who read it. You're the best. Does this mean I'll be pretty busy this month? Absolutely. But if I pack the first part of the year it should give me a little more rest later on and my wife and I have big plans for this year where I really do want to be able to unplug and just hang together. So in absolutely the polar opposite of my message at the beginning of this note, it's back to work for me. At least I won't have to keep my word count up so high.

I'm also so excited! My lovely writing friend and I are doing a mini writing retreat in the woods this month that I'm so excited about. A little dedicated writing and hang out time sound amazing. I'm always jealous when I see other people doing these kinds of trips and now I get to be part of one. Can't wait!

I'm adding a new section here which is about my yearly writing goals. As i look at them now I'm laughing because they feel pretty damn ambitious to me given my day job and the times I know I want to take off for rest this year, not to mention when grief/depression/sadness come to collect me and knock me off my feet unexpectedly. But this is the joy of setting ambitious goals right, reaching for the stars means you can get pretty close without actually reaching them and still feel good about it. Right? That's how that saying goes? We'll see. And hey sharing with you means I'm more likely to be accountable to them, so that's a good thing. If you want to share yours with me. Feel free to reply to this email. I'd love to know what you're working on!

Goals Review:

• Write Shorts/Novelettes: 0/5
• Write novels: 0/2
• Edit shorts/Novelettes: 0/5
• Edit Novel: 0/1
• Beta Novel: 0/1

I sent you all a last minute note about my panel at A Seat At The Table last month and I have to tell you it was so amazing! I got to meet three other incredible writers and talk about using fantasy as a way to speak truth to power. Hopeful that this will also let me add some other writers to my community which is an amazing benefit of doing these kinds of events. Also I was absolutely fangirling at getting to be on a panel with Analeigh Sbrana. Anyways it was awesome and I'm sorry you couldn't come! Hoping to do more events with A Seat At the Table so keep your eyes peeled (what does this phrase mean? No don't tell me I'll probably hate it).

I am very excited to have another panel coming up so soon! I will be at the 2025 Virtual Eaton Symposium on January 8 from 9-5PM PST! I'll be at the 2:30PM session Science Fiction and/in California. The Symposium is totally free and you can register here! Hopefully you can join for even a part of the day.

The final book in the series and I am so sad to see it go! Roanhorse has done some incredible worldbuilding in this series. The relationships are interesting and a little slow burn so if that's your jam you'll enjoy this. I'm sorry that the series has ended but it was enjoyable ride to be on.

This was a more historical fantasy chronicling the story of a young blacksmith who rises to become the betrothed of a King and her experience understanding her new home and life. There is a little bit of magic and a visit from the gods but it really feels more historical than fantastical. And it's still a good ride.

I finished this book this month so that I could know more about my fellow panelist. This was a great slow burn as well (not generally my jam but a nice read none-the-less). I really enjoyed the fae clans and the magic. I can't wait to read the second book in the duology coming out next July.

I saw this one with a new friend and we had a great time trying to decide who was Moana's queer love interest and being disappointed when it turned out that they weren't. Still it was a fun time, though I didn't leave singing the songs the way I did in the first. Still if you have littles or need something easy to watch, this could be a good time.

Ok this was great! Follow two Morman missionaries into a great debate about what exactly is the nature of religion and faith. And all done in a creepy backdrop with a very creepy Hugh Grant. My wife and I stopped after a few moments to discuss Hugh's arguments and our understanding of religion. The ending I didn't love as much as the rest of the film but I still recommend this movie.

If you watched the first Smile you know the premise: A spirit (or something) torments you until you're so wracked with despair, depression and anguish that it finally destroys you. The second movie is just not good if not better. All about the nature of fame and guilt. It's just really good. And those last moments of the film...so good.

I haven't yet created my winter playlist but I have been listening to my Fall list as I finished up my December writing goals. I've added to it (Yes I did see Wicked, how did you know?). Hoping you enjoy it too.

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Fall 2024 • sugoionna09 Who’s in Charge • Tank and T... PREVIEW   ​

Thanks for all the fun Las Vegas!

The wife and I did a little traveling for Christmas and while we discovered that the strip is way too overstimulating for us we did have a great time especially exploring all the amazing indie bookstores. I'm sure I missed a few but where I did manage to get to was amazing. Enjoy some photos from the trip.

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Thanks so much for joining me on this ride! I look forward to being together again next month with new updates and other fun things. Stay tuned friends! Bye for now!