It's getting spooky around here!
Kicking off Q4 with wedding anniversaries, 2026 planning, and a vampire novel under my belt!
October 2025
Hey Friend!
Welcome to Fall Babes! I like summer a lot because I love getting sun on my skin but the Fall is my favorite season. It’s one of many reasons my wedding anniversary is in October (4 years this year!!!! How did that happen?).
October is also the start of my favorite part of the year, 4th quarter planning!! If you weren’t sure I was a virgo I bet you’re sure now huh?
Truly, though, I just purchased my 2026 calendar (it’s been a Passion Planner for years), and I’m starting to think about what I want to accomplish for the new year. I’ll make a big, long list of things I think could be my goals for the year, and then I’ll whittle them down based on how things went this year and how much I want to push myself in the new year. I love setting goals and making plans for reaching them. Especially with a nice latte in a big sweatshirt. It’s a vibe and I love it.
Also, also! I just got back from a Virgin Voyages Cruise and I have to recommend it. Hard. It was a great time. We laughed, we drank, we danced and sang. If you’re interested you can use my referral link to book. Want to see some pics from the vacay? Check out my instagram!
Special Request
I’m still looking for your feedback my friend! Thanks to those who did it already. Here is a feedback form to better understand what’s working and what’s not about the newsletter. Should just take a few minutes and I’ll appreciate you more than you know!
Finished my vampire novel! Yay! Is it the most incredible thing ever written? No. Is it done, which means it can be edited? Yes! That’s what matters, friends. When you find yourself getting stuck on the language on the first draft (or maybe even the second), remember that done is the point at this stage. Because something that’s finished can be edited, something that’s finished…is all potential and no substance. It doesn’t have to be perfect the first time or the second or the third. To be honest it will never be perfect. But it can be good and it can be great. Perfect is impossible.
Also, look at some of the not-so-great books that get published (I’m not naming names). You can always find something that your writing is better than. Your work won’t be perfect, but it will be complete, and your beta reader can help make it better, but only once it’s done.
You’ll notice I changed the goals for 2025 to just write one novel. As I told you last month, I’ve decided to spend this last month of the year focused on WSMS and getting it ready to go out and be queried in the hopes of getting an agent. In an ideal world, when this quarter ends, I’ll be ready to sub. Will that actually be the case? Who can say but that’s my plan for this month, to focus on developmental edits and adding words. Then in November, I’ll focus on line edits and tightening everything up and making it beautiful.
Goals Review:
Write Shorts/Novelettes: 5/5 ✅
Write novels: 1/1 ✅
Edit shorts/Novelettes: 5/5 ✅
Edit Novel: 1/1 ✅
Beta Novel: 1/1 ✅
I had a fantastic time at Flights of Foundry this year! Here’s a list of the panels/chats I had.
Creating Community (will eventually be released by F.o.F but will be a while)
What’s Great in Fantasy Right Now? (this won’t be released but was a great conversation!)
Friends of FIYAH Meet and Greet (no release)
Chill-n-Chat: Eboni Dunbar(no release)
No plans for the remainder of the year! I’m staying open to opportunities, but I also met my goal for doing events this year, so I’m feeling pretty good. I’m starting to get focused on 2026 planning.
Reading
 | I haven’t read a tone of Annalee’s work but I loved this. Automatic Noodle follows four robots who discover they’ve been left behind a future (near future? Maybe) San Francisco. Rather than giving up and waiting to be repossessed they decide their going to do what they’ve always wanted: run a successful noodle shop. Together these robots discover the truth about themselves and each other. This was sweet and sad and heartwarming. Really beautiful and short novella. I listened to this by the pool in the sun on vacation and it was perfect. |
 | I have to say I’m wondering how readers who don’t know anything about the “Hell’s Belles” tiktok series react to this novel. It’s a charming romantasy (quite chonky and detailed). As a long time watcher of the series, I really enjoyed getting to see Lily’s growth to become the character we know and love in the tiktok series but I did wonder if I didn’t know these characters, would i be as enthralled? Either way I think you should read it and tell me what you thought! |
 | I was on vacation this past month so really leaned into my romance bag. This was a very sexy mafia romance. I don’t have a ton to say about it other than it was perfect for sitting on a hammock and listening to the waves. |
Are you on StoryGraph? That’s where I’m doing all my tracking. Come find me.
Looking for a new audiobook platform that’s not going to support B*zos? Check out Libro.fm (this is a referral link).
Watching
I’ll be honest, I’ve been down a YouTube hole and watching a ton of YouTube videos and of course, housewives! The only thing I will offer you is that Real Housewives of Salt Lake City has begun, and you NEED to get into it.
Listening
It’s finally fall and you know what that means, time for my fall playlist. You’ll notice it gets bigger as time goes on so keep coming back to enjoy over and over again!
