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

December 2024

Hey subscriber.first_name | strip | default: "there",

Thanks for being here! The past month has been a roller coaster of emotions as I think it has been for many of us. I'm going to talk about the hard thing and then I want to close this session with good news because ya know, there will be some good things in this next four years even though it will also be hard.

So the election. I was a little shocked in the moment, feeling a bit like i felt in 2016: so hopeful and optimistic about the first woman president. This time the first woman of color president. And waking up Wednesday morning (because I didn't want to watch Tuesday) to what was for me devastating news about who won the election was really hard. As a Queer Black Woman, so much of who the President-Elect is targeting in his words and plans is me and my communities. While I'm incredibly privileged in many ways I am very scared about what the next four years will do for my family and my community. I'm thinking a lot about the kids who will be hurt by what will happen. The people with vaginas. Black and brown people. Thinking about it right now is making me cry. There are moments where what I can do feels so small. And then there are the moments when I remember that even my small actions might have big implications for a few people. Honestly one person finding solace or safety or whatever else they need from something i have done is a big win. So I'm going to keep writing happy brown queers who find safety with their friends and family and who battle evil regimes. And I'm going to get involved in local and national organizations who will support my people the next four years. Cause that's what I can do. I hope you'll find a way to do what you can too.

Ok, wiping away those tears and replacing them with happy ones. Last week, to give folks a little light in the dark, the IGNYTE Awards announced the winners of the awards.

My dear friend, I won!

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You may remember that I thought there was no way I could win. the category was stacked with such incredible writers I thought I had no chance. But some how, unimaginably. I won. And I owe that win to those of you who voted. Those of you who read the work and remembered it.

Winning awards isn't why I write but it does make it feel like I'm not writing in a vacuum. So thank you for reading, for signing up for my newsletter. For sticking with me. More words are coming just wait.

(hope you felt that was sufficient brightness after that dark, just imagine me crying with joy like sally field and screaming to my wife "They like me! They really like me)

I told you last month that I was going to start a new novel this month! I'm doing it. It's happening lol. I decided on day two that I could not keep up with the pace of writing 1667 words per day to get to 50,000 words. So instead I'm shooting for 40,000 this month or 1333 words per day and 40,000 next month or 1481 words per day (I'm doing less days since I'm shooting to not write on vacation). And I managed to write 40,688. Looking forward to continuing the work in December. As I said before, I'm going to write as much as I can this month and take a couple days off for my Christmas holiday in Vegas with my wife. I'm even considering leaving the laptop at home but maybe not lol.

I thought it might be fun to give you a sense of the vibe in the book in gifs because I love gifs (as any good millennial does) and I had fun looking for gifs. Sue me.

That's probably enough. Somewhere some one is side-eyeing these things and trying to figure out how they fit together and well, me too. Me too.

I had an amazing time at the Neon Hemlock Reading on the 20th! Did you miss it? No worries, you can watch the play back on the Neon Hemlock IG at any time!

I don't have anything major coming up for December, it's a restful month theoretically. BUT 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!

I'll be honest with you friends, Freya Marske's Last Binding Series was one of my favorite series over the last couple of years. Queer characters who have happy endings is my jam. Swordcrossed is no different. I really enjoyed the growing tension in Matti and Luca's relationship and the little hints of kink make me very happy. It also has great worldbuilding and an awesome fantasy setting. A great read if you like a little espionage, romance and just a bit of angst.

I bought this audiobook on a whim. It was on sale at Libro.fm (Are you still using audible? Don't do that babe, get yourself an audiobook membership that supports local bookstores). Just to say, I didn't expect much. I REALLY ENJOYED THIS. This is a friends to lovers story with what I would call almost no angst (there is some stuff that happens but not in the relationship). Football player finally tries to get with his plus size librarian bestie and sexy times ensue. A great escape.

Technically I finished this book down to the wire in October but didn't get it into the newsletter. So let me say that I really enjoyed this close the Indian Lake Trilogy. We've followed Jade from traumatized, suicidal teen to her final form of Final Girl. This wasn't my favorite book of the trilogy but it really hit me hard in the feels. I discussed with my local horror book club and really appreciated the themes across all the books. If you haven't read the trilogy you should, you get a lot of slashers (and SGJ obsession) but also many other kinds of villains. Also, trigger warnings for sexual abuse of children which is a theme through all the books.

I never thought I'd like a series where Eddie Redmayne plays a conflicted assassin (I'm sorry he has soft boy energy it's one of the things I like about him) but I am here for Lashana Lynch as an MI6 agent who wants to catch him. Both performances are VERY VERY GOOD. I mean I want whatever the biggest award is I can get for them. If you like James Bond or just movies with badass Black women as the lead then this is for you.

By now, you should know that I love housewives. I literally watch them all. But some I enjoy more than others, Beverly Hills is one of those. I'm very excited for the arrival of Bozoma Saint John who is quite frankly the baddest bitch, check the resume. I just love the opulence of this show and I'm very excited to see wealthy Black women being baddies.

I have a confession. Any one who has spent too long with me in person knows that I love to belt the songs from the Wicked Musical. I must confess that i have never actually seen the stage show. And while I started it, I never finished the book. Don't throw things at me I know! So I was beyond excited to watch Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande play the iconic characters. I was not disappointed. Despite knowing all the songs there was just something so special about actually seeing it and Cynthia Erivo as a black woman behind the green brought a whole new view to the lessons for me. It was amazing.

Holiday 2024 • sugoionna09 All I Want for Christmas Is... PREVIEW   ​

Did you like the playlist thing from last month? Well its back! This is my holiday mix for this year. Its got old favorites and new music because I love the holiday season and there is nothing like music to set the tone.

2025 Goals

Remember last month when I told you I was goal setting this month? Well I finished it. So below please find photos of my goals set up in my planner. Do not make fun of my handwriting. I already know! Questions? Let me know, I'm always happy to talk goals!

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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!