And just like that, 2026 is on deck! I have a lot of modest plans for the new year that boil down to “move slow and build things,” but more on that in this month’s long-form newsletter. For now, a bit of news and related teaser, some items of interest, and of course, a cat picture.

Big news first: my story collection, Something in the Trees, is on the longlist for the Santa Fe Writers Project 2025 awards season! I was very startled to receive this information, as I’ve sent this book all over creation and was beginning to doubt its worth. Regardless of the shortlist and eventual winning book, I’m proud of these stories and pleased to have them in the same room as an author as accomplished as Deesha Philyaw, this year’s SWFP judge. If you haven’t read The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, I highly recommend.

I’m also squeaking over the finish line with one more story acceptance for this year. I’ll have a piece in the March 2026 issue of Bloodletter, which I’m excited about! You may recall that my Profane Sorcery story “Many Hands” features a snake cult; well, I was so obsessed with this snake cult I decided to rewrite that story from the cult’s perspective. I say cult rather than cultist because the story is in first-person plural, one of my favorite perspectives to write from. It also uses grammar that is, shall we say, experimental. All in all, it turned out very differently from its seed story, and I had fun writing it. I appreciate Bloodletter giving it a home!

• been making my way through this absorptive thesis on gender and labor roles in the Spanish missions of colonial Florida, because naturally.

• The Quietus asserts one of my core beliefs: it’s good for your mental and physical health to occasionally listen to music so heavy it’ll reconfigure your guts. What’s the heaviest band you’ve ever seen live?

• one of my favorite zinesters, Freya Greenwood, had a couple of new zines out in late November. I especially resonated with Without Shame.

• I recapped 2025 in writing and turns out this year was busier than I remember. may 2026 be equally as busy but in a totally different way!