#11 - It's The End Of The Year As We Know It
AKA "i rambled too much about my year so this newsletter has less sections than usual"
PROLOGUE
In a few short weeks, it will be 2023. Isn’t that wild? I know I usually start these off with a look at what I’ve been reading/watching/listening to over the last month, but as this year comes to a close I haven’t been able to focus.
Currently, I am reading Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong, GolemWIP by Maddie Martinez, A Crown of Ivy and Glass by Claire Legrand, A Song of Silver and Gold by Melissa Karibian, and DeadBible by Ashia Monet. I just watched The Spy Who Dumped Me, the first four episodes of Our Flag Means Death, and even more of The Nanny, my ultimate comfort show. I’m listening to Taylor Swift’s Midnights (3am Edition) and every Christmas playlist.
It’s a lot. It’s too much to fit in my cute little graphic. But I’m off deadline, preparing for the turn of another calendar year, and bouncing off the walls. So let’s get into it!
CHAPTER 1: 2022 IN REVIEW
The great thing about having a newsletter is that I can look back and see the different states of mind I was in as the year went on, which is great because I tweet way too much for someone with a goldfish memory.
I started this newsletter in February 2022 after taking a Twitter poll. As someone subscribed to basically every writer’s newsletter, it’s a wonder it took me so long to start my own. I guess I assumed no one was actually interested in my rambles… and hundreds of you have proven me wrong over the course of this year. That’s such a blessing, and I thank each and every one of you who allow me into your inboxes month after month.
In April 2022, just after my 32nd birthday, I sold my book to Little Brown Young Readers. I’d been on sub since 2021, and I was both trying to have hope that this would be The One and to not put all my eggs in one basket because many, many books die on submission. There had been rejections and silence, silence and rejections. I was considering talking to my agent about going out with my Sleepy Hollow retelling next, and I had written another book, which I pitched as “Black Captain Swan” romantasy, that I was considering asking about as well. When Emily called to say that someone had made an offer, I thought she was messing with me.
In June 2022, we announced the deal, there was so much support and celebration from the community that I wanted to cry. We did it, Joe! There have been a lot of whirlwind moments since then, many of which I can’t talk about yet, but suffice to say that I have seen my cover sketch and AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
In September 2022, I went to National Book Festival in Washington, DC, AKA my first author festival — as my friend’s plus one, rather than as an author on any panels, but still. It was such a fun experience, where I met authors I greatly admire, made friends with authors I now can’t imagine my life without, and supported authors I already consider dear friends. I’d love to return to National Book Festival on a panel one day; I came back to the hotel room and added it to my list of author dreams, so much did I admire the run of the show, the kindness of the people, the moderation of the crowds, and the absolute passion for books.
In November 2022, So Let Them Burn was mentioned in a BuzzFeed list and I lost my goddamn mind. Please add my book on Goodreads. Apparently, it’s good for fans who loved House of the Dragon, mwa ha ha.
This was also the year I increased the dosage of my anxiety meds because my entire body was so awash with nerves and stress every night that I couldn’t sleep. This was the year I cried myself to sleep after attending YALLFEST because my brain had, for some reason, convinced me that no one liked me. This was the year I switched jobs because I was struggling financially that love was no longer enough to sustain me at my old job. This was the year I was so down on my own writing — before AND after my book deal — that I considered quitting this career no less than twenty times. This was the year I went to urgent care twice, hurt and was hurt by people I cared about, and had to learn had lessons about friendship.
It’s easy to put together a highlight reel of twelve months, but the highlights are never the whole truth. I am a person who prefers to focus on the positives, and I had a lot of big positives this year. But there were a lot of low points as well, things that broke me and things that made me appreciate those positives more.
As we prepare to enter another year, I hope that you all remember to take care of yourselves, to avoid comparing yourself and your journey to others, and to celebrate the good times while also making space to dwell over the bad times. Your emotions are valid. It’s how you handle them that defines who you are.
CHAPTER 2: THE REC ROOM
Welcome to the Rec Room, the section of my newsletter that I use to highlight books coming out each month I’m really excited about. For December, we have…
A MILLION TO ONE by Adiba Jaigirdar
Josefa is a charismatic thief, who has her eye on her biggest mark yet — the RMS Titanic. But she's out for the ultimate prize: the Rubiyat, a one of a kind book encrusted with gems that's worth millions. Josefa can't score it alone, so she enlists a team of girls with unique talents. But careless mistakes, old grudges, and new romance threaten to jeopardize everything they've worked for and put them in incredible danger when tragedy strikes.
THIS CURSED CROWN by Alexandra Overy
In this sequel to THESE FEATHERED FLAMES, Izaveta must find her way back to the Tóurensi palace and claim the throne, while Asya enlists Nikov's help to prove Izaveta is still alive, even as she finds herself forced to navigate the political world to save her queendom, her loved ones, and herself. But as the sisters work independently to reunite, a dangerous force lies in wait, trying to regain power in order to overthrow the monarchy.
CHAPTER 3: LOOK AT MY CAT!!!
As you may know, I adopted a shelter cat in December 2021, who I named Sora Mittens. (In fact, Sora and I celebrated our first anniversary together a week or so ago.) Because she is the love of my life, Sora and I often take naps together, and I captured this picture of her under the blanket like a person because LOOK HOW CUTE.
EPILOGUE
Thank you for subscribing and/or for sticking around! I hope you like rambles, shenanigans, and nonsense, because that’s truly all this is. We’ll return to our regularly scheduled sections and recommendations in 2023, but, until then, stay safe, spread love, protect your peace, and find your joy. See you next year!
super excited for so let them burn!!! but also....... Black Captain Swan? sign me up bestie