When I say this year was my year…I might have just author-bossed too damn hard. LOL. — Or maybe, not hard enough LOL.

Alright, self. Time to answer those aching questions from last year. If you want to know what I’m talking about, please see the blog post here: 2025 Vision to Reality II

Let’s start with affirmations:

I will win an award.

This did come true! When Blood Meets Earth won a 2025 Indie Award in the category Best in Urban Fantasy. I was cheesing from ear to ear and so excited to receive that much support and that many votes. I believe I was nominated in three categories. Overall? Accomplished.

I will release an audiobook.

I did!!! When Blood Meets Earth is now available on Audible, and the narrator is amazing!!!

I will complete the first draft of When Fire Meets Fire.

Nah. LOL. However, I did complete the full outline for not only book two, but book three as well. Now it’s time to actually write.

I will submit to at least five literary magazines.

I submitted to twenty-five literary magazines and have been officially accepted into ten. Those are good numbers.

I will complete every story I start, even if it’s just a draft.

Yes and no. Mostly yes. I think I only started two stories I haven’t finished, and both of those were in the last month. I didn’t complete them because I was completely burned out after writing a 60k novel out of nowhere. LOL. And since I technically have thirty more days left in the year, maybe I’ll still finish them. We’ll see.

When it comes to my reading challenge, I learned the art of the DNF. This was hard because I honestly believe every book deserves a fair read-through. I know how difficult it is for authors to even produce a book. There’s gotta be something good in there, right?

But I told myself I was done wasting time reading books that felt like my eyes were chewing sand. I started focusing only on books I truly enjoyed—and surprisingly, that turned out to be a lot of horror. I think I’ve read almost the same number of horror books as fantasy this year. Hold on, let me check—because I could be lying. BRB.

Okay, I’m back. As of December 1st, I’ve read 155 books:

64 Fantasy

45 Horror

The rest are YA, Sci-Fi, and my least-read genre—Romance.

Pretty cool. Not only did I realize how much I love fantasy and horror, but I also discovered that when those two genres are combined? Instant five-star reads.

Did 2025 bring new opportunities? Heck yeah it did!!!!

One of my short stories was accepted into FIYAH Lit Mag, which is a huge accomplishment for me. I also volunteer with WisCon and am currently the marketing chair. I had the pleasure of being a slush pile reader for Graveside Press this year, though it’s my last year with them. I’d love to do slush reading again for another press or lit mag, so I’m keeping my eyes open for that in 2026.

Oh—and Locus Magazine reviewed my short story! Yay! They called it “Powerful.” Tee-hee.

Now for the spitfire questions (just in case I forgot something):

Did we submit to at least five literary magazines?

Yes.

Did we complete the first draft of When Fire Meets Fire?

Nope—but we completed outlines for the second and third books.

Did we finish at least one novella?

Yes! And an excerpt of that novella will be featured in a charity anthology coming out in February. Once I finish updating it, it’ll be a full novel, probably around 65k.

Did we complete at least seven short stories?

Yes. I think I finished around fifteen if you include flash fiction and poetry.

Did we attend live events?

Not in person—unless online events count. Because whew, we did a lot of those. Workshops, classes, critique groups, all of it. We also got pneumonia after trying to go back outside. Then got sick again. Now we’re dealing with heart issues related to pneumonia. So yeah…outside is cancelled for now.

Did we make new connections?

Absolutely. From authors to artists to readers. We’re even meeting every two weeks with the Queen of Horror and her husband, learning by doing and discussing. It’s been amazing.

Did we finish our audiobook?

We did!!!!!

Were we consistent on social media?

WE WERE!!!!!

Did we keep our website up to date?

Nailed it hard. We even launched a Substack and maintained that successfully, too.

Did we tell our friends we love them?

Almost every time we talk to them. That matters to us.

Did we tell ourselves we love us?

Yes. Many times. I had to remind myself to rest, hydrate, bathe, forgive myself, stop talking down on myself, breathe, laugh, and live. I think this year we truly mothered ourselves—transitioning from scared little girl, to rebellious teen, to disciplined adult who also knows when to sit the hell down. We also lost 60 pounds this year. So yeah—we loved us. And we’re going to love us even harder going forward.

Did we win any awards?

Yes! The 2025 Indie Literary Award for Best in Urban Fantasy for When Blood Meets Earth.

We did good this year.

Next year, we’re slowing down. Focusing on four books—maybe a few short stories—and that’s it. The rest will come later when we set goals for 2026.

See you soon, self.

I’m proud of you. 🖤

Also, check out my novels: Supersized Bubblegum and When Blood Meets Earth. Until next time, keep writing!

2025 Response to Vision to Reality II