So Long to the Year of Deaths

I was thrilled to see two of my novels, Carni and Final Dress, included in two of my favorite BookTubers’ Best Books of the Year videos! What a lovely gift after a year of more than usual personal tragedies. A year ago, after I’d heard the awful news that one of my best friends had died, I wrote in my diary, “I think this will be the year of deaths.” I had no idea how prophetic those words would turn out to be. By the end of 2024, I had lost two aunts, my mother-in-law, my mother, and my beloved dog Lilly. On top of that, my older brother nearly died from a sudden illness. While I’m relieved to say he’s recovering, it was yet another heartbreaking challenge in a year marked by tragedy. To add to the misery, a few days after Lilly passed, I crashed my bike in a freak accident involving a swat from the Witch’s Wind of November, and broke my collarbone. Weeks of pain rolled into the holiday season which felt more forced than usual, although of course highlights with friends and family ensued.

I’ve always said my favorite holiday ritual is dragging the Christmas tree to the curb. It might sound cynical, but to me, it symbolizes a fresh start. Once the tinsel is gone, I feel like I can begin again with a clean slate. Now, with my broken bone healing and much of the physical and emotional pain behind me, I find myself reflecting on what truly matters. I also took a hard look at my writing, adding up the credits and debits, and came to the painful but honest realization that, for now, it’s amounted to little more than an expensive hobby. But that’s okay. Painful truths are good for the soul. As I move into this year, I’ll continue to write, but I’m releasing the pressure to make a living from it. If one of my books takes off, great. If not, that’s fine too.

I think having a goal of writing and releasing at least one novel a year is a doable goal. In the meantime, I have several files filled with completed or started writing projects. After vacillating about what to do with my first foray into fantasy (a so far two-book series called Starlight Over Oran), I decided to publish it on RoyalRoad and see what kind of feedback it gets over there. I’ll never stop writing, but my expectations may need an adjustment. So, moving forward into a new year, I’m keeping an open mind and an open heart. If I survived 2024, I think I can survive just about anything.

Do check out Lydia’s and Jason’s videos below. They’re both excellent sources for horror lit. Happy New Year!