Happy New Year, dear kind reader,

I hope the holidays have treated you kindly. As I try to get into 2025 with more hope, there were moments I had to take a stance and look at 2024 in its somewhat complicated shape. Let’s say – It was a year filled with more lessons and things to possibly heal from. And therefore I hope 2025 offers more friendlier waters and a bit less of rough seas.

The Life of a Bookseller

If I try to find words for all the things which went on at the end of the year, I’d say „It’s a LOT“ would somewhat not really feel like it hits the nail but it kind of still does. There were a lot of changes and… Well, it is more like I didn’t have a say in it and somehow simply ended up being in a different section of the bookshop. And the way it is with things being somewhat new to you: You have to get used to the stuff. And while I love my colleagues and the people around me – I am not fond of changes. Actually, I might straight out hate them. At least if those are heavy changes because they make you feel like control has been robbed of your hands.
I somewhat got used to this newness now. That we’re finally coming into a calmer season because my body hurts and my mind is still not fully mended yet after redoing so many bookshelves over and over again at work.
On a kinder and more hopeful note – I redid most of my private book shelves! Well, a bit was because my own characters frustrated me while writing but also because … maybe my soul needed that? A bit of a shoutout to my best friend for helping me with it, be it by spending time with me or even dusting off some of my shelves and handing me the books when my knees didn’t want to move for a bit.

The Never-Stopping Typewriter

On a more positive side: Fear Is A Wretched Thing is building up nicely despite the previously mentioned issues. I’ve recently revealed the working title and for now, it just feels fitting to this story. As we’re at the point of a bit over 20k words, I thought, I would reveal another snippet of the first draft. Again – It may not stay the same but enjoy it nonetheless:

An excerpt of Chapter 10, for a small softer part, for a small little breath in between

For once, I am not going to censor the names of the two main characters. These two will receive a deeper introduction at some point but let me tell you, Maverick (he/him) and Kayden (they/them) have grown on me since I started this tale – a bit like a fungus or, I don’t know, roots of a tree. And they tend to grow on me even more. But with that comes also the chaos which they toss me in. For once, I would not say that they live inside my attic but more like that they’re residing on the porch, throwing pine cones at that little window hole when they demand attention. And listen, if I can tell you one thing, it is that they strike their goal, which is my face, most often than not. So, if I thought a certain musician in my adventure-ish fantasy trilogy would find a way to nag me, these two are just on par with them. Perhaps, it is time for me to slowly expend from the attic and rebuild the mental home of my characters into something bigger.

From The Reader’s Nook With A Hopeful List Of Things To Read

A new year comes with different opportunities and for that, well, it is not really a resolution I’ve set for myself. My reading approach for this year is more like finishing books I’ve started but soft dnf’ed (as in put aside because my mood switched for something else but I do want to continue/finish reading). Along to this, I have a set “hopeful TBR”. Those are titles I feel that they could fit my overall mood and will keep me intrigued. That are:

The Dark & Drowning Tide by Allison Saft : Something sapphic, something adventurous, something from Allison Saft’s typewriter because I love the way she creates magic in stories.
Where The Dark Stands Still by A. B. Poranek : If there is one thing, it is that I am never opposed to stories inspired by folklore and that I am never going to deny an offer to get lost in a fictional forest.
Graveyard Shift by M. L. Rio : I was and still am kind of obsessed with If We Were Villains and this new release by Rio just has me on the edge of my seat. Well, it is also a novella which could be nice if my mood wants to explore something short.
A Study In Drowning by Ava Reid : This year is the second instalment coming out and to prepare myself for that, I think it is time for me to finally venture into Ava Reid’s writing. (I am just also super curious.)
The Spellsho p by Sarah Beth Durst : After friends/colleagues at work told me of the cosiness in this story, I have set my mind on reading The Spellshop this year. It might be also a nice way to take a bit of pressure off my shoulder after cramming.
In These Hallowed Halls : I generally want to pick up more short story anthologies and this has been on my list for a little while now. Possibly also in regards of Rio’s new release, it is something short-ish and could motivate me to read in case I get closer to a bit of a reading slump.
One Dark Window (and maybe Two Twisted Crowns) by Rachel Gilling: There were so many people talking very positively over this duology and honestly, a girl with a demon inside her mind sounds something I’ve not encountered yet and honestly, finishing a short series would be a delightful thing to do this year.
So far, I am getting closer to the end of the first book (I’m at roughly the 50% mark) and watching these characters do what they do just has me blanket pulled over my feet and gripping my cup as I roam more and more over the pages, wanting to know more, experience so much more of this adventure. Luckily book 2 has only arrived a bit ago so that I can head straight into it once book 1 is done.

Titles I’d Like To Finish Throughout 2025

Forever’s Gonna Start TonightThe Starless SeaAll About LoveThe Sunshine CourtPaxWords UnwrittenDracula?

What I Have Read So Far

The Tea Dragon Society, K. O’Neil: This is wholesomeness dressed in a beautifully crafted graphic novel. It was a beautiful way to kick off the year and (patiently waiting for the parcel to arrive) hope to finish of the trilogy as soon as it is possible.
Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald: Honestly, I’ve never really read a retelling of how Hades and Persephone met but in my opinion, this is an incredible one. Kore, who becomes Persephone, is such a strong character and leaves quite an impression on you as a reader but also on Hades. The novel does incredibly well in showing not only the good-ish sides of godhood but also its unspeakable ugly sides.
The Haunting Between Us (e-ARC via Netgalley) by insert name: I seriously enjoyed this YA Horror. The way the characters just felt so alive, so vivid before my eyes and just how you can find yourself in the queerness of them is beautiful. It’s given me the right amount of goosebumps and chills.

Other Media Influencing The Flow Of Time

The Tearsmith (Film): To the end of 2024, I watched this film together with my mum and honestly, I’ve liked it. Well, so much that I got myself the book the film is based on. Now, I only have to wait for the mood to set so that I can devour it. The perfect music would be ready for it (it’s the film’s OST which is stunning).

Work It (Film): Another film, we watched was a different dance film, starring Sabrina Carpenter even. And it was fantastic! It makes me want to dance again.

EPIC (the musical by Jorge Rivera-Herrans): I am still not ready to accept that it done. That all the sagas are out and about to be listened to and the tale having found its end. EPIC is a highlight of last year to me and it will continue to be a delightful thing for me in the future. So, look forward to me trying to bring this one back up on my Spotify Wrap at the end of the year (again).

Music wise, I’ve Zara Larsson’s „Wow“ on loop. It’s got a really wonderful beat to freestyle to it. Otherwise, a couple of instrumental pieces like as the previously mentioned OST of The Tearsmith. A lot of VOILÀ’s and Chrissy Constanza’s tracks are ruling my go to playlist. Got a bit obsessed with Lola Young’s „Messy“, too. All in all, it is a wild mix as I’m still trying to figure out in what direction this month’s vibe goes.

Anyways, as it’s getting later and later to write, I think I’ll end this month’s little letter to you here. I hope your bed is warm, your cups filled with your favourite drink and we’ll be talking in February again (or a bit over on Instagram, who knows.)

Until then: Stay kind.

With love,

Skylar