I haven’t compiled all my annual writing stats since the year isn’t officially done yet, but maybe I’ll share some next month.  For now, I’m doing the thing where I try to take time to reflect back on my accomplishments for the year.  It’s easy to get swept up in the tide of rejections—trust me, I get plenty of those for every one acceptance.  Or to feel like I haven’t been productive enough or have stagnated creatively.  I got some sage advice from my mentor earlier this year that helped me reframe my thinking and recognize the myriad ways we can challenge ourselves in each new writing project.  And I’m always grateful for the insightful feedback I get from my most trusted critique partner and the community I get with my writing groups.  It’s important to celebrate the wins.  Sometimes when we take stock of them, they add up to more than we’d recall individually. 

Here are some stats I can share:  In 2024, I had 5 new short stories published, 17 new poems, and 3 new pieces of nonfiction. 

This past January, my first poetry chapbook came out (it was also my first standalone book).  I’m so grateful to the team at Sword & Kettle Press who helped me make The Inca Weaver’s Tales a reality! 

I’ve had a longtime goal to get invited into an anthology, and I was fortunate to get not one but two opportunities this year, almost back-to-back.  Both anthologies will hopefully come out next year.  One story is done and accepted, the other draft is chugging along. 

One highlight for me this year was being a guest lecturer for two classes at my alma mater, Santa Clara University.  The students asked such thoughtful, sharp, varied questions.  I remember those days as an undergraduate, how hungry I was to learn, to better myself and my writing as art.  I try to cling to that same hunger.  I hope those students do the same. 

I also spoke this year at StokerCon, the Willamette Writers Conference, and OryCon.  I was a guest on the podcast Pages on the Tongue (hosted by Michelle Murray), and I did readings for the online series Speculative Sundays (hosted by Akua Lezli Hope) and Story Hour (hosted by Daniel Marcus and Laura Blackwell).  My gratitude to all these hosts and organizers for supporting writers and helping us reach new audiences. 

Looking forward to 2025, one big thing on the horizon is my first ever novella.  I’m excited (and perhaps a little nervous?) to start on edits with the team at Of Metal and Magic Publishing.  We’re hoping that Thrice Petrified will be ready to go sometime next year!  I’ve been working on this story for years and years, and I just love these characters and their fantasy world and can hardly wait to share it more widely. 

That’s plenty for now.  Take care of yourselves and each other!