Four Year Writing Anniversary

On May 31^st, 2022, I released my debut, In-Between. This standalone fantasy book was a labor of love, with an emphasis on the labor. I worked on it for years and learned so many lessons while publishing it. On my writing anniversary, I like to do a roundup of what I have learned the prior year. The previous iterations live on my YouTube channel. I started my channel to film the first anniversary video. Now, the fourth-year anniversary will be released on a blog that lives on my website. This is one of many things I learned this year—and what a year it has been.

I am now full-time

Let’s start with the biggest event that happened this year. In November of 2025, I was laid off from my job. It wasn’t a shock. I think I was more shocked that they were not being more careful about why I, their trans/non-binary employee, was being included in layoffs for another team. I used this change as a catapult into trusting myself to write full-time.

You can probably note the bitterness in the situation. I have learned that being laid off is the best thing that has happened to me. That job was sucking out my soul and undermining who I am as a person. Yet, it doesn’t stop the anger about how trans people are being treated. My story is just one among many instances of discrimination against trans people this year. And so many of our siblings have lost their lives in horrific ways.

It is why I know it is important that I keep writing our stories. It is also why I started working as a book coach to help others to tell theirs. After publishing thirteen books, I have learned so much that I want to use to assist others in making their publishing journey easier. The truth is that traditional publishing is not investing in marginalized voices, so many of us have to publish indie. Yet, isn’t being pushed out of the mainstream and still finding a way to tell our stories part of queer history?

At a recent event, an author balked that I said I was writing full-time when I am also doing other services: book coaching, developmental beta edits, and sensitivity reads. Yet, I am so grateful to be where I am, building up this business into something that will keep a roof over my head. Helping others with their stories is just as important as writing my own, and I am happy to be able to do both.

I Have Written Thirteen Books

The exact number of books out as of my anniversary is a bit tricky. Technically, the official release date for An Unexpected Tenant is June 9^th. However, it is already available on my website and at in-person events. So, it is out but also not out. I am making a judgment call and including it.

There are now two novels in my science fiction trilogy, Lunar Abyss (Inside a Dark Space and With Only the Starlight). I have also written a novelette and a novella set in this same world. Both of these are available as ebooks only at the moment. Once I have written the third novella, I will bind them together into a physical copy. I have also started a new paranormal cozy mystery series, because sometimes we just need some queer and neurodiverse cozy books with everything going on … and the Lunar Abyss trilogy is not cozy.

Ember Town is now five books long. I’m writing the sixth book now and can say that it will be an eight-book series. Yes, the end is in sight, so now is the time to start reading!

It has been a fantastic writing year, and I am so happy to be able to live inside the stories in my head. It brings me even more joy to share them with you all.

What Have I Learned?

After four years and thirteen books, I have most of the process down. I know the best ways for me to write, how to use the software I need, and important aspects of storytelling. I am focusing on sharing this information with others as well. I want everyone to be able to tell their stories with the best tools at their disposal.   

However, I have learned two major lessons this year. The first is that I am not made for the camera. I’m still filming shorts for social media, and I’m still doing in-person events. I have selective mutism, and I’ve tried to just push past it to my detriment. This year, I am focusing on communicating in ways that are best for me.

I am a writer. What I can type on the page is so much more eloquent than anything I will say verbally. As such, I have started focusing my content on the blog on my website.  I am rewriting old scripts to be blog posts and adding new ones. Also, I am building out book recommendations because we need more queer and neurodiverse fiction.

Which brings me to the second thing I have learned this year. When your basic identity is vilified, platforms and algorithms are going to be stacked against you. The best way to connect to readers is through platforms that you control. I have shifted away from Amazon and social media to focus on direct sales from my website and direct communication from my blog and my newsletter. If you have not yet joined my newsletter, you can do so here.

I’m not taking my books off of these platforms. I have no intention of closing down my social media accounts. It’s just … I am trying to build a community. I am trying to focus more on these spaces.

Looking Forward

What will the next year bring? I do not have a crystal ball to look into for certain. There is so much happening, and so much uncertainty both in what I am building and where the world is at. I can tell you what I am working towards.

I have plans for rebranding some of my books. The same great stories in shiny new packaging. I am so excited about this so keep an eye out as I announce more. I plan on finishing the world of Lunar Abyss with the last novella and the last novel—Building a New Hope. I love this title, and I think it is a good theme for this year to come. There will be more releases as well. I have a release schedule built out, but I am not holding myself to it as firmly. I want to focus on quality without the pressure of timeliness. The truth is that when I do that, I release better books in the same duration.

This year will also be focused on helping other authors. I plan to keep releasing blog posts. If there is content you want to see, let me know. I will also focus more on one-on-one book coaching, developmental beta reads, and sensitivity reads.

This next year is on investing in myself and in our stories. It is taking a chance to thrive as myself. To find joy in a way that our society says is not of value—in the arts.

Here is to another year!