 |
If you're not familiar with |
What's on the agenda for the new year?
Edit and publish Siphon (I wrapped up the first draft last week. Hooray!)
Finish my secret project (that I'm starting this week). NAUR is for all of you who have been after me to write another parody. The synopsis is complete, blurb is written, and cover concept is complete. I'm never this prepared before I even start writing, but it's going to be a fun one and I'm looking forward to it.
Finish the draft of EITHER Godmother or Interface. I'm hoping this stipulation will allow me to not fail this one yet again.
Write and publish Nugget the Space Chicken Book 3. I'd hoped to have an outline and plan in place for this one by now but I don't, so that's also on my list.
Continue progress on reclaiming the flower hill. I made good progress in 2025 so I have to be out there to at least maintain that and hopefully continue onward while I'm at it.
Work on the veggie garden concrete project. I dry poured several large blocks last year to see how they'd hold up in the Michigan winter, and I'm not impressed so I'm glad I didn't dive into all of them that way. Back to good old wet cement mixing it is.
Read two books a month. I was semi-successful with this in 2025 so I think its possible. I also need to keep better track because maybe I did make it and my crappy reading record keeping just didn't record it. LOL
Didn't make it to everything on your list from 2025? It's not a fail, it's a second...err third...okay fifth chance to get to it this year. :)
How were 2025 Sales? Most events I returned to were down because: economy. However, I did more events than ever before and that made up for a lot. There were a few events that performed really well, one even far exceeded my expectations. You bet I'm doing Funky Ferndale again! There were also a handful of events that were at no cost to me (either as a guest or tables were free) so that negated low sales at a few of the others in terms of expenses. In 2025 I sold 400+ more books than 2024, ending up at 1,731 books sold. Given that spring events were all pretty dismal sales-wise, I'm pleased with how the year turned out.
I've updated my event schedule with everything that is currently booked or applied for (that I'm fairly sure I'm good for). There are several more to add that applications are not live yet and there are, as usual, a couple new to me events I haven't heard back on yet.
How was Galaxy Con Columbus you ask? HUGE. I traveled with author pal TL Shively (YA fantasy), and we had a good time. There were lots of celebrities to run by and gawk at but we didn't have time to wait in the massive lines. And so many artists! I sold enough to cover all my expenses which was saying something considering how many hundreds of vendors and artists there for people to buy from. I would maybe do it again in a few years when the economy is better, but this was a pricey event to be at and I kinda gotta do shows that allow me to pay daily life bills AND cover event expenses. #priorities
 |
| This is a quarter of the celebrity zone |
 |
| I was one of over 200 artist alley booths |
 |
| I have no idea how many vendor booths there were but they went on and on and on |
 |
| There was even a full size wresting ring. |
Starbase Indy, another new to me event, was also fun, but in a much more relaxing and productive way. The event table was free so all I had to do was cover my gas and hotel room - which I did do with sales. I travel with my own food. Foot traffic was slow (as is usually the case with hotel cons), but the people were great and unlike a busy show, I didn't feel bad about getting some reading and writing done at my table. I also got a good deal done after show hours. So as far as a weekend writing retreat goes, it paid for itself and I slept great. I would maybe do this one again if I could take another author along to share the hotel expenses with the intent of making it a writing weekend.
 |
| Laya traveled with me and was much loved by everyone. She got to meet the celebrity guest, Lisa Wilcox |
May you have a fantastic and productive new year!
