January 2026

Newsletters, it turns out, are hard.

But I’m finally doing it! The thing I said I would do ages ago and then kept avoiding but thinking about constantly. Woo!

It’s been a while since I blogged regularly (okay, like over a decade, sob), and writing a newsletter feels rather similar, so I suppose I should start with a word of caution: expect a lot of experimentation and try-fail cycles and aesthetic redesigns and general flailing around as I figure out How to Do This, Actually.

And also a word of thanks: thanks for being here, on purpose (I hope). Thanks for caring enough about me and/or what I have to say to sign up for yet more email in your inbox.

The Part Where I Put the Writing Updates

To my extreme shock and delight, THE EXTRAVAGANZA ETERNIA was a finalist in the 2025 Small Spec Book Awards!

Be sure to check out the winners and other incredible finalists here!

Currently I’m working on getting this draft of the EXTRAVAGANZA’s sequel, which I’ve tentatively titled ALL OF US VILLAINS, finished and cleaned up enough by the end of May to send to my first readers for critique and feedback. After that, I’m ambitiously hoping to pitch it to my publisher, Ghost Orchid Press, by the end of the year.

Also, good news for those of you out there who wished EXTRAVAGANZA was longer: ALL OF US VILLAINS is a full novel, meaning it will be about twice as long.

I’m very heavily side-eyeing the idea of doing a sneak peek for newsletter folks as some sort of incentive to get people to sign up…

Maybe once I hit 50 subscribers? Is that a reasonable goal? No idea. But I guess if you want an early, unedited look at what trouble Leathan and friends are getting into this time, I guess spread the word? If you want? No worries if not though!

(Now excuse me a moment while I pat myself on the back for that very strong, very confident call to action.)

The Part Where I Shout My Friend’s Praises From the Mountain Peaks

Fellow author and one of my dearest friends CJ Lavigne published an incredible novella last September called THE DROWNED MAN’S DAUGHTER. Be warned: it will absolutely (ship)WRECK you, but the end leaves the tiniest, sharpest shard of hope to grab onto (and maybe cut yourself with, if you aren’t careful).

Anyway, go read it! Go sob over it! And then crumple that wad of tissues to your face so the gushing tears don’t destroy your keyboard when you nominate it for best novella in all the award things like the Nebulas and such!

The Part Where I Don’t Know How to Sign Off Smoothly Yet, I Dunno

I’m sure there’s more (or less?) I could put in the newsletter but I feel like it’s long enough as it is, but also there are still other things I could talk about.

Like how I’m learning to swim properly and can even kinda sorta manage a decent backstroke, or how I’m still obsessed with KPOP DEMON HUNTERS (Your Idol is the best song fight me), or how much I’m enjoying playing DATE EVERYTHING and am happily in love with Erika Ishii(‘s character), or how I cannot wait literally I have no chill for THE FEYWILD JOB by CL Polk and ALL HAIL CHAOS by Sarah Rees Brennan, or how much freaking snow we’ve been getting, or how much better life has been since I started therapy over a year ago and especially anxiety medication a few months ago, or or or—

Welp Kurama has just come to sit on my arm so I suppose that’s a good enough sign that enough is enough for this month.

Anyway, here’s the cat picture you’re all here for okaybyeeeeee!