The Happenings 2025
2025 was a great year for personal growth and writing milestones!
Wrapping up this phase of cultural learning and research
I will probably never be done learning, but I finished up with cultural accuracy and sensitivity readers for my novel now on submission. What a journey! Over the years I made new friends, learned language and traditions, and experienced new ways of seeing the world. I’m so very happy to see their accomplishments and growth as well. Collectively, they’ve gone on to teach Cherokee language at university, write and help produce film, and help spearhead immersion programs—all of these things are a huge benefit not only to their nation, but to everyone!
Booted out of the comfy, editing nest
My editor convinced me that my family saga What Shadows Hide (tentative title) is ready for agents. Thus, I’ve learned the art of query letters, finding comp titles, and braving the dreaded synopsis. Not only do I get to jam everything into 350 words, but only half of that is allocated to the plot. It seems like so much of writing is the art of presentation, and presenting my own work is much harder than writing a glowing review of somebody else’s novel.
Making memories and reminiscing
This year didn’t have the best middle; I pushed myself too hard on personal growth, followed by the death of our beloved dog and my health taking a sharp downward turn. In the process I learned a lot about setting boundaries with myself, cherishing what I have, and pushing to finish projects instead of starting new ones.
Despite mid-year, the rest of 2025 was great! We visited countless cemeteries, got our motorcycle licenses to ride into the forest and find more cemeteries (hehe), took our ambulance/RV conversion on its first trip, saw the Northern Lights, and traveled to see family. I also visited an author friend, Randy Scobey, who wrote an incredible memoir and is currently enjoying success in the world of art and sculpture.
Through all of these adventures, mishaps, and hard things, Ryan has been right beside me and I’m so glad. He even indulged in my purchase of a tiny banjo that I will probably never play the way it deserves.
2026 Goals
Either land an agent or decide to adjust What Shadows Hide again.
Write a newsletter 2-4 times this year instead of never.
Due to popular demand, I am writing a follow up story for my ghost story, Hotel Vanity.
Continue my goal of visiting an author in each of the 50 US states.
Continue visiting each state my ancestors spent a lot of time in—basically all the ones not immediately around me.
I’m looking into some family mysteries to write about:
Kansas orphans whose mother only appears on their death certificates, and father seems to have had three families.
Distantly related Thankful Hersey, who joined a cult and helped murder one of their members.
A larger story including the events of Joseph Walker’s fight over his favorite tree. For something this large, somebody without descendants seems like a perfect POV character. I’m thinking one or both of the nephews, or a fabricated friend.
Survey time!
While you are here, would you mind filling out this survey? It helps me know what my readers want to see: