Look Back 2025

Every year I think I’m not going to have enough to share because it seems to just be small moments, little glimmers of joy and tiny percentages of progress. But every year so far, I surprise myself! So here are the few milestones I have to share.

I only published one book this year, The Reincarnated Demon King’s Host Just Wants to Live in Peace, But the Hero Won’t Leave Him Alone, but have been writing non-stop.

I hosted a month-long writing challenge called Folklore in February, or Folkruary, for writers of all kinds that will be returning in 2026. I will be posting my full writing stats for 2025 (amount of words, number of visits to coffee shop, etc) on my Instagram at the end of the month and while I don’t have a current publishing plan for next year, I am certainly not without options. An exciting update was we finally painted our office space and I got to upgrade my desk setup! It brings me such joy every day and I love creating and relaxing here. A few minor changes, like a new desk chair, will likely happen in the next year, along with more trinkets.

While I love my desk space, I have been writing weekly at a coffee shop which has been very helpful to my productivity. Also, my dear friend, tattoo artist, and fellow writer, Phoenix (@bloodinkbonewriting), has moved back near me so we have been meeting up for writing dates that have been super fun.

Between creating characters and worlds of my own, I have also enjoyed much of other people’s as well. I got really into reading manga this year, helping me surpass my reading goal of 50 books. I am currently at 55 and am trying to hit 60 by the end of the month. A goal next year is definitely trying to finish the series on my TBR, or at least catching up. Highlight read of the year was definitely The Golden Raven, All for the Game book 5, and we got the announcement we will be getting TWO more books, a prequel to the trilogies and a sequel! I finally put together a closet cosplay of Neil Josten that I wore on his birthday, and accidentally cosplayed him to the airport as well. I have also got sucked into the worm hole of reading fanfiction again, all about my comfort ship, Bakugo and Izuku from My Hero Academia, a series I still have yet to catch up on.

I actually started playing quite a few video games this year, some solo, some with people, and I can’t wait to expand on it more in the new year. My most played came is definitely Spirit City: Lofi Sessions, a cute and cozy productivity tool. Another addition to my life has been Legends of Avantris, a Dungeons & Dragons group I watch on YouTube. I started with their Once Upon a Witchlight campaign, but I am also now watching their Ditwits of the Dimwood adventure. Lastly, just this past few months, I have started to learn America Sign Language that I am planning to expand on in the coming year as well.

Along with all of this, I have managed to spend a lot of time with friends, from our monthly pub nights, renfaire and Little Tokyo trips, and even a day at Universal Studios. My husband, Kyle, and I celebrated 10 tears together, 2 married, bought a new couch as well as painted two rooms in our house, ate a lot of charcuterie boards, and took our baby boy, Strider, to the Corgi Nationals. Strider turned 4 this year and discovered a love of french fries. We just got our yards redone so without the struggles of fighting weeds, we can start preparing our hobbit garden for spring and maybe actually grow some produce. Expect a full post update about it soon.

While I am still working on building confidence, I have grown in my gender expression, buying my first binder, then finding more comfortable ones for my autistic sensitivity. I want to build up my wardrobe to find clothes that both fit comfortably and allow me to express myself, something I have always struggled with. I know that means actually going out shopping, something I detest, but I can only hope it will be worth it in the end. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. While I have found my way back to my spiritual practice, it is still on the backburner more than I would like. But, I am still trying to improve and that is almost more important.

This year was wonderful through all its ups and downs, and I am grateful for all the people I’ve shared it with. Here’s to many more memories made in the New Year.

A happy and blessed holiday to all of you. Thank you for being here.