Monthly Archives: January 2026

4 posts

2026: Off to a BIG Start

A Small Light in the Darkness A Third Kind of Madness Fun SW-SW

Dearest Friends and Faebies, 2026 already feels like it’s been a year long.

Which I guess it has been, in one way of looking at it. A year can be 365 days or the length of what we’ve lived so far in that time period, right? Things have been bad scary a shitshow here in the US and other places. Y’know, I want to focus on some positive things happening in my life, because art is important and success by queer disabled weirdos is an affront to fascism. But first I need to say a few things upfront, so we all know we’re on the same page.

…I mean, if we’re not, have you even read my books?

We in the US are living on stolen land, in a country built on stolen labor.

NO ONE can be illegal on stolen land. The systems the people who stole that land–white people–set up to control those enslaved for the labor that built this country have never been dismantled. They were only adapted. We’re seeing that now, in every aspect of what’s happened previously and is happening currently in the US. Black and brown people have always been marginalized here, always exploited, and we are once again seeing those who fear that reality flipping and putting THEM in that place flexing the power they’ve amassed to try and ensure that never happens.

They want to eliminate anyone who doesn’t fit into their small-minded idea of who counts as a person, those who just by existing demonstrate how weak and pathetic and useless these people actually are. They would kill off queer people, trans folk, the BIPOC folk who don’t bend their knee to them, the disabled, the ones who don’t subscribe to their twisted version of religion or “values.”

Fuck them, and their fascist government and their genocides. Fuck their hatred of community and culture and love and neighborliness. Everything they stand for is the opposite of what makes us good and kind and powerful. Fuck that. I will always be in opposition to what they stand for.

Oh, and fuck ICE.

That’s the bare minimum of words I have on this and related subjects, but I didn’t want to leave the first month of 2026, where as it stands currently [as far as we know] at least nine people have been killed by ICE, without making completely sure that my readers are on the same page of me. If not, here’s your door to leave –> 🚪

Now for some good things in 2026.

You might have noticed that there’s a store on the website now! If you are in the US you can now purchase my physical books and other related things directly from me without having to go to Ko-fi to check out. Unfortunately because of the current situation in the US right now I can’t ship outside of the US, but there’s a variety of retailers that carry them in your area. And of course DRM-free e-books are always available from me directly.

I also moved the “Membership/Support” option away from Ko-fi, which is a big deal! Now you can either do a one-time support or subscribe to a membership via Square checkout. That simplifies things for me in a big way. Members will get special emails directly in their inbox that will have behind the scenes info, scene shares, advance opportunities, and more. It’s basically what I was offering on Ko-fi but without a middleman.

In somewhat related news, you might have seen me talk about my Three Ravens Press mugs that I designed through Bonfire and how I am giving all proceeds to Leftover Love, Inc. LLI is a Baltimore-based 501c3 nonprofit that rescues fresh leftover food from local businesses for those in need. Through sales of the Three Ravens Press mugs I’ve already been able to raise almost $100 for their cause, and I’d like to do more!

I’ll be moving all my Bonfire-produced merch to a charity model this month! I’m looking for at least one more Baltimore-based charity to support, preferably one that aligns with the values that are touted by Vali and the crew at The Maithe. Mugs will support feeding people through Leftover Love, and t-shirts will go to the yet-to-be-chosen second charity. If you have ideas, please do leave them in the comments!

Look for an updated page where all the charity merch will be collated sometime before the end of January, hopefully!

ICYMI, A Third Kind of Madness is officially a FINALIST in the Indie Ink Awards!

ATKOM is a finalist in FOUR categories:

  • This Book Made Me Hungry/Thirsty
  • Writing the Future We Need: Bisexual or Biromantic Representation
  • Writing the Future We Need: LGBTQ+ Representation
  • Writing the Future We Need: Trans or Nonbinary Representation

I am extremely proud and also humbled by the thought that readers voted to put my exploration of magic-triggered obsession with a nervous and quirky enby protagonist into these categories. Y’all, only 10 books from a WIDE selection make it to this stage. That’s HUGE.

Now it’s up to the judges to read all of their assigned books and decide what they think. I thank all of you who supported ATKOM in the contest and otherwise, and I’ll keep you updated as I learn more! It will be a while before we know for sure, but even making it to this round is such an honor.

A Small Light in the Darkness is open for paperback preorders and ARC requests!

You heard it here first! After the successful cover reveal of ASLID went so well, I busted tail and got the preorder page up for paperbacks. I should have e-book preorders up by the end of this week as well. If you’ve been with me for a while, you know that my paperback preorders always come with an assortment of cool goodies, making it a whole vibe that goes along with the story. [Famously the packages for In Sleep You Know came with representatives of some of the gifts that Merrick was given. And tea, there’s always tea!]

This time I’m going to put together something cool for folks who preorder the e-book, as well! It’s another “stay tuned” announcement, because I want to make sure I have everything together to make a Very Cool and Enticing Announcement about it.

Also, if you are a booktok person, a blogger, or book reviewer and would like an ARC copy, I have the form for you! If you’d like to be on my street team and help with honest reviews on sites like Goodreads, The Storygraph, and the like, as well as getting the word out, that’s the form for you to fill out too. I don’t have the release date set in stone yet – I was going for the end of January but as you can see we’re AT the end of January and I am not ready… so Spring 2026 it is.

Before I go, I wanted to remind y’all that in this time of strife and uncertainty, soft and welcoming places to spend some time and share community are extremely valuable. And as I’m on the committee of Strong Women–Strange Worlds, I’d be remiss if I didn’t spend a moment talking about how their twice-monthly, free virtual QuickReads event offers that. SW-SW features six women and nonbinary authors of science fiction, fantasy, and horror in 8 minute segments in their QuickReads, and you can often find well-known authors alongside new authors who are ready to be added to your list of favorites. I never fail to come away with additions to my TBR list!

QuickReads happen every First Friday and Third Thursday and are always free to attend on Zoom. We’re also expanding our offerings via YouTube to include a podcast and QuickReads remixes. You can also find past QuickReads there as well!

Our next QuickRead is happening on February 6th, 2026 at 12 noon Eastern, and features authors Gita Ralleigh, Lisa Morton, Minerva Cerridwen, Melissa Widmaier, Rachel Handley, and Victoria Goddard. You can register for this QuickRead and other upcoming ones at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/strong-women-strange-worlds-33460611105

Are there other good things happening in 2026? There ARE But my blog post is getting long and I think I’d like to save some things for later, so I can keep spreading some joy when we need it most. Thank you as always for taking this journey with me, friends, faebies, and friends-to-be.

Cover Reveal: A Small Light in the Darkness

A Small Light in the Darkness Fun

It’s here, it’s here! I’m pleased to finally reveal the cover for A Small Light in the Darkness, a wistfully hopeful near-future speculative fiction novel about relationships, and what we look for in them, and how we can be manipulated by them too.

It’s also about what happens when we tamper with our brains, and who can be trusted to do so. It looks at what makes us who we are, and who we might be if circumstances are slightly changed.

A Small Light in the Darkness will be available in Spring 2026. Look for a release date announcement SOON!

A Small Light in the Darkness:

Tryst is driven to make connections, even taking risks in order to find meaningful interactions, but they never last. Her search includes leaving a poetic post on an online bulletin board, hoping that someone’s reply will match her vibe and maybe turn into something deeper.

She gets the response she hoped for; enigmatic, fascinating, engaging—and anonymous. Tryst gives them the name Fo, based on a reference that they made about Fomalhaut, the Loneliest Star. The pair slowly build a rapport through emails, then text messages, and finally connection via a private app. 

One night during a dangerous storm, Fo abruptly disappears from their chat and does not return. The events that lead from that night introduce Tryst to a world she’d never imagined: a rich, lawless family, unethical experiments, and a terrible betrayal. Worst of all, she learns that Fo isn’t who she thought. Or is he?

Stay tuned for pre-orders, opening soon! And if you are a reviewer, podcaster, or other person to whom an ARC would be helpful, please do fill out the ARC Reader form here.

Of course as always there is a soundtrack, because at heart I’ll always be a DJ. I’ll talk more about that later, as well as do some introductions and talk about the story a bit more. If you subscribe to these posts you won’t miss any of the details!

Coming Jan 20th: A Small Light in the Darkness Cover Reveal

A Small Light in the Darkness

It’s almost here!

The big cover reveal for A Small Light in the Darkness, my much anticipated near-future speculative fiction novel is happening on January 20th 2026, and I can’t wait to show it to you, and tease the book a little.

Here’s what I have to say about it:

I wrote a story. It’s spec fic but about relationships, and what we look for in them and how we can be manipulated by them. It’s also about what happens when we tamper with our brains–and specifically when those who are in charge of said brain tampering don’t have our best interests at heart. Additionally, it looks at the defining differences between what makes us who we are and who we might be if circumstances are slightly changed. 

So yeah, a lot of thoughts about what it means to be human and desperate to be seen and understood. 

This is a story about relationships, and what we look for in them, and how we can be manipulated by them too. It’s also about what happens when we tamper with our brains, and who can be trusted to do so. And it looks at what makes us who we are, and who we might be if circumstances are slightly changed.

And here’s the text from the back of the book:

Tryst is driven to make connections, even taking risks in order to find meaningful interactions, but they never last. Her search includes leaving a poetic post on an online bulletin board, hoping that someone’s reply will match her vibe and maybe turn into something deeper.

She gets the response she hoped for; enigmatic, fascinating, engaging—and anonymous. Tryst gives them the name Fo, based on a reference that they made about Fomalhaut, the Loneliest Star. The pair slowly build a rapport through emails, then text messages, and finally connection via a private app. 

One night during a dangerous storm, Fo abruptly disappears from their chat and does not return. The events that lead from that night introduce Tryst to a world she’d never imagined: a rich, lawless family, unethical experiments, and a terrible betrayal. Worst of all, she learns that Fo isn’t who she thought. Or is he?

I’ll be announcing presales soon! And if you’re a reviewer and interested, ARCs are still available. STAY TUNED FOR MORE!

The Year in Numbers: 2025

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I did this last year and enjoyed it so much that I thought that I’d just use that post as a template and do it again for 2025! Enjoy!

I track things. It’s something that helps keep me moored and on the path I want to pursue, and also it ticks that little reward-driven box for me – I like that feeling of satisfaction that a checkmark gives me.

I also like following my growth and seeing where I’m letting things slip past me, or where I’m losing interest in something.
So here’s some stats and some things I did that I’m proud of or wish could be a little more impressive… but in general, I’m happy with my numbers. Yay!
If you did more of any of these than me, congratulations! If you did less, then I hope you don’t get comparison envy, because any success is worth cheering.

Writing-related

  • Books published: none
  • Books written: one and one third of a second
  • Books sold: 33
  • Panels I participated in: 10
  • Readings I did: 5
  • Conventions I participated in: 4 [Balticon, Nebula Conference, Flights of Foundry, Write Hive Conference]
  • Events I participated in: 3 [Book Fair at Bel Air, Greater Goods, Baltimore Book Festival SFWA Stage]
  • Newsletters I sent: 9 but some of these were repeats
  • Awards I was nominated for: 11 for A Third Kind of Madness, all in the Indie Ink Awards.
  • Interviews given: 1

Reading

Unsorted list of things I’m proud of this year

Yes, I’m still learning Korean! I haven’t been quite as dedicated as I was last year because, well, reasons–but I’m at the point now where I can follow along with conversations and pick out things that I understand. Not just words, but the general gist of what’s being discussed, though not always, and dependent on who is speaking. Fast speakers or those who speak with satoori can throw me off, but that’s to be expected. I’m also putting together small conversational bits that I deliver to myself in the mirror in the morning, because I’m a dork like that. My vocabulary has definitely grown!

I’m putting together a book all on my own! I mean, I hired an editor because come on. Editors make everything better. [Also my editor Fiona is the best and I love working with her.] Skills I am learning for this: cover art and layout, text layout/interior design. I’ve always done mockup covers for all my books for getting-people-excited purposes, but this one is the first where I’m doing the whole wrap-around. And I’ve done layout before but not for ebooks or books, just ‘zines. So I’m learning some new applications!

I’ve continued to move my career and life along paths that align with my values. I love using The Storygraph for tracking my reading. I’m not responsible for promoting Strong Women–Strange Worlds on Goodreads right now, so I’ve basically cut my usage down there to almost nothing. I’m still using ko-fi but I also added my books for sale here on the website, and I’m looking into expanding to itch.io as well. Unfortunately I haven’t found an alternative to using KDP for publishing that doesn’t have a boatload of its own problems, but I’m still working on that.
Personally, I continue to buy small/local as much as possible. I keep my clothes and alter or mend them as appropriate. I don’t buy a lot of disposable items. I support local, indie bookstores and other retailers. And I continue to donate to worthy causes, write letters to politicians, send critical emails to companies when they betray their users and previously stated values, and support loudly and with my dollars the things and folks I want to make sure stay in the world.

I became the Audience Outreach Coordinator for Strong Women–Strange Worlds. That was a big step! I’ve been a volunteer for a while now, and when they asked if I’d like to take on a committee position I thought about it carefully, then agreed. I knew that taking on a role like that while also trying to maintain my writing career was asking a lot from my body and mind, but I believe in their mission to elevate the voices of women and other underrepresented gender identity authors of science fiction, fantasy, and horror; to highlight stories featuring strong female and non-binary characters; and to share these stories with readers of all ages. As I said above, I want to support the things I want to see in the world, and this is definitely one. /
Speaking of, the first Quick Reads of 2026 is coming up on January 15th–will you be there? It’s a free event and a great way to find new authors to read and hang out with other [often very funny] readers and writers! You can learn more and sign up at https://strongwomenstrangeworlds.weebly.com/

I sold as much merch as I did books this year. That’s been a great way to keep interest in my books alive, let me tell you. It can be difficult to keep a backlist fresh in readers’ minds, which is why you’ll often see authors posting about their previous books on social media, especially if it’s a series of books. Merch can help, and I love making things, so this year I added Maithe mugs and a Maithe tourism tee shirt to my offerings that I make by hand. This year I rehomed a ton of Book pendant necklaces and mushroom earrings. And I made about $25 in donations to Leftover Love, Inc through sales of my Three Ravens Press mugs. In 2026, I’ll be changing all of my merch that comes from Bonfire so that proceeds go to charity. I won’t make a thing from them, and I’ll feel great about it! Look for more fun charity merch in 2026.

I officially won my disability case! I’m quite open about having Crohn’s and how it affects me as a disability, so you might have read or heard me talk about my struggle to be officially recognized as such and be judged eligible for SSDI. It finally happened this year, after years of going through tests, paperwork, questioning, and appeals. [I could write an entire book about this alone] What does this mean for me in the future? It gives me a regular, small income. If I bring in money, that is reported and taken out of that monthly income. I’ll continue to get medical assistance, without which I would eventually die. I have restrictions on some things: for example, if I married my partner, for example, I’d lose benefits because of his income, even though that wouldn’t be enough to support us both. I can’t have much in savings. There are other restrictions. But I do have some stability, and an official recognition of disability, which is huge.
I don’t want to go on too long about this, that’s what my blog Hid and Sick is for, but I did want to mention that it happened and how it impacts my life, because it has a tremendous impact. Hopefully it will open me up to be able to explore creatively without worrying about “but will it sell?” because that’s a death toll for creativity. And creativity is what I’ve got instead of properly working guts.

What about you? What are your numbers, your successes, your reasons to cheer? I want to know!
May 2026 be kind to us all. Life has been challenging and we need each other more than ever. Know that you can always come here for support in your creative endeavors. I’m cheering you on!