The Year in Numbers: 2025

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

• Books read: 17 according to The Storygraph, but I’m sure I’m missing some and I read a TON of short stories too.
• DNF: 2
• Genres: fantasy, science fiction, romance, LGBTQIA+, art
• Most recommended: Chocolate Chip City, Be Steadwell; The River Has Roots, Amal El-Mohtar; The Only Song Worth Singing, Randee Dawn; The Wings Upon Her Back, Samantha Mills; The Warm Machine, Aimee Cozza; Automatic Noodle, Annalee Newitz.
  [these are affiliate links]
• Most read fiction periodical: Uncanny Magazine [second year in a row!]

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!