Year End Review and What’s Next
2023 In Review
What a wild ride.
We witnessed many political upheavals (which is the new normal). Inflation hit is hard in the pocketbook, making trips to the grocery store painful. On a personal note, 2023 was a journey I would rather not replicate.
My husband was laid off, and searched for employment for the better part of the year.
Our son had to have emergency surgery to remove his appendix.
One of our cats got sick.
And I broke a tooth and needed a crown.
All in all, it was a pricey year and I’m glad to see the back of it.
A Fresh Start in 2024
In the final days of 2023, my husband received an offer from the Missouri University of Science and Technology. Of course, he said yes, as it was his ideal position. The only downside is that the job is in Missouri, and not even St. Louis, but the tiny town of Rolla.
The job started on the 8th of January, so off he headed on a solo cross-country drive while Odin and stayed behind to finish out the school year.
Props to all the single parents out there. This job is already hard, but going it alone can be soul crushing.
The town of Rolla, Missouri, population 19k will have three new residents come July.
Am I excited about moving from rainy Portland to the Ozarks?
I’d lie if I gave a resounding yes. I oscillate between excitement and fear.
Long-haul moves are no fun, especially to locations sight unseen.
On the flip side, Missouri is filled with natural beauty and Rolla is home to a myriad of tech related activities, which will be great for Odin.
The Bright Spots
Everyone is healthy, despite nature’s best effort to the contrary.
I published my first book, The Girl with the Uninvited Ghost.
I read some amazing pieces of fiction including, but not limited to, Treasure Island by Daniel Defoe, Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart, The Bitter Root series by David F. Walker, Holes by Louis Sachar, The Dragon with the Chocolate Hear by Stephanie Burgis, and Real Hero Shit by Kendra Wells.
All in all, it was an exceptional year for books and reading.
On Twitch, I gained 130 new followers, and 16 subscribers, and I streamed 173 times. I am so happy I started streaming.
I have met the most supportive writing community on Twitch.
On Sale Now
A relics collector must uncover a family secret to solve a wizard’s murder before his appetence’s ghost dives her crazy indefinitely…or she becomes the next victim.
Praise for The Girl with the Uninvited Ghost
“Thank you for writing this little bundle of joy and I hope I get to see our crew of magical sleuths solve more crimes with even higher stakes!” – Gauravaaditya Kulkarni
Paperback coming in 2024
