Blog December 2025

December rolls in and suddenly I’m knee deep in Christmas shopping, pretending the extra books in my basket are “gifts from the kids” (no not the spicy ones!) when really they’re for me. Every year I tell myself I’ll behave, and every year I fail spectacularly. My bookcases are now groaning, I’m rearranging shelves like I’m competing in some elite NaNoWriMo championship, and I’m (once again) swearing off impulse book buying in the New Year.

The rule is simple; at least on paper: read 10 books before I’m allowed to buy a new one, or hit 15,000 words before I can reward myself with a shiny new addition to the hoard. Whether this actually works will depend heavily on my ability to resist a good sprayed edge.

Editing season doesn’t help either. It’s stressful, chaotic, and apparently requires things like breaks, hydration, and an actual bedtime; all of which I heroically ignore. And this year I’ve added marketing to the list of “things I pretend I’m good at”: showing my face on TikTok (still terrifying), posting more consistently on Facebook and Instagram, and trying not to look like a startled woodland creature whenever I hit “record.” Between edits, content planning, and hyping my own book without cringing, I’m basically juggling flaming baubles while blindfolded.

Meanwhile, the Christmas decorations have made their annual appearance, and I’ve once again let the family put up the tree. And every year, without fail, I stand there with my hands behind my back like I’m on some kind of tree decorating parole, desperately trying not to rearrange every bauble. I’m a perfectionist in exactly one area of life... the Christmas tree... and resisting the urge to remodel it branch by branch should honestly earn me a medal. Or at least another book. (But no… reading and writing goals first. Sigh.)

But despite the festive chaos, next year is shaping up to be huge. Once the holidays settle, I’ll be diving back into reviewing my editor’s advice—

; untangling comments, smoothing the rough edges, and tightening the story until it gleams. Then come the ARC': sending out early copies, crossing my fingers, and hoping readers don’t immediately hand me a list of creative crimes. After that, I’ll brave the mighty beast that is KDP formatting, also known as the part of publishing where I question every life choice I’ve ever made. But once that mountain is climbed? It’s publish time. Simple. Easy. Absolutely not stressful in any way whatsoever. And with that optimistic lie, I’m wishing you all a magical, book filled, gloriously chaotic Christmas. Lots of love from me and all the characters of The Raeven and the Prince of Shadows.