Ah, January, the new start to the year and the time when “new year, new me” expectations weigh heavily upon us. As much as I try to temper that feeling in January, this year it felt more like December 2.0 as I tried to wrap up the projects I had left from 2023 before diving into my main goals for 2024. Let’s get into it. Here were the goals I made for January:

• Finish/edit “An Unexpected Question”
• Format/upload/send out “An Unexpected Question”
• Start brainstorming The Reanimator Mysteries #3 and doing research
• Research selling books on my website/Etsy (and if I want to do it)
• Start checking/proofing the audiobook of The Reanimator’s Soul as the chapters come in
• Do Sarra Cannon’s 2-3 day class on long-term goal setting
• Write more days than not (aka get into a better habit)
• Read 8 books
• Blog weekly
• Send out my January newsletter with “An Unexpected Question”

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Books

In January, my goal was to read 8 books, and I read 10.

1. Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail (#2) by Ashley Herring Blake- 4 stars, a stuffy interior designer who is also stuck in her life falls for a carpenter still mourning her last relationship but trying to start anew by fixing up her family’s B&B.
2. J. C. Leyendecker: American Imagist by Judy and Lawrence Cutler- 4 stars, a great coffee table book of artwork that has a lot of good info on Leyendecker as a person/queer artist.
3. Never Whistle at Night collected by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.- 4 stars, a fabulous collection of horror and dark tales by indigenous authors. I added so many new authors to my tbr pile.
4. This Lord’s Father (#3.5) by KJ Charles- 4 stars, a short epilogue to the Will Darling series.
5. Mislaid in Parts Half-Known (#9) by Seanen McGuire- 5 stars, I really love this series, but this one in particular hints at other books to come and takes care of some older threads.
6. Therapy Game (#1) by Meguru Hinohara- 4 stars, a serious veternary students belatedly realizes he’s queer after a bad break-up with his ex girlfriend and falls for a prickly photographer who works at the local drag club.
7. Therapy Game (#2) by Meguru Hinohara- 4 stars, see above.
8. Fence: Redemption (#6) by C. S. Pacat and Joanna the Mad, a fun volume where we get to see the MCs have a little date and the tension grows between two of their teammates.
9. Ivy, Angelica, Bay (#2) by C. L. Polk- 5 stars, I adored this historical-fantasy. It’s short but has so much crammed into it about family, community, and there’s also bees.
10. Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain- 4 stars, an interesting look at the culinary world, and with Anthony Bourdain narrating the audiobook, his voice as a writer truly shines.

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Admin/Behind-the-Scenes Stuff

• Attended Sarra Cannon’s “Your Path Forward” class, did all the lessons and such for that
• Approved the first chapter of the audiobook for The Reanimator’s Soul (coming in late spring as long as all goes well)
• Researched selling books on my website and such (not doing anything with this yet)
• Finished writing “An Unexpected Question” (TRM #2.5), #1.5 is here
• Edited and proofed “An Unexpected Question” (TRM #2.5)
• Formatted, uploaded, and sent out “An Unexpected Question” to my newsletter subscribers
• Was interviewed by Chaos Gays and Teatrays
• Started teaching my spring classes
• Paid Q4 2023 taxes (barf)

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Blogs

• December 2023 Wrap-Up Post
• My Goals for 2024
• “An Unexpected Question” is Coming!
• On Not Being Palatable
• January Newsletter

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Writing

Writing went pretty well this month. I didn’t finish “An Unexpected Question” as quickly as I would have liked, but that’s all right. Truthfully, I was dealing with a lot of anxiety in the latter half of the month due to work starting again and some random Twitter bullshit (hence why I’m on Twitter less now), but I got my shit together and edited the story. Of course, the day after I sent it out, I found a typo and a word that magically unitalicized itself. It’s not the worst hiccups I’ve had with a release, so I’ll take it. I am super excited that some of you are already reading the #2.5 story. It means a lot to me to know that you all are enjoying it. It was a blast to write. I don’t often get to write a story that’s basically just my characters having fun, so it was a refreshing change of pace. In February, I’m going to turn my focus fully to book 3, and within the next few months, preorders should go up.

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Hopes for February

• Put together the elliptical and use it
• Do the bulk of the historical research for The Reanimator Mysteries #3
• Start actually writing The Reanimator Mysteries #3
• Proof any audiobook chapters that come in
• Stay on top of grading
• Blog weekly
• Send out monthly newsletter
• Read 8 books