NaNoWriMo and New Music – November 2022 Wrap

November unfolded into one of the busiest months of the year. From releasing lots of new music to participating in NaNoWriMo and more, every day had something going on. I’m going to need December to recharge from the fantastic wildness of November, but before I hibernate for a while, I’m going to share all the highlights.

It Is What It Is Dropped November 11

I’m beyond delighted that my five-track EP, It Is What It Is, released on November 11. This project means so much to me and captures my journey of taking back control of my life and finding my center again.

The five songs on It Is What It Is are “Afterthought,” “Halfway Outta This Town,” “You Get What You Give,” “I Hope You Know You’re Lucky,” and “Follow My Compass.” The EP is available on all download and streaming platforms. Listen to It Is What It Is here.

I filmed a special video where I share the inspiration behind the EP and what it means to me. I hope you enjoy it.

I poured my heart out into It Is What It Is, so I hope you love this EP as much as I do.

“Winter Cold” Kicked Off Christmas November 25

I’ve made it a tradition to release an original Christmas song every year. My third original Christmas single, “Winter Cold,” released on November 25, and this song means literally everything to me. You can listen to the song on all the platforms here.

Recording “Winter Cold” was one of the most fun days I’ve had in the studio. I wrote all about the “Winter Cold” studio session back in July, and since I filmed the session, I put together a studio vlog. I love sharing the behind the scenes magic from the studio, so I hope you enjoy watching “Winter Cold” come to life.

“Winter Cold” shimmers with Christmas magic, and I hope it makes you feel like you’re cozy by the fire while snow falls outside your window.

The November Interviews

November brought new interviews, so I’m delighted to compile them here. I love doing interviews, so I’m grateful for all the ones I did this month.

First, I did a release talk with COOL TOP20 for It Is What It Is. I love release talks, and I’m so excited I got to do one for the EP. I share what the title reveals, the EP’s musical style, and which track I’m most nervous for people to hear. Read the full interview here.

Next, I’m so honored I got the opportunity to hop on Crazy Women Country for a very special interview. Donna welcomed me back to break down all the tracks on It Is What It Is, and I had a blast. Watch my interview here.

Also, Donna was kind enough to write such a lovely review for It Is What It Is on the Crazy Women Country website. Check out the review here.

A release isn’t complete without being featured on Fierce & Fabulous Revolution. Jess has supported me from the beginning, so I loved chatting all about my EP on the blog. Jess asked so many great questions about the inspiration and creation of the EP, and I even shared a song that I love but didn’t make the project. I hope you love reading this interview here.

Also, I stopped by Heart of Indie Radio for an interview on the Memphis Show that aired on release day. Eddie asked me all about the EP, and I broke down the inspiration behind each track. I also share details about “Winter Cold” and more. I love doing interviews with Heart of Indie, so I hope you enjoy listening on Spotify or any other podcast platform.

I loved every one of these interviews. Thank you so much to everyone for giving my music a platform and supporting my songwriting journey.

More November Music Awesomeness

Along with my interviews, I had a handful of fabulous opportunities. I always love the extra things that come up, especially during music releases. 

First, I was part of two livestreams. I’m so honored that I got the chance to participate in the Live and Amplified PanCan Fundraiser on Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day. I learned about this event last year, so being one of the guests during the second fundraiser this time around was a great opportunity.

Also, I did a livestream with Country Kickback to celebrate It Is What It Is. It was lovely chatting with Danni about the EP and playing “I Hope You Know You’re Lucky” and “Halfway Outta This Town.”

Along with the livestreams, my music did fantastic on radio shows and stations worldwide. I’m not going to make a list because I don’t want to leave anyone out, but thank you so much to everyone who continues to play my music. It means the world.

Having my music out there means the potential for chart placements. I’m delighted that “Winter Cold” landed in the Heart of Indie Radio Top 10 at number 10 the weekend it was released. I believe this is my first song to chart the weekend of release, so I’m so greatful. 

Also, “I Hope You Know You’re Lucky” is up for voting for the MOP Top 40 Songs for the Music of Pittsburgh Society. Having a song that’s so close to my heart be recognized by my hometown in such a way means the world. Voting runs until the end of the year, so I’m eager to see where I’ll fall. No matter what, being on the chart and receiving so many votes is such an honor. 

In November, She Wolf Radio made me one of their artists of the month, which meant so much to me. From sharing my releases on social media to adding my songs to playlists, they played a role in giving me exposure. “I Hope You Know You’re Lucky” was actually their top song on their new music playlist for November 11, and “Winter Cold” is near the top on their Christmas playlist. I’m grateful for all of this support.

November brought me so many amazing opportunities for my music. I can’t wait to see how both It Is What It Is and “Winter Cold” continue to grow in December.

Presenting for the Commercial Music Students at Seton Hill University

One of my highlights from November was presenting for the commercial music students at Seton Hill University. It was surreal being welcomed back to my university to speak and answer questions so soon after I graduated. Knowing the faculty and students value what I have to say and admire my songwriting journey in the commercial music world means absolutely everything to me.

This experience was so special that I wrote a blog post all about it. You can check that out here. I truly hope I’ll get to do this again in the new year because I loved every second of this opportunity.

My First NaNoWriMo

November is National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo for short, and I took the NaNoWriMo challenge for the first time to draft my new book. This was such a wild ride, and I’m so proud to share that I reached my goals. I wrote 30 days straight and finished my draft at 73,311 words.

I wrote a blog post that dives deep into my NaNoWriMo journey. I share everything from details about the story I wrote to plotting and researching in advance, remaining flexible during the experience, and so much more. If you’re interested in how I succeeded in writing an entire book in a month, I highly recommend reading this blog post.

The San Diego Writing Workshop

Back in August, I participated in the Kansas City Writing Workshop. That was such a great experience that I wanted to sign up for another conference, which was the San Diego Writing Workshop. Like the other conference, this one was virtual, though going to San Diego would’ve been nice. The conference took place during It Is What It Is release weekend, which wasn’t the best timing, but I’m so beyond happy I participated. 

Since November was so wild, I didn’t get the chance to write a detailed blog post like I did for the other conference, but I learned so much during all the panels and classes and enjoyed getting the opportunity to pitch agents. Conferences are such a great way to expand my knowledge and make publishing industry connections, so I hope I’ll get the chance to participate in more writing conferences next year.

Write on Track News

My podcast, Write on Track, has evolved into a project beyond my wildest dreams. November made me realize how special this show has become, so I wanted to share some news.

This month, Write on Track passed 4,000 plays. I’ve only been doing this show for a year and a half, and the fact that people have listened over 4,000 times blows my mind. I’m so grateful for everyone who listens to this show and continues to keep up with new episodes. I’m at 90 episodes right now, which is wild to me. The fact that episode 100 is only 10 away is beyond incredible.

Also, I received the Spotify Wrapped for Write on Track, and I have to say, I’m not over it. The stats floored me, so I wanted to share a few. Write on Track is in the top 5 percent of podcasts shared globally and the top 15 percent followed on Spotify. The show was listened to in 39 countries this year, and it was the top podcast for 54 listeners, in the top 5 for 175 listeners, and in the top 10 for 268 listeners. Wow, that’s all I can say. These are only the stats from Spotify. Again, I can’t believe what this show has become. Thank you to everyone who listens to my conversations with my wonderful guests. Knowing so many people love the show gives me validation and motivation to keep creating content.

I only have four episodes left for 2022, and I’m already booked through January. I have a feeling next year is going to be an even better one for Write on Track.

If you’d like to catch up on the show, head over to the podcast page for links to the major platforms.

Reflecting on November

After putting this blog together, it hit me how much my music and author journeys are thriving. I’ve worked so hard, especially this year, and I’m grateful that my hard work is paying off. I love everything that I do, and I’m blessed for all the memories November gave me.

I can’t believe that there’s only one more month left in 2022. This year has been one of the best of my life. I can’t wait to see how December will unfold. I’m so excited for Christmas, and I have a few fun things planned for my music, so I’m looking forward to ending the year on a high note.