Ready for a Bold 2025 – January 2025 Wrap
Happy 2025! This year is already off to a fabulous start. I’m so excited to share my January wrap to kick off my year.
My Word of 2025
On New Year’s Day, I chose my word of 2025. In 2023, I picked patience, and in 2024, I chose adventurous. I’m excited to reveal that this year’s word is…
Bold!
In 2025, I’m going to put myself out there and chase my dreams like never before. I’m ready to be courageous, confident, and unapologetically myself. 2025 will be a year of taking risks and embracing new opportunities.
I’m ready to be bold!
My First Studio Day of the Year
This month, I had my first studio day of the year. I had so much fun at my ten-hour session. My new EP is coming along perfectly, and I’m getting so excited to release lots of music in 2025.
If you would like to read all about my session, head over to this blog post. I’ll be going back to the studio in the spring.
My Nominations for the 2025 ISSA Awards
I officially have eight nominations for the 2025 ISSA Awards!
I’m up for Vocalist of the Year, Rising Star, Album of the Year for Hear Me Out, Single of the Year for “I’m Introverted, So What?,” Songwriter of the Year, Musician of the Year, Emerging Artist, and Radio Station/Podcast of the Year for Write on Track.
In April, voting will take place for the finalists. My Butterflies got me into the finals the past two years, so I’m hopeful I become a finalist in some of my categories this time, too.
This Piano Butterfly Is Back
After years of not playing classical music, I’m finally back to playing piano. This month, I performed my all-time favorite piece, “Arabesque No. 1” by Debussy, at a recital.
I hope you enjoy my performance.
I’m so glad I’m playing piano again, and I can’t wait to perform in more recitals hopefully soon.
The Publications of Infernal Delights and Dragon Flight
On New Year’s Day, I received acceptances for Infernal Delights and Dragon Flight, two charity anthologies by Dragon Soul Press. This was the best way to start the year. Both books came out this month, too.
Here’s me with Infernal Delights. My story is a young adult horror called “The Garden of Terrors.”
And here’s me with Dragon Flight, which hit number one on the Amazon best sellers list for fantasy short stories. I have two stories in this anthology. My solo one is a young adult cozy fantasy called “A Pinch of Cinnamon and Lore,” and the other is a co-authored story with my friend, Jess, called “A Wood of Gold and Shadows” under our pen name, Sadie Lielle.
If you would like to read about my short stories in these anthologies and more, check out the blog posts for Infernal Delights and Dragon Flight. I’m beyond excited these anthologies are now on my bookshelf.
The Kaleidoscopic Quill Announcement
I’m beyond delighted I’m going to lead my very own anthology, Kaleidoscopic Quill: An Inspiring Butterfly Anthology. This is the project of my heart, and I’m so grateful that Abby is giving me the opportunity to publish this book through Wild Ink.
Submissions open in the spring, and I seriously can’t wait to read everyone’s stories and poems. After loving anthologies for a whole year now, it’s a dream come true to have the opportunity to bring my own into the world.
More Anthology Updates
As if two publications and announcing my own anthology this month isn’t enough, I have a couple more updates.
First, I received an acceptance for Wickedness & Wonder, a fairy tale anthology by Wild Ink Publishing. My friends and I literally lost our minds waiting to hear if we got accepted or not. I’m delighted my story, “Out of the Oven,” which is a sequel to Hansel and Gretel, will be published in this anthology.
Also, I submitted my young adult locked room mystery short story to an anthology. I’m keeping my fingers crossed because I love this one.
Looking ahead, I already have lots of anthologies on my list for the year. Here’s to more acceptances and publications in 2025.
My Internship at the Purcell Agency
This month, I started my internship at the Purcell Agency. I’m beyond grateful for this opportunity. Down the road, I would possibly like to become an agent, so I’m ready to learn all about this role through my internship.
My Presentation at the Pocket MFA Winter Residency
This month, I presented about freelance editing at the Pocket MFA winter residency. This was such a wonderful opportunity. I can’t thank the whole Pocket MFA team enough for having me. I love presenting, so I’m hoping to be part of more conferences and industry events soon.
My CanvasRebel Magazine Interview
I had the opportunity to do an interview with CanvasRebel Magazine all about my journey in the publishing industry and more. You can read my interview here. Huge thank you to the CanvasRebel Magazine team for interviewing me.
My Appearance on the You, Me, and the Writing Journey Podcast
My friend, Danielle, launched her very own publishing podcast called You, Me, and the Writing Journey. I got to be part of her pre-launch episode to share words of encouragement for the writing community. You can listen to that on Spotify. I’m so excited for this show and can’t wait to listen to the fabulous conversations Danielle has with her guests.
Revising My YA Speculative Thriller
After many months away from my young adult speculative thriller, I returned to it for a final revision before sending to my agent. This book has my heart. I’m hopeful it will find a publishing home someday.
So, that’s a wrap on my amazing January. This was seriously the best start of 2025. I can’t wait to see what the rest of 2025 has in store for me.