Read. Write. That's it.

2026 is going to be slower and more intentional for me. I want to keep showing up in ways that feel meaningful and sustainable. I’d love to know what matters most for you.

But before I get too far into it…

The Indie ‘25 Awards by Ian Barr

I am always looking to add more indie books to my bookshelf and also read the books on my bookshelf. I am taking inspiration from this youtube short

I’ve got plenty of stickers around the house! I’ve created my own sticker chart. Once I read ten books off my shelf, I’m getting myself a new book. This Indie Award ‘25 list will be my first stop for choosing what that book will be.

So far I have one sticker! I’ve picked up a six hundred page book for my second read. I’ll get that second sticker eventually 😅

Reader Check in Form

I took a lot of time reflecting on my writing life and the changes that will be happening in a few short months. Our baby boy is growing every day and as it starts to get challenging to get up from the couch, I have a squirmy little feeling in my stomach reminding me that I’ll be very occupied with sleepless nights and baby cuddles by the time the weather warms into summer.

So, being honest with myself, that means no time for a lot of other things. No time for creating audio of my work. No time for publishing. No time for marketing. And the hardest pill to swallow, no time for the local reading community I want to foster. I tried to tell myself I can plan an event for March and then try another when I’m ready. But why? Is it worth my time? My limited energy? Will there not be readers in my area in 2027?

I settled on my goals for this year. It’s to read and write. That’s it. When I have the time and energy, picking one of the two. Releasing everything else brings so much joy to the work that I am able to complete. This will be a season of building my backlist. When I’m ready to take on the rest of the publishing aspects, I’ll have a body of work to share and promote.

Joanna Penn is an author that brings great insights and mindset to indie publishing through interviews and sharing her own experiences. For writers out there who want to understand more about longevity with indie publishing, check out her podcast epsiode: “Managing Multiple Projects and the Art of the Long-Term Author Career.”

With all of that being said, I am keeping my newsletter to once a month this year. I want my emails to be helpful and meaningful to my readers and would really love to hear from you. If you have a couple minutes, could you fill out this check in form so I can make the most of the emails that land in your inbox in 2026.

Reader Check in Form

Happy reading everyone! And thank you all for your continued support.