2025 Recap

As 2025 draws to its inevitable close, I can't help but look back on the year with a mixture of thankfulness for the lessons and opportunities, and relief that it's over.

2025 was full of loss and grieving. My Granny passed away in January, followed by Matt's grandpa in February, and then my Papa in October. I was very close to my grandparents, and I feel their loss so much. There is a hole in my heart that echos with their absences, and the grief still comes in waves. I'll be cruising along, and a thought of them will hit me—and suddenly, tears are rolling down my cheeks. The holidays have been exceptionally challenging, navigating them with the loss of those no longer with us.

2025 also brought many lessons learned. I learned that not everybody and everything is worth your time and energy. I learned that if you find yourself in a situation that isn't worth your time or energy, the best thing you can do for yourself is walk away. I learned that some people are not meant to have access to you, because they don't respect you or value you. If you keep giving them access, you'll only hurt yourself more down the line. There are people out there that won't appreciate all the effort and value you bring to a situation, and the best thing you can do for yourself is find somewhere else to pour that energy and effort.

2025 brought amazing new opportunities to my door, too. I found my dream job; a position at a rural library. I love going to work every day, and I adore the people I work with. I am respected and valued at this new job and position, and they love what I bring to the table. I don't feel stressed out or diminished in this role, and that's such a great feeling!

In 2025, I channelled a lot of my hurt and tears into new writing projects, choosing to focus on the good in my life instead of the grief. I had started 2025 out with the intention of recording daily word counts and being able to look back on the year and know how much I wrote, only I did kind of lose track here and there, so the numbers aren't truly accurate. However, from what I did keep track of...I wrote 87,336 words in 2025.

I wrote and published two new books (Last Resort and Tailgates & Tinsel), as well as contributed short stories to two charity anthologies.

2026 will surely bring a new batch of challenges and opportunities my way, and I'm ready for it.

I plan on writing three new stories, and publishing at least two of them. I plan on writing another story set in the Hartwood Creek world (I'm actually already 26k into it). At some point, I'll be releasing a Hartwood Creek novella that includes Love on Loan and Destination Worthy, the two short stories I wrote earlier this year for charities that I have rights back for, as well as a new short story (or two).

A few of my series will get new covers, too, so that's exciting! I'm also hoping to revamp my website and open up a store on it so that readers will be able to purchase ebooks directly from my site. I may expand that to signed paperbacks and other fun things, too.

I will be at the Book Bazaar in Courtice, Ontario in February and the Rose City Conference in Windsor, Ontario in April. I might do a few smaller, local events, but so far that's all I've got on my schedule!

I am finishing 2025 with a new laptop and the hope that 2026 will be gentler.