I normally wouldn't share a post about what's been happening so far this year, but I was inspired by a fellow author who does a Mid-Year Check In/End of the Year Check In and thought it would be a great chance to start my new posting schedule. Anyone who knows me knows I love when the first of the month begins on a Monday. I've never hated Monday's, but I get a little giddy when the stars align and the new month begins on what I consider the first day of the week. So, let's go...shall we?
What This Year Means
At the start of the year, I wanted to focus on working behind the scenes. This is never easy for me because, as my friends and loved ones pointed out recently, I like to overshare. Honestly, this stemmed from my time as a military spouse where social media was the way to not only connect with family who lived far away, but also as a coping mechanism during long deployments. These days, blogging just doesn't cut it when social media is so much faster and our attention spans are shorter than a breath.
In November, I got off social media, all of them, for six months....or so I thought. When I logged back onto FB last month, January 26th was my last post. Since rejoining the platform (reactivating my account) I'm already getting sick of the platform again. The only upsides to being on there is I got to watch my niece graduate high school, and my blog has gotten a few more views. Some positive news, it showed me that FB is NOT where I'll be focusing my attention once I relaunch my author brand in 2027. Striking that platform off the list allowed me to breathe a little more, and I'll slowly be weaning myself back off in the coming months. It's just too toxic.
Writing Update:
I'm still waiting for the forward on my Memoir, though the writer of that is a fellow teacher, so I am not rushing it because of that. I've also thought about going back through and doing a new draft here in August, because the current draft still reads as bitter. I'm no longer bitter about the military and I'll tell you a little secret...I miss it. Like really miss it. I don't miss having my husband gone for months at a time, but so much of it, I miss. I'll stop there because the last thing I want to do is offend anyone. The memoir has an official title: Anchored for Life: A Memoir with Guided Reflections for Military Spouses Finding Their Way. I'll be sharing the cover in October with my newsletter subscribers, so be sure to be a part of that cool-kid club. I'm so proud of the cover because it's simple, reflective, and created by ME!
In July, I will be taking a solo writing trip to put aside all else and focus on The Marriage Bucket List, my new realistic fiction novel. Maggie and James's story is still at 6600 words and I cannot wait to get back into the story. This one is somewhat personal though not in the way of the bucket list aspect. I pulled emotionally from friends I know and my own journey with trying for a baby, before my blessing K came along. It's going to be a good one.
I think in November I'll slowly work on Shattered Yesterdays. I'm glad no one is buying that book right now because even the Amazon page is a hot mess. It needs fixing and because of grad school it's been neglected. I've created a new cover for it and will be cleaning up the story once more and publishing on what I hope to be the anniversary of the original publishing date. It's something I need to do for me, even if no one else reads it.
College Update
It's officially summer break, but I'm still in school. I'm 2.5 classes away from student teaching this Fall. I have a placement, an incredible teacher mentor, and I'm very excited to learn all I can. My brain will be a sponge at the end of August until Christmas Break. When I pass student teaching and my other 2.5 classes, I'll officially be a licensed K-6 teacher. I'm working on something else with this too, but for now...that part is a secret.
I don't know if I'll be working at the elementary school next year (Spring 2027-Fall 2027) but going to let God open the doors he wants open and go from there. I've met some wonderful people during this experience.
Here's to dreams coming true!
Next post will be on Monday the 15th! See you then!
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