Author Life in 2024: A Year of High & Dashed Hopes, But Still Grateful
I’m not going to lie: 2024 was tough. It was a year of high hopes and dashed hopes, and the future is incredibly uncertain. But here are some book-related things that happened that I’m grateful for.
I’m not going to lie: 2024 was tough. It was a year of high hopes and dashed hopes, and the future is incredibly uncertain. But here are some book-related things that happened that I’m grateful for.
1. Finally got to add “bestselling” to my bio!! By the skin of my TEETH lmaoooo, but in 2024 I worked myself to the bone connecting with indie bookstores and posting like bananas on here, so hey, I’m proud of that!!!
2. YOU, for loving and supporting Under the Surface. It was a Goodreads Choice Nominee and is a finalist in the Teen Choice Awards, and your excited DMs have brightened my spirits during a rough patch. So truly, thank you.
3. Hella accolades. I’ve always had impostor syndrome something fierce, so it’s been WILD to see Under the Surface get selected for the Indie Next List, as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, an Amazon Best Book of 2024, a Publishers Weekly starred review, and an Amazon, Apple, and Kobo editor’s pick of August. (I still have impostor syndrome btw!!! I have no clue what I’m doing and I’ve tricked you all!)
4. Foreign publishers started picking up Under the Surface in the Ukraine, the Netherlands, and [REDACTED]. 😈 So excited for more peeps around the world to join this catacombs adventure in 2025!
5. Wrote a whole lot of words. None I get to tell you about yet. But I wrote a whole book, and wrote the beginnings of two others, one of which I’m working on finishing right now. No idea what will happen with them yet, but I’m proud of myself for putting in the work, even if I can’t announce anything yet.
Writing all this out is jarring because despite all these good things, I still feel like I’m flailing. It’s bizarre what “matters” and what doesn’t to the publishing industry at large, and dangerous to tie your self-worth to any of it. In 2025, I’m hoping to make some changes in this regard. And I’m (cautiously) hopeful for what’s next.
Wishing you all a restful holiday, and that we all survive WHATEVER THE HELL'S COMING in the new year. 💜
P.S. Yes I’m now on Substack!! And I WILL be offering exclusive content to paid subscribers, including exactly how I marketed Under the Surface, but most of my newsletters will remain free as they always have been. More soon! <3
