February Updates + Future Plans

February always feels like a hinge month to me.

The rush of the new year has worn off. The adrenaline of big goals has settled. And suddenly there’s space to ask quieter, more honest questions—How am I really doing? What’s working? What needs to change before I push forward again?

So this post is a little check-in, and a look ahead at what the next few months might hold as I continue to step into this new creative cycle.

If you’ve been here for a while, thank you for sticking with me through the busy, the quiet, the uncertain, and the exciting. And if you’re new—welcome. I’m glad you found your way here.

Looking Back: The Last Few Months

The past few months have been so full!

On the outside, things looked productive: releasing books, building worlds, drafts moving forward, and plans taking shape. On the inside, it’s been a season of recalibration—learning how to pursue my goals without burning myself out, and how to make space for creativity alongside real life.

One of the biggest milestones recently was finally closing the door on Arena of Ash and the Rising Elements series as a whole. Finishing a series is an emotional experience I don’t think you can fully prepare for. There’s pride, relief, nostalgia, and a surprising amount of grief tangled together.

Saying goodbye to that world felt like releasing something I’d been holding for a very long time. I’m incredibly proud of it—and also ready to let it rest.

Now I’ve fully turned my attention toward what comes next. I’m letting curiosity lead instead of pressure, and that shift alone has changed so much.

A Huge Thank You

Before I talk about what’s ahead, I want to pause here and say this clearly:

Thank you.

Thank you for reading my books.Thank you for showing up on release days.Thank you for comments, messages, reviews, shares, and quiet support I’ll never even see.

Writing can feel very solitary. It’s easy to forget there are real people on the other side of the page until a message lands at just the right moment. Those moments matter more than I can ever properly express.

This community—this shared love of story—is what makes the long nights and messy drafts worth it.

What I’ve Been Working On (Behind the Scenes)

While things may have looked quieter publicly, there’s been a lot happening behind the scenes. (If you’ve been reading my blog posts or monthly newsletters, you already know this!)

Most of my creative energy lately has been going toward drafting and worldbuilding for my next project. This stage is my favorite and my most fragile. I have so many exciting ideas, and they are all still untested. Everything feels possible, everything feels uncertain, and everything’s a mess until I get it all written down and can begin to truly untangle it.

I’ve also been experimenting with how I work. I do freelance editing as well as being a full-time mom, so my schedule can get pretty hectic. I’ve also been on a major health journey over the past 18 months, and balancing it all has been a major challenge. Over the past several months, I’ve worked hard on refining my writing schedule, leaning into creative rituals that are sustainable and also keep me grounded, and protecting my energy more intentionally. Instead of forcing myself to move faster, I’ve been focusing on moving with intention. That shift has made such a big difference!

What I’m Carrying Forward

I like to think in 3-month cycles instead of full years. Focusing on my goals per quarter keeps them close enough to feel real while still giving me room to adjust as life changes (because it inevitably does).

Right now, we’re still technically in Q1, but with the chaos of the holidays and the new year and the shuffling of January, this feels like a good time to lean in to what’s working and carry it forward through the rest of this quarter.

Here’s what I’m focusing on for the rest of Q1:

1. Consistent, Sustainable Writing

I’m prioritizing showing up regularly and tracking my word counts. Some days, I have the energy and capacity to do a full 2 hours of writing sprints, and those are my biggest word count days. Other days, I can maybe only fit in one 24-minute sprint or maybe nothing at all. Whether I’m sprinting or not, though, I’m working on staying connected to my story so I’m always ready to come back to it whenever I have the time and energy to do so.

2. Drafting With the Long Game in Mind

Instead of treating each book as an isolated sprint, I’m thinking more holistically this year—how projects fit together, how stories echo each other, and how themes deepen across time.

This is especially important as I step into my new series. I want to build something cohesive, intentional, and emotionally grounded. The best way to do that? Rapid-write the whole duology (and the accompanying novella) and treat it like one large arc.

3. Staying Flexible

If there’s one thing I’ve learned during this season of my life (AKA little kids), it’ that plans are important. Rigidity is not.

In the past, I’ve struggled with not being able to follow through on my goals and plans because life gets in the way. If I can’t do it perfectly (AKA as often as I want to), then I don’t do it all.

Now, I’m allowing room for drafts that take longer than expected, ideas that evolve beyond what I imagined they would be, and life interruptions that can and will make me adjust my plans.

The truth is, life is messy. It will never go according to plan. And while I may not be able to control many of the outside factors that will affect my time, motivation, and capability to write, I can control how I respond to them and whether I give up on my goals because of them.

I’m aiming for true progress—not perfection.

Release & Preorder News (The Honest Version)

Right now, I don’t have a shiny new preorder link to share—and that’s intentional.

This season is about building before announcing. Drafting before promising. Making sure the foundation is strong before setting dates in stone.

What I can say is that I’m actively working toward releases later this year, and I’ll share concrete details as soon as they’re ready. When I do, you’ll hear it here and on my newsletter first.

I appreciate your patience more than you know. I’d rather take the time to get it right than rush something I care deeply about.

How I’m Feeling About What’s Next

If I’m being honest, this moment feels both exciting and vulnerable.

Starting something new always does.

There’s a quiet thrill in standing at the edge of a fresh story—one that hasn’t been shaped by expectations yet. There’s also fear. What if it doesn’t work? What if it’s different in ways that surprise readers? What if it asks more of me than I expect?

But that’s part of the work.

I remind myself often that discomfort usually means growth. And growth is where the most meaningful stories come from.

What You Can Expect From Me Going Forward

Over the next few months, you’ll see more behind-the-scenes glimpses into my process, peeks at the world I’m building next, reflections on craft, creativity, and balance, and honest updates, even when things are messy.

I want this space to feel like a conversation, not a press release. A place where I can be transparent about both the highs and the hard parts of building a sustainable creative life.

If You’re in a Transition Season Too

I’ll end with this, because I know many of you are creatives, dreamers, and builders in your own right.

If you’re in a season where things feel slow, plans are shifting, and clarity hasn’t arrived yet, know this:

You’re not behind.

Transitions are part of the process. Pauses aren’t failures. Sometimes the most important work happens quietly, before anything visible changes.

That’s where I am right now. And I’m learning to trust it.

Closing Thoughts

I’m grateful, grounded, and cautiously excited about what’s ahead. I’m building something new. I’m taking my time. And I’m deeply thankful you’re here for the journey.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for waiting. Thank you for believing in the stories I haven’t told yet.

More soon—always.

💛