It’s hard to feel like your creativity matters when the world seems like it’s going down the tubes little by little every day. You get angry, upset, and it feels like that thing you’re working on is insignificant because it’s probably not going to change the world. Hell, no one in the world might ever see it. Maybe it’ll just be a couple hundred people, maybe just family and friends. Maybe even just you.
But it is very important that you keep working on that thing. I do not care how small it is or how long it takes you to finish it. You must keep working on it. The little things you do matter, whether it’s for yourself or for some long term goal.
That’s what a lot of this year felt like for me: finding solace in little victories between seemingly nonstop bad news.
Book Publishing Updates
There’s not much to say here other than I’m still writing. I have a finished book that will (hopefully) go out to editors in the near future, but nothing is ever certain in publishing. Suffice it to say I’m very proud of the book and I hope it finds its way into your hands someday soon.
In the meantime, I started writing another book I’ve had stewing for years, one that I’ve longed to write but knew I had to wait on because I wasn’t ready to tackle it yet. I’ve put a good amount of work into it this year and I’m beginning to see the light through the trees.
Short Stories
I had two short stories published this year! Three if you want to count a physical release!
Last year, my story “Bonaparte’s Ghost” was included in a folklore anthology titled Whispers in the Earth. Earlier this year, the physical editions of the book went out and it is a gorgeous piece of work with illustrations made by Gabriela Houston, who put the whole thing together. I’m very thankful to have been included alongside so many great authors.
My short horror story “Brain Nine and the Masseuse” was published in the March 2025 issue of Cosmic Horror Monthly. When I first started to take writing seriously, I tried my hand at writing short horror stories and sent them out to various publications. Nothing came of them. I figured maybe that just wasn’t my strong suit. I’m glad I’ve proven myself wrong.
Finally, “The Cons of Counting Eggs” won third place in Reach Your Apex’s Weird West Quickdraw Flash Fiction Contest! The contest was judged by author KC Grifant. I’m especially proud of this story not just because it won, but because it means a story from my western-velociraptor world is officially published! Time will tell if any other raptor stories make it out into the world.
Favorite Things
Books:
Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson
Those Fatal Flowers by Shannon Ives
Grave Empire by Richard Swan
The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson
The Expanse Books 1-2 by James S.A. Corey
Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R.R. Martin
Absolute Batman Vol. 1 by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Frank Martin
Movies:
Superman
The Long Walk
Weapons
Predator: Killer of Killers
Thunderbolts*
28 Years Later
Sinners
Wake Up Dead Man
Television:
Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2
Daredevil: Born Again
The Legend of Vox Machina Season 1-2
Only Murders in the Building Season 5
Murderbot Season 1
Andor Season 2
The Pitt Season 1
The Last of Us Season 2
Batman The Animated Series (Long-time fan here but showing it to my kiddo for the first time)
Video Games:
Mass Effect Trilogy Legendary Edition
Hollow Knight Silksong
Resident Evil 4 (Remake)
Helldivers 2
If you wanna read about my favorite music from 2025, head over to Metal Insider.