Look back on 2023
This has been the busiest year of our lives, probably ever. So many big changes and life events happening all in this twelve months. There have been highs and lows, but I think this year has been the happiest I have ever been.
Let’s start with my career. In January, I started getting up at 7am on my week-days off and writing 1,000 words in an hour. That writing routine has seen me finish three first drafts, including Sky Heart’s sequel, a whole new stand-alone and my Nanowrimo 2023 book that is the first in a trilogy. It was also my 5th year doing and winning Nanowrimo. I launched my official author website, lectured in a hobbyist writing course Blood/Ink/Bone that was created by a friend (and we are coming out with new classes for in the New Year) and attended the L.Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future awards for the first time in a few years.
Most importantly, I self-published my debut novel, got to hold my work in my hands for the first time. It was a lot of research and work to get Sky Heart out into the world, but I am so happy and proud of it. As of November, I am now officially a full-time author and am planning on publishing two books in 2024 to grow my catalogue. Thank you guys for your support in this journey and I am so excited to be able to create more.
The next biggest thing that happened was I married my soulmate, the love of my life. We had a small, intimate ceremony on our eight-year anniversary and took a new last name completely our own. It means ‘rose’ in Sindarin, an elvish language created by J.R.R. Tolkien who later used it in his works including The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. We chose this because our song is Rose Tattoo by Dropkick Murphys. Our wedding was perfect, a truly magical day. Later in June, we had a reception to celebrate with all extended friends and family. Married life has been exactly the same in the best way possible and feels more real now that we have officially changed our names.
We’ve spent a lot of time with our close friends this year, from our monthly “game” nights, a day trip to Santa Barbara, whiskey tasting night, Guy Fawkes day bonfire and a Friendsgiving potluck. I am definitely looking forward to more shenanigans with these people in the coming year, despite the fact we are all very much adults now.
Kyle and I also made it back to Renfaire a few days and up to North Fork for a weekend to get more tattoos. We got matching rose tattoos on our ring fingers that hurt so bad, but look very cute. I also got Sting with flowers and a lil bee and three Norse runes for Loki. Hoping maybe to finish off my left sleeve in the coming year, but I also want to get a thigh piece.
Our baby boy, Strider, also turned two in November. He has mellowed a little though he still wants to play endlessly with Papa, but has discovered the joys of cuddle time as well. We go on (almost) daily walks and he loves playing with Danny Boy (my parents’ dog). We are hoping to find more time to train him in the coming year, but he is such a good boy, picking up things really easily and quickly.
My parents got all our lawns redone for the wedding so we have been upgrading our hobbit garden. We have one and a half raised beds mostly built and the layouts for two more. One of these is our herb garden which has taken off well. We have basil, parsley, thyme, green onions and cilantro. We also planted blackberries to use as a privacy hedge (and for fruit) and they have already given us the best blackberries we have ever tasted. It is still a work in progress, but we are excited to continue.
Reading has been spotty for me this year, something I am really aiming to change in 2024, but I did beta read my author friend, Sebastian Nothwell’s newest book, Fiorenzo, that came out in September, which was a lot of fun and it almost rivals Oak King Holly King as my favorite book of all times. (Which I started annotating this year.) I have upgraded my bullet journal style (again), rediscovered my love for Howl’s Moving Castle (both the book and film) and celebrated my first Lokabrenna, a 39-day celebration in honor of my patron, Loki. I have tried to devote more consistent time to my craft, honoring each moon and sabbet more deeply, and hope to practice magick every day in 2024.
I really feel I have discovered my aesthetic this year (mix of modern fantasy and goblincore) and wanting to be more androgynous, also cutting my hair short. I have wanted to do this for years, but have always been too scared. Now, I love it and I don’t think I am going back.
All in all, this has been probably my favorite year yet, though I am exhausted now at the end of it. There is more I want to do, more I want to manifest, but day-to-day, I am happy and content with my life and I want to bring more of that into 2024.
Blessed Holidays and Happy New Year!
