I have a lot to be thankful for. We’ve (mostly) recovered from the sickness we had, I’ve got a good job and a great boss, the weather (except for the wind) is lovely, Christmas is in 12 days (!), and I have a purring cat on my lap. 🥰 And today I have something very special and specific to be thankful for!

I know I wrote a post just yesterday, but I really don’t care. 😆

On December 13, 2019, I hit the button to self-publish my first book. It was late at night, as I recall, and I was so excited to finally finish the story I’d been working on for three years!

That book was a terrible mess – not researched at all, wildly improbable, and full of cringy description and dialogue. That’s why you will never see it for sale, here or anywhere else. 🤫 But the point is, that was a big step for me! Nobody expects a 15-year-old to be a great author right off the bat (unless said 15-year-old is S.E. Hinton), and it was the beginning of something amazing in my life.

That was seven years ago. I’m now 22, and where is my writing at? I’ve published six books (for real this time!), my writing has gotten WAY better, and I have a website now! I’m slowly building a fanbase (the local homeschool community says I’m famous 🥹) and making friends in different states and even different countries.

At this time last year I was editing We Gave Our Tomorrows. Published in May this year, it’s now my top seller and the book that has provided a lot of firsts. First preorder, first international order, first book read on KU, first Goodreads review from a total stranger. It’s led to many interesting conversations with people (even a few new friends!), and it’s being printed in a game, which will get it out to a far wider audience than I ever imagined.

Who knows where I’ll be at in December of next year? Hopefully Yesterday Was Long Ago will be published and I’ll be working on Motto of Glory or another WIP. Maybe I’ll finally have an Etsy store for signed copies and bookish merch. I’ll probably have a few more fans in my little army. 😊

None of this is my own doing; even though I write and market the books, I have priceless help every step of the way. I’m very much indebted to my wonderful family:
-my dad, who is the greatest editor ever and fills dozens of other indispensable roles 🫶
-my mum, who makes me eat lunch, takes care of me, and often chauffeurs me to events 🥰
-my brother, who is my brainstorm buddy, rant sponge, and military advisor 🫡
– my three kitty muses 😽

And of course my all my lovely readers and the friends who have helped me through the good times and bad! ✨

Most of all Jesus – He is the reason I write, and I could never do any of this without Him. All these blessings are His doing, and I want to take this moment to praise Him for everything. 🙏

Now thank we all our God,
With hearts and hands and voices;
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms
Hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.

Have a very merry Christmas, my dear peeps, and may you receive God’s richest blessings. The One who came as a Baby in a manger is worthy of all our praises, all year round. 💕

(Oh, and me being me, the title is taken from a song – “On a Snowy Christmas Night” (1971) by Elvis Presley. It’s so pretty! 😊)

Give thanks for all you’ve been blessed with,
And hold your loved ones tight;
For you know the Lord’s been good to you
On a snowy Christmas night.