Dearest Diary - December 22, 2025

Last night at 11:59 PM, I got a strong urge to listen to ‘Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story.’ It was also around the time I finished the latest round of revisions on May is Due South (MDS). Again, if you're new here, MDS is my latest WIP about a woman in search of dollar houses in the lowcountry after her lease was abruptly terminated. And... y'all. The utter excitement? I think for a while I had convinced myself I wouldn't finish because I didn't revise a draft of a story I wrote earlier this year. I let my brain poison my confidence, amongst other things, and I had to get a little woo-woo. I always have tricks up my sleeve, but I really believe this story could be decent. I wanted to work on it. I wanted to infuse my love for the Lowcountry in it. I wanted a love story that felt lighter, yknow what I mean? Anyway, I finished that round.

If you're wondering, no, I have not opened my iMac yet. It's still in the box and will probably be there until Christmas Eve or day. My fingers itched to open it yesterday, but to be honest, I wouldn’t even use it until I start the next round of revision. Well, that's a lie. I'd probably download Tiny Bookshop and other games. Spend hours on Pinterest. Plot a new story or re-plot an old one I left on the back burner. But I could just do that on my laptop, so I will be fine for a few more days.

As for my current feelings. I’m still on a social media break, but not out of the loop regarding news, and oh my god it’s just too much. I dumbed down my phone, thinking less social media would help with anxiety, but I fear it's a lobotomy I need because even my daily news check is a bit much. I fear a revolution and an overhaul are overdue. Let’s start all over with people who actually care about everyone, even those outside our borders.

I’m gonna stop before I get carried away, but I had an interesting weekend. As I said, I finished MDS. I aimed to finish it on Friday, but it was a busy one. There was a neighborhood holiday party with a white elephant gift exchange. In true writer fashion, I wrapped up a new set of journals and a pack of pens. I contemplated adding a book, but it would've gone over the $15 threshold. I had my hands on a handmade ceramic tray, and someone stole it because, of course, I was #1.

Is there any other number for me?

The food was fine, and I didn't know what to expect, but I brought classic ham and cheese sliders and had too much eggnog and smoked meat. It was quite the evening with the water in the background and Christmas decorations. Having a house overlooking the lake would definitely make my sulking more atmospheric, but I digress.

As I'm writing this, it is officially the first full day after finishing MDS, and I obviously threw myself into reading—as expected. I actually started last night with Jasmine Guillory's ‘Royal Holiday’ and it made me miss England. For those of you new to the lore, I studied abroad in Exeter. It was essentially my first solo international trip, so it'll stay with me forever like a DUI. But, I finished Guillory in the late afternoon and have already started on the next holiday read, Good Spirits by B.K. Borison. I have heard good things, so if I am disappointed, you'll never hear me talk about it again :)

I feel the need to tell you about how I'm preparing for the new year. For one, I should be setting intentions for the first few months right this moment. According to Chani Nicholas, January will actually be the month to get things done because February gets...murky? I usually do a vision board, but I'd like January to tell me what kind of year it's going to be first. Second, I plan my year around events and book releases. I already have two events I for sure want to attend. One of them I've already secured tickets for, the other hasn't gone on sale. Everything else is confetti. Third, budgeting. EEYUCK. If anyone wants to send me ten million dollars, I’d be grateful. Or if you'd like to gift me a condo in Savannah or a lake house in upstate NY or SC, I'd welcome those for Christmas or my birthday, thank you in advance.

I think those are the major things I'm doing—Oh. Reflection. I will be reflecting on the previous year in my new journal on the first of the month. It seldom lines up that way, but they had this journal at Marshals, and I had to get it. You've prob seen it in my stories. If we're journal twins, lmk. But enough yapping, I must consume all of the books before I return to MDS in January. I must also catch up on TV. I didn't let myself consume anything while revising because I felt I didn’t deserve to consume it, because it was taking me so long to finish. But now I'll let myself watch all of the things and revise. Starting with the new season of Fallout.

Until next time, pals.