2024

2024: I don't want to go through that again. Personally, the year was hellish. Professionally, I had amazing moments and hit milestones I'm truly proud of:

I signed a whopping five book deals, including one Big Five contract, three with other publishers I adore and one special edition deal I'm really excited about (the last two TBA)

I signed with literary agent Becky LeJeune and she has been supportive, warm and brilliant. She reminds me to rest, which I need. We have plans. I'm excited.

I rehomed my orphaned book THE FOLLY with Datura Books. The relaunch was a wholly different experience to the original launch. I feel blessed.

I self-published two novelettes, FERAL and SANTA'S GROTTO and saw amazon royalties return to the best monthly sales since early 2023.

I brought out destination horror story collection ALL WHO WANDER ARE LOST with Cemetery Gates Media, who have always been brilliant.

I launched podcast, WYRD, WILD AND WONDERFUL (only one episode but I'm working on it)

I read 400+ submissions for ancestral horror anthology ROOTS OF MY FEARS (still haven't finalised) for Titan books, which is going to be 🔥

I wrote four short stories

I had 'Eggshell' and 'The Zoo' performed by The NoSleep Podcast, and 'Less Exalted Tastes' narrated on the fabulous Pseudopod

WHITE PINES came out in Spanish as PINOS BLANCOS, in the most beautiful edition imaginable, from Dilatando Mentes

I went to Authorcon, Stokercon and Worldcon and had the best of times with my Halloween People, filling the cup. I learned the fine art of gatecrashing publishing parties.

I had some very cool calls about a certain screenplay adaptation I wrote (and am still writing lol), and this is the closest I've been yet to realising my childhood dream of working in the movies.

And that's enough. Outside of book world, I travelled, hiked, wandered, dreamed and loved, hard. I said goodbye to people and hello to others. I tried my damndest to be a good mother, partner, friend. I didn't always succeed and I didn't take care of myself particularly well. Maybe 2025 will be less chaotic. Maybe not. Our boiler is currently broken so that's nice. Ending the year with real dedication to the chaotic cause, I almost respect that.

I wish everyone a brilliant New Year. I have a few resolutions, but the overriding theme is this: happiness. Whatever it looks like. Hope I manage it 🖤