2025 is a monumental year in many ways. This year is when I turn 30. It’s the benchmark by which society has determined to measure success. As an author, how do I measure up to that guide?
Benchmarks
- In 4.5 years, I will have published 4 novels and 2 D&D companion books and been included in an anthology—that’s over 500,000 words of published writing!
- In 2023, I organized an international book tour with packed events in Scotland.
- The Dragonwolf trilogy is in over a dozen libraries in Scotland in two counties, and Ranger’s Odyssey is in multiple libraries in nearly a dozen US states.
- The books are available in a handful of brick-and-mortar stores in the US and Scotland and are available from online databases worldwide.
- From 2021 through 2025, I will have participated in 20+ events.
- Based on royalty calculations and events, Ambergrove has well over 1000 adventurers. This isn’t including those who have read the books from the library and not purchased personal copies.
- I have run dozens of sessions of Paeor’s Game at events (faires and libraries).
I have been blessed in my capacity as an author and in Ambergrove’s bounty of adventurers. As a person who has never felt “___ enough,” it is eye-opening to see these accomplishments all together, and it presses me to breathe and to not impose such rigorous standards upon my free time—because that’s what it is. All of Ambergrove was created, built, and expanded upon in my free time.
I have been pushing myself to finish EotA out of some self-imposed deadline, thinking that I’ve been slacking in not having EotA completed when I’d planned, but even without any publications in 2024, I have written, thoroughly edited, and published 6 full books and contributed to a 7th in 4.5 years.
Benching
2025 also brought my head injury the first week of January. Now, a little over a month into recovery, it is clear that this injury will have lasting effects and will be slow to heal. After a fashion, I was able to review the Ambergrovian Adventurer’s Guide interior proofs … by having my husband look through the proofs and tell me page numbers for my modification form so I wouldn’t strain my brain by reviewing the PDF multiple times.
After speaking with my doctors, they’ve determined that this level of difficulty will be likely in the months to come. It may be months before I will be able to sit down and work on writing again. I can only focus on something for about an hour at a time before I need to rest, and the more thought the task takes the less time I can do it before it causes headaches, nausea, and other such effects. My day job causes a moderate strain, editing causes a significant strain, and writing causes a severe strain.
I have months of recovery ahead of me before I can return to all the things I was able to do before this injury—though I have been assured that I will be able to return to them. I just need time. As such, I have made the difficult decision to bench myself for 2025.
What’s in store for 2025?
I will complete publication of the Ambergrovian Adventurer’s Guide, expected to be available in March. I will attend all scheduled events. I will send out the monthly newsletter and post the Authorly Advice blog. I will update the website and socials as there are updates to provide.
I will not be writing any books. EotA has been pushed to Q2 2026 to give me enough time to heal and properly complete it once I have healed.
Otherwise, I will be slowly growing my capacity throughout the year by reading, completing simple puzzles, and practicing mindfulness.
Ember’s adventure will continue in 2026.
Tales of Ambergrove 