A New Year!

Time for More Stories

2025 is over. A few of my reading and writing goals came to pass. Others didn’t go quite the way I’d hoped. Still other things happened that I never thought of when the year began, but God had lovingly planned for me.

Let’s take a look, then I’ll share some of my news and hopes for 2026!

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2025 Publications

My original aim for writing in 2025 was to slow down with flash fiction and direct my focus toward my book ideas. But surprise! Flash fiction and short stories (and, to my shock, a poem) are what kept flooding my mind, pouring from my fingers to the keyboard.

I had seven publications this year. Only four of them were new, so I guess technically I did slow down compared to last year. 😉

• “Broken Things” — a flash fiction story published in the Summer 2025 issue of Clean Fiction Magazine

• “Dawn of the Dragon-Son” — a short story published in Twenty Hill’s YA dragon anthology, Amidst Fury and Valor

• “Fog: A Poem on Depression” — a poem published in the Twenty Hill’s collection The Wondrous Nature of Being Alive

• “Pied Piper Pest Control” — a flash fiction story published online with Havok Publishing

(“Ivy & Frost” was the Readers’ Choice winner of Havok’s Remember When season, too!)

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A Podcast Episode

Four of my Havok stories were featured on the Finding Fantasy Reads podcast last spring. And though I’ve probably listened to the episode half a dozen times, it still feels a bit surreal! I loved working with Karyne Norton and hearing how wonderfully she and her brother narrated my fairy tales. Paeter even chose “Bittersweet” as his favorite story to narrate during season two of the podcast. (Yes, I almost cried.)

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2025 Reads

My 2025 reading goal was to study a few writing craft books and fly through a bunch of magical fairy tale retellings. I didn’t get through quite as many books as I’d hoped in either of those categories, but I still read twenty books last year. These were my five favorites!

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Stories in 2026

I’m a mood reader, but the mood also struck me recently to create a book list of fantasy novels and fairy tales for the year. Here it is!

1. Flameheart by Dalton Bequette and Emily Bequette

2. Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer

3. Daughter of the Sun by Amanda Auler

4. The Star-Blessed by Angie Dickinson

5. The Seller of Secrets by Sheri Yutzy

6. Lady Agatha Speaks Her Mind by Elisabeth Aimee Brown

7. The Castle Rose by Tabitha Caplinger

8. Glass Across the Sea by Sara Ella

9. Sky of Seven Colors by Rachelle Nelson

10. Howl’s Moving Castle* by Diana Wynne Jones

11. The Heart of the King by J. J. Fischer

12. Where Darkness Dwells* by Andrea Renae

13. There Bleeds the Light by Andrea Renae

14. And Burns the Dawn by Andrea Renae

15. Wormwood Abbey by Christina Baehr

16. Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater

17. What Comes of Attending the Commoners Ball* by Elisabeth Aimee Brown

18. The Gingerbread Queen by Carrie Anne Noble

19. Romanov by Nadine Brandes

20. A Soul as Cold as Frost by Jennifer Kropf

    *re-reads

I’d also like to read a few non-fiction books this year. These are the ones I selected as hopefuls, but I’m not putting too much pressure on myself to finish all of them.

As for writing? Considering I can’t stop jotting down ideas for flash fiction and short stories, that’s likely the length of tale I’ll stick with for the time being. I’m learning more and more to trust God with this author journey. To write the stories He clearly places on my heart and not stress so much about every opportunity and deadline out there.

I’ve also been pondering and praying about Ephesians 5:15-17—what it means to make “the best use of the time,” particularly in my current season of life. I crave your prayers, too, as I seek to walk carefully and honor the Lord with my days.

All that said, here’s what’s been happening with my writing lately:

• “Daphne’s Dramatic Day” will be published online by Havok in two days! (Remember, try to read or listen to “Fiona’s Fabulous Footwear” beforehand.) It’ll be the first Wacky Wednesday story of the new Havok season, Encore!

• “The Lightkeeper”—a Mystery Monday tale—will be published online by Havok on January 19th. (You can learn more about it and “Daphne’s Dramatic Day” in my recent November newsletter.)

• Speaking of November, that’s when I submitted a secret story for a special writing opportunity, and I hope to hear back about it in the next few months.

• Last week, I submitted another flash fiction story I wrote back in the fall. It involves a captive princess, a blue race of people called “the Denim,” and a gem that’s more than it seems. I should receive a reply about it sometime in March.

I didn’t write any fiction in December—when I wasn’t busy with holiday prep and gatherings, I was soaking in the sweet time at home with my family. But January always sparks excitement in me about the year’s possibilities, and a couple of story ideas have been (loudly) calling my name.

Wishing you all the best this next year, friends! What are some of your own goals and dreams? I’d love to hear about them and cheer you on.

Holly