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Nothing says Happy New Year like vomit and diarrhea. Literally starting on New Year’s Day, my entire family has succumbed to this 24 hour stomach bug. We were like dominoes: one person falling each day (or more accurately, in the middle of the night) until there was none.
I am grateful to Not Yoongi for being the last to fall. He took care of us all and stayed up with 3 out of 5 kids as they barfed all night. Poor man was the last one standing.
I’m also grateful that though we were miserable, the symptoms were short-lived and for the most part, not terrible or life-threatening.
Today’s a short newsletter because I’m just not up to it!
As with last week, you will find the following in today’s newsletter (feel free to skip to those parts):
- Personal note
- What brought me joy this week!
- What challenged me
- What else?
- Support and love our community
- Tell me more
Personal note
Currently, I’m having a discussion on my socials about the word “blessing” and its connotations.
When someone wishes you “blessings” in the context of congratulations, do you automatically assume they are religious? I never have—but I read recently someone interpreting it as violence from a deity they do not believe in. They wanted to normalize congratulating people without saying anything religious and they included “blessings” in that category.
Is “blessings” one of those nouns that presumes a deity? I personally use it because I want good things for the people I care about, but I don’t want to use it if it makes people feel as if they are held hostage to a religious belief. Just curious what folks think, so please reply to this email and let me know. Or, if you prefer, feel free to chime in on my Threads post! (Also, please let us discuss in good faith.)
What brought me joy
Honestly, staying in bed and cozying with my kiddos brought me joy. Also, watching them love and care for each other. It sounds so cliche (and I suppose it is), but it’s true. I hope that they can continue to be good friends and family as they grow older and pursue their own identities away from family.
My brother does such a great job of checking in with me, texting, and making sure I am involved in his life. I hope the same for my children (albeit, I wish they would live closer to me and each other than my brother does).
Oh, and I found two amazingly kind reviews—from actual strangers—for my books! I’m always amazed by how much people get from stories that I didn’t consciously try to put in. It’s also cool to see other people explain my book so much better than I ever could.
If you have read either “Illusive” or “Weightless,” I would so appreciate if you could review them on Amazon or Goodreads or Storygraph. Reviews especially help with indie authors like myself, because it helps other readers decide if my book is worth their time/money. Even rating it with stars is helpful, so if you only have the bandwidth for that, I totally understand.
What brought you joy this first official week of the new year? Please reply to this email and let me know!
What challenged me
Norovirus or whatever stomach bug. That’s it. That’s the post.
What else
I finally had my final ADHD assessment with the psychiatrist and they’ll get back to me in approximately ten business days. Apparently, they will go through all my interviews, intakes, and questionnaire forms with the whole team and then give me a diagnosis (or not). I have found the entire process to be fascinating and surprisingly helpful (excepting the printer fiasco—but that’s not their fault).
As I’ve been doing, here is a quote from my first novel, “Illusive.” It’s so hard finding quotes from my books because honestly, they can be so sad—and I’m not really a quippy one-liner type of writer. Everything requires so much context that I feel bad to subject you all with my words. But they’re good words, and 2025 is all about being bold about my work.
“When I piss off Mina noona that badly, I usually send something expensive and sparkly right away to make amends,” the older man said, “along with prints of my ugliest pictures.”
Woo-jin scoffed. “That seems like it would just make her madder,” he observed.
“Oh, it absolutely does—it doesn’t help at all,” chuckled Ye-jun, “but I do it anyway because it also makes her laugh. If I can make her laugh, she’s more than halfway to forgiving me.”
“Not everyone has your face, Hyung,” Jae-sung said absently while typing busily on his phone. It was his common refrain to Ye-jun whenever the eldest member gave advice that hinged upon his fantastic face.
“Well, that’s not my fault,” protested Ye-jun, “but Hiro isn’t terrible looking and I’m sure Katie doesn’t mind his looks.” He paused to think and then added, “Maybe you should send pics of your abs, Hiro. I know she’s weak for those—Mina has told me on more than one occasion. Like abs are hard to get or something.”
I’m currently working on editing a novella in an entirely different universe for spring, and I hope to send you links to that soon!
Support and love our community
Now, for my favorite part of my newsletter!
I firmly believe in mutual aid and helping uplift and support our community when our current societal structures fail people.
One of my acquaintances, Chaya Milchtein, is the author of a “Mechanic Shop Femme’s Guide to Car Ownership,” as well as a speaker. Last year at this time, she was about to embark on a 16-city book tour at queer and POC-owned mechanic shops all over the country. Then she lost a major sponsor as well as got really sick with whooping cough and was unable to work. As she says on her GoFundMe, “We’re all one paycheck from disaster, and I haven’t had a paycheck in three months. I need help keeping me and my business afloat until things turn around, or I’ll have to throw in the towel and close Mechanic Shop Femme.”
Please consider buying her book and/or donating to her GFM if you are able. Every little bit helps.
Also, if you know of a project or someone who could benefit from support, please let me know! I make no promises, but I know that when people spread awareness about something, sometimes, it takes on a life and energy of its own. I’m open to sharing and using my platform to help in any way that I can.
Tell me more
And finally, how are you doing? How was your New Year’s Eve and Day? Do you have any goals for 2025? Reply to this newsletter and let me know! I will try to reply in a timely manner. It really does make me feel so honored and happy to hear from readers.
May you have a week full of chaotic joy!
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