To learn more about the FORGED series, visit the Table of Contents.
Kicking off 2025
I know. Everyone is talking about whatโs new in the New Yearโฆ Something about switching the calendar year makes this time of year a catalyst for re-assessing. A time for renewing oneโs commitments to eat better, sleep more, and de-clutter.
Iโm not immune to the pull.
In anticipation of having this same innate drive to start the year with renewed energy and focus, Iโve spent the last week or so working on a few things for this newsletter.
Consistency is key
In my last newsletter of 2024, I discussed the naming of my publication. When I started in May of 2024, I wasnโt entirely sure how to use Substack nor how I wanted to present myself. When selecting a name for my publication, I dove into my history and chose a saying from my days as a young dancerโsince โstub a toeโ didnโt seem to fit as a newsletter name, I went with my other favorite, โwhen in doubt, walk in a circle.โ
As a new-to-Substack writer, I felt a similar sense of stage fright that I experienced as a dancer. Instead of freezing in front of the audience, I knew I needed a moment to collect my thoughts and (break eye contact from the audience to) jump-start my brain. And thus, I named the publication the very phrase that brought me comfort when in the spotlight as a dancer.
Going forward, I wanted to bring more consistency to my points of contact with readers. My publication is now called by CB Mason, to tie back to my handles on other platforms. Besides Substack, you can find me on my author website (coming soon), Instagram, Facebook, Goodreads, TikTok (not that Iโve postedโฆ yet), and Linktree.
This post is public, so feel free to share it. (Someone in your community might be interested too!)
Fresh Look
By nature, I am a โpile-makerโโjust ask my family, and they will tell you that no horizontal surface around me is safeโbut I take real satisfaction in periodically de-cluttering. I also find joy in creating visuals, perhaps as an extension of my physical (dancing/fitness) and cerebral (writing) creative outlets. Though I donโt create art so much as dabble with art-like creations, I can spend hours doodling or playing in Canva. And I have secretly wanted to master all the adobe programs despite struggling to find the time.
Back in May, I had official โauthor photosโ taken. Iโve been itching to get my hands on the images from my publisher. Now that I have them, Iโve updated the look of my publication with new profile and banner logos. I spent way too many hours finessing the banner logoโan embarrassing amount of time, reallyโbut I finally created one that fits the look and feel (and size requirements).
Next, I explored my favorite publications to read to see what (besides their writing) appealed most to me. Iโve updated my publication with a new set of fonts and colors.
What do you think?
Goals for 2025
In my next newsletter, Iโll return to giving snippets of the FORGED series world with more character profiles, background world-building stories, and sneak peeks into Shattered, book one of the series. Depending on the โreal jobโ situation, the frequency of my newsletter may shift as real life happens. Maybe someday Iโll be free to spend all my time writing. Until then, the paycheck is necessary, so writing will have to fit in between my other responsibilities.
Another turn and I stepped into a beam of light as it broke through the foliage. I blinked up into the brilliant sky mottled with yellows, oranges, purples, and blues. The golden hour display stilled my feet, stole my breath.
The silhouette of a lone barred owl swooped on the evening air currents, and my heart raced at the sight.
Oh, to fly. To feel the wind as I soared high above the trees. To be freeโฆ
Excerpt from Shattered, book one of the FORGED Series, coming in 2025 from Provender Press
Beyond the brainstormed compilation of collected quotes, excerpts, and topics I want to discuss as the release of Shattered approaches, I plan to expand on some backstories and side threads I mentioned in my microdosing exercises last summer.
My list-making brain is buzzing with happy endorphins, knowing that I have a tentative plan ready from which to pull ideas. However, Iโm neither a straightforward plotter nor a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants-er, but more of a โplantserโโฆ Itโs like planting seeds in a starter pot. Once germination happens, I can take joy in transplanting and tending to its growth here in this newsletter (or maybe even in a longer format)! So my list may end up at the bottom of a pile somewhere, quickly forgotten until I get the itch to de-clutter and unearth it. Just knowing that I have a listโsomewhereโgives me solace that I wonโt run out of ideas for you!
Upcoming
Back in November, I participated in the special Substack event created by
and that paid tribute to the ground-breaking creation, Rod Serlingโs The Twilight Zone, on the 66th anniversary of the first airing of the iconic show. (Side note: I was honored to have my image selected for the Rod Serling Memorial Foundation blog post. Check it out here.)Iโm proud to announce that my short story, The Sun and the Moon, will be included in The Midnight Vault | Unlocking Worlds of Sci-Fi, Horror, and the Unknown, a collection of Substack Zone submissions to be published under the guidance of
and in March 2025.The entire Substack Zone experience was amazing, and I hope to do more collaborations on Substack in 2025.
What Iโm reading
Iโm a bit behind on my readingโThe Substack Zone and The Twelve Days of Christmas events sent me down rabbit holes, and I neglected my regular readings. Here are some of my favorite pieces Iโve consumed (and some I hope to read soon), available on Substack. You might enjoy them too!
Catching Ghost - The Twelve Days of ChristmasโDark Tidings was a Substack special holiday event, and like The Substack Zone special event on November 24, 2024, Dark Tidings had some amazing creative powerhouses participating.
kicked off the event with a stellar piece (my favorite in the group). If you missed them, be sure to check them all out here. (Thanks, , for all you do to bring awareness to fiction on the โStack!).8 Questions forโฆ Claudia Befu - One of the publications Iโve fallen behind on since November is the Story Voyager. I hopped over to see how many are on my TBR list and came across this interview by
(I love these insightful exchanges!) with one of my favorite writers on Substack, . Sorry, Claudia, that my star ratings on your publication are droppingโฆ Iโm coming back! The Cooperatives are at the top of my list to binge-read in 2025.The Weight Of Snow - Be ready to be transported with words from
and accompanying music from to a bone-chilling, grief-filled walk in a desolate winterscape.- of the tells a frightening tale. What has led society to this need for procreation licenses? Nicole, I wonder if you plan to explore this world you have introduced to usโฆ I hope so!
ASSROOM comic strip - One of my guilty pleasures has been reading a daily comic from
of Lipstick Thoughts. Each morning, as I wait for my tea to steep, I follow Magโs journey. Everyone should include a daily โassassin roommateโ adventure in their routine!
Before you go
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Questions
Although I have a list of ideas to write about, what do you want to see from me? Ask me a question or request a topic for discussion!
Iโve admitted to being a secret โartistโโwhat do you enjoy doing even though you donโt define yourself as โskilledโ or โtalentedโ or otherwise label yourself?
Do you have any New Yearโs Resolutions? Mine is to lift more heavy things.๐๏ธโโ๏ธ
You look fabulous!
Happy New Year ๐ฅณ๐ฅ! Good luck with your 2025 writing goals and, as always, thank you for your support! ๐ค