Dear Writing Diary Entry #39

Thank You, Updates On My New Fantasy Project, and Goodbye 2025!

In this entry, I talk about updates on my latest fantasy novel, my last sale of the year, and one of my favorite Christmas memories.

For my birthday, my family surprised me with these gorgeous cakes designed after the works I published this year. They were so beautiful I almost couldn’t bring myself to eat them! Almost . . .

December 16^th, 2025

Dear Writing Diary,

What a year it’s been! This will be my last diary entry for 2025, and as I look back at this year, I’m still blown away by so many moments I once thought would never happen. Only a year ago, I was unpublished and anxious about my writing future. I had been writing books, querying agents, and trying to sell my books to publishers for over a decade without success anywhere in sight. By December of 2024, I had solidified my plans to self-publish, but the result was entirely unknown. I felt as if I were standing on the precipice of a cliff, unsure if I was about to fall or fly once I stepped off the edge. Thanks to you all, my wonderful readers, I not only flew but soared. Thank you so much to all of you who read a copy of The Fated, The Phoenix & The Neverending Winter, and/or The Last Masquerade at the Carousel House! Thank you to everyone who left a review or told someone else about my books. Without you all, my childhood dream of becoming an author would never have come true, and I am so very grateful for the time each of you spent in my imaginary worlds.

Fantasy Novel for 2026

This month, I have been focusing on revising my latest fantasy novel, which revolves around the magic of wishes. I have also started the process of seeking an editor by hosting sample chapter tryouts with a handful of potential editors I have found on Reedsy, and I hope to select my editor early next year to begin revisions of the manuscript. I am constantly surprised by the twists and turns the characters in this story take, which is always a great feeling. Only when my characters jump off the page and start taking actions that I hadn’t planned do I feel as if they are fully developed. Hopefully, sometime later next year, you will be able to experience each of these character’s unique and vibrant personalities for yourselves.

Last Sale of the Year!

I’m hosting the last sale of the year for my novella The Phoenix & The Neverending Winter! Throughout this week and up until this Sunday, December 21^st, the e-book will be available for only $0.99 and the paperback will be $9.99. Given its compact length (less than 200 pages) and winter fantasy theme, the novella is an ideal Christmas stocking stuffer for book lovers about hope and love that fits perfectly with the holiday spirit. It’s easy to tuck into a stocking, and the story itself—about melting a frozen curse with themes of good prevailing over evil—offers a cozy, escapist read perfect for curling up by the fireplace during a cold winter night.

Free Bookish Goodies

I have 2 final promos for this year to share with you! Check them out below to find some free e-books for this holiday season.

· Epic Sci-Fi & Fantasy Giveaway

· Galaxies & Grimoires

One of My Favorite Christmas Memories

Lastly, for the holiday season, I wanted to share one of my favorite Christmas memories. During this time of year, whenever I see nutcrackers and hear songs like the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, I recall the many years I was given the opportunity to be in a professional production of the Nutcracker ballet in various roles. The school I took ballet classes from was also part of a professional ballet company. So, students regularly auditioned and were often cast in the younger roles of the Nutcracker every year. As a refresher, the Nutcracker tells the tale of a girl whose toy nutcracker magically comes to life on Christmas Eve and battles the infamous Mouse King who cursed him into turning into a nutcracker in the first place (he was originally human and in some versions was a prince). *Spoiler* The nutcracker wins and whisks the girl to a magical land of dancing fairies, dolls, and more before she eventually returns to her own world by waking up as if from a dream. Every Nutcracker ballet production has its own variations on this tale, and in the one I was in, the story took place in 1920s Paris, complete with lavish sets and glittering stage chandeliers. My favorite memories from being in the ballet were the times on-stage when it felt as if I was transported to another world.

I almost forgot about the audience entirely when I was fighting as either a toy soldier or mouse amidst the fake smoke and dramatic dance sequences of the battle scene in the first act. I felt as if I really was in 1920s Paris during the Christmas party scene when I was surrounded by the adult professional dancers in glittering flapper dresses and sleek suits, a Titanic-esque staircase, and a live orchestra that’s music was loud enough to keep the audience from hearing the very real conversations and laughter between the dancers onstage.

Looking back, I realize now that the immersive feeling I experienced onstage in these scenes with the sets and costumes is the same feeling I chase now in writing my books. In every novel I write, I feel as if I have really lived in that world, and I strive to give my readers the same experience.

Wishing a Merry Christmas to you all who celebrate and a happy new year!

Here’s to 2025 and being thankful for you all.

-K

I took a break from my writing deadline to celebrate the Christmas festivities with friends at a beautiful vintage hotel that had a similar aesthetic to The Fated. Wishing you a happy and heartwarming holiday season!

P.S. Whoever’s reading this, if you’ve enjoyed these glimpses into my writing life, could you please hit the subscribe button? I would love to share more of my writing journey with you in the future. :)