Solstice
December's newsletter about dark days, brighter days, and all the days inbetween
Happy Winter Solstice everyone! Each year I like to reflect on this longest night that comes before brighter days. It's fun to think about all the other people throughout all these thousands of years who pondered the same. We write our own meaning. And I think there's as much beauty as peril in that.
I wrote that on social media—the few I’m down to, at least, and it got me thinking that I should write December’s newsletter today. Because it’s been hard not to feel the creeping darkness closing in. In, you know, a metaphorical sense. And, metaphorically, the brighter days ahead are harder to see and harder to feel.
In the Cards
A lot of people aren’t feeling it this year. I don’t blame them. I was happy to send out this year’s holiday card from Paul and I. That being said, I’ll admit, after six years of sending them I was starting to have a hard time thinking of what Christmas or holiday theme I could use for the illustration. In the past we’ve been reindeer, snowmen, birds, gingerbread men, polar bears, and more! I was starting to feel a little tapped out. Also, I wasn’t sure I was in the mood to illustrate it. I wasn’t sure I felt like any of it at all.
But I pushed on through and I’m glad I did. There’s something uniquely rewarding about making something, and then sending it out into the world and hoping, just hoping, that maybe you’re adding a little spark of joy in the world? It reads quaintly grandiose written out like that. I don’t know. Sometimes even straws feel like they’re worth grasping at.
The Master of Shearhaven
Speaking of crafting things and sending them out into the world, I published a book this year. How cool is that? Man, it felt good to get it out in the world. It took the longest of any book I’ve ever written to fully realize. Not because it’s especially long. But it was all about the process. Deciding to continue the story on from post-Civil War into the present day. Deciding to change it from third person to first person and all the editing that took. And then really putting more effort into marketing it, sending out promo boxes, etc. I won’t lie, I was a little exhausted by the time September came around and I’m glad I took some time for myself away from writing after it.
As for how the book’s fared. I don’t know. It’s been okay. I’m still going to be trying to get attention for it, and build its audience over time. There have certainly been frustrations along the way. Lots of lessons learned. But at the end of the day, I’m so proud of that book. I finally got a copy of it into my family’s hands. A long story why that took so long. One of my frustrations with the process. Maybe I’ll go into that another day.
In any case, on Friday my mom said she got her copy in the mail, and that she loved the cover. Then this morning I woke up to this:
That’s the only review I’ve ever needed. I was so tickled. And, yes, my mom read my book overnight. When people doubt BookTokkers who read 30+ books in a month, I just think that they weren’t raised by April Huff. Because believe me, she can read a lot of books quickly. My love of books, sci-if, and superheroes all started with my mom. She also bought me my first typewriter, and we were basically best friends when I was growing up. I fit a lot of gay cliches. And man am I thankful for that.
If you’d like to read more about The Master of Shearhaven, my queer gothic horror / dark fantasy novel, you can visit the fiction page of my website. There are links to various places to buy the book there.
What’s Coming Up Next
I think I’ll do January’s newsletter early in the month. I hope to have some recaps of my favorite books, movies, TV, and more this year, as well as a look at some of the exciting projects I’ll be working on next year!
I’ll be announcing the project I’m currently working on. A new novel that merges two genres I’ve been wanting to write for a long time, but just couldn’t figure out the right story for—until now!
More Ways To Connect
Speaking of upcoming projects, Dharktyde Racers starts very soon! If you don’t know what that project is, I’ll be going into it more soon. But there’s much more info on my site about it, with much more to come. I have site memberships on my official site! There are three membership levels, which get you access to exclusive content, behind the scenes, fiction, and more! You can visit my site or click below to learn more.
