When I sat down to write this, I thought it would be a short reflection. Something simple to wrap up the first quarter of the year. But once I started listing everything that happened, I had to stop and take a breath, because it was more than I expected.
Not in a way that feels like bragging, but in that strange, quiet way where you look at your own life and realize how much has actually moved forward while you were just focused on the next step.
Finishing What I Started
For years, Silence and Mayhem sat in the background as a project I kept meaning to finish. There was always a reason to delay it, whether that was timing, other priorities, or the sense that it needed to be better before I could put it out into the world.
If I’m being honest, part of that delay came from hesitation. Finishing something removes the safety net of “someday” and replaces it with something real that people can experience, critique, and respond to.
This quarter, I released four short stories into that anthology and finally completed it. That alone felt like a major shift, because finishing something you’ve carried for years changes how you see yourself. It replaces doubt with proof that you can follow through.
Five Pre-Orders and a Surreal Moment
At the same time, I now have five projects up for pre-order: Yaira: Frost & Ruin, Dirty Deeds: Jail Break, Smuggler’s Stitch, Dirty Deeds #2, and the completed Silence and Mayhem anthology.
Even writing that out still feels surreal. There was a time where getting one project out felt overwhelming, and now I’m looking at five at once. It’s something I’m still processing.
What has meant the most, though, is the response. The support, the messages, and the excitement from readers have been incredibly humbling. It’s one thing to create something, but it’s another to see people connect with it and want more. I don’t take that lightly, and I’m genuinely grateful for everyone who has shown up and supported these projects.
Health, Perspective, and What Actually Matters
This quarter also included something much heavier. I went through cancer surgery and recovered well, and I’m in a strong position heading into my second surgery.
The physical recovery is one part of that experience, but what has stayed with me the most is the support I received during that time. The messages, the check-ins, and the small acts of kindness added up in a way that I didn’t expect.
There’s a common narrative that people are disconnected or too focused on their own lives to show up for others, but that wasn’t my experience. What I saw was people stepping forward, offering support, and being present in ways that mattered.
That experience restored a lot of my faith in people, and it reminded me that even when things feel dark, there are still people willing to be a light in that space.
Moments That Shaped Me
Outside of work and health, I had the chance to attend MegaCon, which ended up being a meaningful experience in its own way. I met people who were part of projects that shaped me growing up, and that kind of moment is hard to fully describe.
Standing across from someone whose work influenced your perspective long before you ever imagined being in the same space creates a sense of connection that sticks with you. It’s a reminder of how much impact stories can have, even when the creator never sees it directly.
It also reinforced the kind of impact I want to have with my own work moving forward.
Building Something Bigger
One of the biggest steps I took this quarter was creating my own publishing company. The goal isn’t just to release books, but to build something that aligns with a mission I care deeply about.
Working alongside ComicBooks for Kids, I want to help provide stories to children who are in hospitals and cancer centers. Stories can offer comfort, distraction, and even a sense of hope when someone is going through something difficult.
If I’m going to build something, I want it to have that kind of impact. I want it to matter beyond just the product itself.
Collaboration and Community
I also had the opportunity to help release a film with Rising Tide Media, a group of creators who are currently running a Kickstarter campaign. Being part of that process and seeing the level of dedication and effort they bring to their work was inspiring.
What stood out the most was the people behind the project. They are committed, driven, and willing to put in the work to bring something meaningful to life. Those are the kinds of people I want to surround myself with, and those are the kinds of collaborations I want to continue building.
Showing Up Where I’m Needed
On a personal level, I also stepped in to help my husband with his business. He works with independent creators and business owners to help them grow, improve their systems, and increase their income.
He’s the one doing the core work, and I’m supporting on the social media side. Even in that role, it has been a valuable reminder of how much structure, clarity, and consistency can impact a business.
It may not be the most visible work, but it matters, and I’m glad to be part of supporting what he’s building.
Understanding Momentum
Looking at everything written out like this, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the amount of progress in a short period of time. What’s important to recognize, though, is that none of this happened all at once.
It came from showing up consistently, making decisions, and taking action even when it wasn’t comfortable. Momentum isn’t built through one big moment. It’s built through repeated effort over time.
For me, a lot of this progress came from reaching a point of discomfort. Cancer forced me to confront where I was and whether I was actually satisfied with it. The answer was no.
Once that became clear, staying the same was no longer an option.
What Comes Next
This quarter isn’t the finish line. It’s the starting point for what comes next. Every project, every step forward, and every challenge faced has contributed to a larger direction.
There is more to build, more to write, and more to create. I’m not interested in slowing down, because now I’ve seen what’s possible when I commit fully and follow through.
Growth doesn’t stop once you hit a milestone. It continues as long as you’re willing to keep moving forward.
Closing
If you supported me in any way this quarter, I want to say thank you. Whether you bought a book, shared something, sent a message, or simply followed along, you played a role in this.
If you’re in a place where you feel stuck or uncertain, it’s worth paying attention to that discomfort. Sometimes that feeling is what pushes you to make the changes you’ve been putting off.
For me, that discomfort turned into action, and that action turned into progress.
And this is only the beginning.
I will rise again.