Turning soil

Or how a life becomes one well lived

Mar 07, 2025

In the early weeks of Spring, barely after the ground is soft enough to dent, it’s time to start turning it over. Any farmer worth their salt knows, without tilling in this crucial window, your seeds will struggle to take root. So, boots are slipped on. Hands are gloved. Tools are awoken from their winter rest. And the work of growth begins.

This season in my life is a little like that.

I’ve been weathering the cold. Checking the cracks and stuffing them with blankets. I’ve found soft slippers and hot bowls of soup and stuck my icy toes into overheated pockets of my lover’s skin. I’ve found happiness in the hibernation. I’ve found rehabilitation in the slow, sleepy pace of a winter day.

Now, it’s time to strike my fingers into warm soil and dig.

Turning is a way to break up the stubbornness of a soil that’s been in survival mode too long. It’s to whisper to it, it’s over and the sun is out now. It’s to remind it that growth cannot come without change and to support it with the mixture of nutrients it needs to loosen it’s death hold.

And who am I if not a daughter of the dirt?

I’ve been asking myself often what a life well lived looks like. Whether it’s only filled with dabbling in the experiences of existence or if it’s found in the mastery of the mundane. I’ve wondered if doing and being and striving are all besides the point. If maybe we only need to accept our mere presence is all the world desires; if by chance it’s the ultimate success.

I’ve been laughing more, relaxing the tension of never being enough, and letting failure slip away into its true name, experience.

There’s a quote that’s been popping up across the internet for me lately, and though the words change, the concept is utterly the same:

The only thing that stands between you and the things you want is the willingness to be perceived doing them.

We want to see the view from the top of our metaphorical mountains of success but we’re all so scared of the ride up, that we’re willing to sit at the ground floor, tilting our heads back and wishing the top was on the bottom with us. But that isn’t how mountains work. To see farther, you must climb.

So, that’s what I’m doing, in slow metered steps.

I published my first novel last year—asked the world to judge a book that the traditional market had rejected. I started posting more videos of myself, although I believe vehemently I’m better in person and come across awkward online. I messaged and emailed and reached out to strangers, asking them to perceive me. To not only acknowledge but enthusiastically accept my existence. I posted about networking groups (that failed) and meet ups (where one person showed) and created graphics or posts (that had less comments or likes than hours it took to make them).

I tried. And in trying, I’m sure I’ve made a few of you cringe. I’m sure I’ve been unfollowed. I’m positive I’ve been talked about in hushed tones and closed doors about how sad it is that I’m out here trying when it isn’t working.

But, here’s the thing… it is.

Less than a year ago I had less than 400 followers on any platform. Now? Almost all of them (save TikTok because LORD KNOWS I haven’t cracked any code LOL) I have over 1k. My views and reach were under 1k and now, they’re over 40k every 2 weeks. In the 5 months since my book launched I’ve sold at least a book a day with my KU reads being in the thousands. I’ve met some of my best friends—people who genuinely cheer me on, who want me around, and who make me feel seen. I have the best fucking readers—they DM me and scream about my books and like and comment and recommend my book to their friends and book clubs, all without asking for anything in return. I had an amazing narrator ask to narrate a scene in MY book. I’m doing my first book event/convention.

There’s just so much that has happened in the less than a year I’ve been putting myself out there to be perceived that would’ve never come to pass.

And yeah, I’m not a NYT best seller… YET.

But, as you know my friends, the climb isn’t over.

There are so many gears working, and every time I put myself out there, another one starts spinning.

So, here’s my advice to you, dear reader (even if it is unsolicited): push past your fears and let yourself, and your climb up that hill, be perceived. Ignore the cringe. Ignore the gasps at your audacity. People only do that because they, themselves, are scared. Anyone who’s reaching a hand down from the top for you, isn’t surprised or scandalized or judging you. They know what it takes to get there. And since those are the people you want to surround yourself with, shake off the confines of your winter soil and prepare for change. Prepare to feel uncomfortable and allow the nutrients of new experiences to get you ready for all the flowers.

News

Giveaway

I’m sorry I missed February’s newsletter! I have been working on your giveaway and TBH, I’ve been failing horribly!

My hope is to rebind and create a few custom covers for The Truths We Make and give them away to newsletter subscribers. A friend and I have had two book binding dates that have crashed and burned BUT we’re hopeful that Tuesday’s get together will finally be successful!

That being said, you’ll want to tell your friends and share about my newsletter because I will be taking entries in the form of engagement (referrals, likes, comments, etc.) on my newsletter starting from the beginning of the year. I’ll have formal details on this giveaway once I have the books recovered!

Share Moods & Mayhem

The Fact of Poetry Workshop

I am hosting a writing workshop! Sunday, March 16 at 9am PST, I will host a writing workshop on Zoom that will help novelists and fiction writers use poetry techniques to level up their line level writing skills. We’re going to be using real poetry and literary examples and how the tools are interchangeable for different writing mediums. The workshop will be recorded and available for replay. It is a pay-what-you-want ticket with the suggested price of $5.

I would love to see you there! If you are unable to attend, if you would please share my post, I would be forever grateful.

New Book Alert!

You know that book II in the House of Poe series will be out this year, but in the meantime, I am working on the release of my sad girl, rom-com. If you are interested in learning more and signing up to beta read this project, please fill out this form: Beta Reading Form

Please note that this is not solidified yet. Dates are subject to change and it currently is still on submission with a publisher. But I am preparing to pull it and self publish this in June 2025.

Emerald City Romance Reader & Author Event

I will be at the Emerald City Romance Reader & Author Event! If you are in the Seattle area, or planning to visit, I would LOVE to see you! Tickets are only $12 for general admission. We’re planning on a having a fun time.

Date and time

Saturday, June 14 · 11am - 5pm PDT

Location

South Seattle College

6000 16th Avenue Southwest Seattle, WA 98106

Buy tickets here

eBook on sale!

The eBook of The Truths We Make is currently on sale on Amazon for $2.99. Get and read it now before the conclusion comes out later this year! (But don’t worry, it’s not that big of a cliffhanger!)

Buy TTWM eBook here

Today was a big newsletter day and I’m sorry I’ve waited this long to drop all of it. There, of course, is more, but I know that I need to save it for another time. I’m so excited to share this journey with all of you and I genuinely hope we can connect and that you find something helpful or comforting in my words.

Until Spring.