SECOND ACT STORIES

Hello, dear friends,

As the final days of 2025 settle around us like a soft snowfall, I find myself pausing more often, letting the quiet gather, letting the year replay in fragments, letting gratitude rise to the surface. December always asks us to look back, but this year, the reflection feels deeper. Softer. More honest.

This was a year of rebuilding and reimagining.
Of writing new pages in my life and returning to old ones with a different heart.
Of resilience shaped in small, consistent choices, showing up, trying again, trusting the process even when the road felt uncertain.

And through it all, you were here.

Gratitude for the Journey We Shared

Thank you for reading my words, for listening to the poems I recorded, for walking beside me through the creation of The Shape of Healing, The Taste of Crimson, and the growing world of my poetry collections. Thank you for showing up in my inbox, on my social media, and in your own quiet reflections. Every comment, every message, every “this resonated with me” has meant more than I can fully say.

This newsletter began as a simple way to connect—but it has grown into one of my favorite spaces to show up as my full creative self. Your support has made that possible.

Resilience in the Quiet Places

2025 asked me to stretch.
To rest.
To trust.
To step into the unknown chapters of my second act with both courage and curiosity.

It wasn’t always graceful. It wasn't always easy.
But resilience doesn’t always roar.
Sometimes it whispers: try again.
Sometimes it rests: pause here.
Sometimes it breaks open new possibilities the moment we decide not to quit.

If you are ending this year with tender parts, unfinished dreams, or questions that still feel heavy—you’re not alone. You’re human. And you’re growing, even when it doesn’t feel like it.

A Sneak Peek at What’s Coming in 2026

Next year is already humming with creative energy, and I can’t wait to share what’s in motion:

✨ The Taste of Crimson: Angyel — releasing on February 14, 2026, with early surprises for newsletter subscribers.

✨ New poetry collections — including more from Raised by Wind and fresh pieces exploring healing, desire, identity, and transformation.
✨ Behind-the-scenes writing notes — deeper dives into my process, character development, and the emotional truth behind the stories.
✨ Community features & prompts — ways for you to engage more with your own creative practice.

And maybe… a few projects I’m still holding close for now.
Some things grow best in quiet beginnings.

My Wish for You as the Year Ends

As you step into the last stretch of December, I hope you find moments of peace among the noise, warmth in unexpected places, and reminders of your own resilience woven through the days.

May 2025 close gently for you.
May 2026 open with hope, clarity, and a spark that feels yours entirely.

Thank you for being part of my second act.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of yours.

Until next year,