Hello, dear reader! Pour yourself a glass of blood-red spiced wine and raise your voice in a triumphant toast. We made it to the end of the year, and wherever and whoever you are, I’m proud of you for getting through. I’ve got a bittersweet announcement to share this time around, as well as the round-up of everything I’ve loved this year.
Leaving Agenting
Due to the limits of my professional capacity, I will be leaving angenting in 2024. This was an incredibly difficult decision, as I’ve had nothing but good experiences at Speilburg and am so privileged to work with each of my clients. Unfortunately, there’s simply not enough hours in the day for me to work a full time job, write two books a year, and agent as well. I’ve been in discussion with the agents at Speilburg as well as my clients about this decision for some time, but wanted to take a moment to comment publicly.
Getting your foot in the door in agenting is hard, and making a living at it while juggling other jobs is harder. Agenting has been in every way a dream job for me, but my burnout and overwhelm reached a point where I was performing below my own standards for myself in all areas of life. I knew eventually I would reach a point where I could no longer advocate for my clients at the level they deserved, so I made the hard choice to step back. I don’t want to dissuade anyone who is passionate about this career path from pursuing it; it simply was not right for me in this season of my life.
I sincerely wish all my clients success in their future endeavors, and I will always be so proud to have been trusted with their careers during our time together. They’re an incredibly talented and thoughtful group of people.
I will also always be deeply grateful to agents Alice, Lindsey, Eva, and Sera for showing me the ropes, encouraging me through every challenge and success, and always treating me with compassion. I truly believe Speilburg is one of the best agencies in the business.
Events
I’m thrilled to announce I’ve been chosen as a faculty member for the spring 2024 Futurescapes workshop! I had such a wonderful time as a faculty member last year and am looking forward to meeting a whole new batch of creative people. Registration deadline for early pricing is Dec. 23 and space is limited, so apply now! Futurescapes workshops are taught by leading agents and authors in the speculative fiction space.
EVERYTHING I’VE BEEN LOVING LATELY
What a year! It’s been a total rollercoaster, and I have danced the waltz of death with the looming specter of burnout for most of it. However, despite not having much time to read recreationally, there are five books who take the top spot for me as my best reads of the year. These books have deeply delighted and surprised me, and made me a stronger writer, a more thoughtful person, and a more voracious reader, and that’s why they’ve earned their spot in the round-up.
They are, in no particular order, THE FOXGLOVE KING by Hannah Whitten, WUTHERING HEIGHTS by Emily Bronte, A PERFECT VINTAGE by Chelsea Fagan, THE FAE QUEEN’S CAPTIVE by Sierra Simone, and THE CONTEMPLATIVE TAROT by Brittany Muller.
In addition to reading, I devoured all of Blue Eye Samurai on Netflix, which I can only pitch as Castlevania meets Kill Bill in Edo-Period Japan. I’m also listening to the audiobook of NIGHT FILM by Marisha Pessel, which is a top-tier thriller revolving around a reclusive horror director and his enigmatic daughter.
This year, I also discovered the Quinn app, an audio-erotica app geared towards women’s pleasure that features some of the tastiest, most brain-melting writing and voices around. Just trust me on this one.
Other than that, I’ve been doing a lot of housekeeping, dayjobbing, and writing! The first book in my erotic romantasy series set in Scotland (official title when Saint) is due to my editor in a few weeks, and I’m planning a historic hotel getaway in the new year to help get through the final drafting push. Thoughts and prayers appreciated.
That’s all I have for you this month, my friends, and all I have for you this year! Thank you so much for being here and supporting me in 2023. I look forward to sharing even more stories and some secret news with you in the new year. Be so safe and well until we two meet again, and happiest of holidays, no matter how you celebrate.
-S