Getting Through The Holidays!

Hi dear friends,

I’m trying my best to not let the season overwhelm every cell in my body. But the thing is that I get scared if I don't write, produce, make, create, I'll fall behind, lose the imaginary race in my head. But there is no race. It's ok to rest, read, enjoy the holidays, watch Hallmark movies, put up lights, go on walks, dance in the kitchen, not feel rushed by the expectations we put on ourselves.

Here’s a picture of me getting into the holiday spirit by watching the brilliant Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Since we last time we connected, I finished the revisions to my book. After a billion read throughs, it's pretty much done. These pages have been my life for two years. I can't believe this novel based on my childhood is coming out winter 2026! Can’t WAIT to share it with you. :)

On a very different note, for those of you that are not on social media (congratulations, seriously, you’re protecting your mental health & I admire the hell out of your decision!!!!), I wanted to share what women have to deal with on an almost daily basis. It’s so lonely being a writer and having the virtual writing community in my life is EVERYTHING. But it means having to get stuff like this. My FB account is the only private one I have. I accept friend requests only from people I know OR people in the writing community that my writer friends know, and then after looking at their profiles. I accepted a man who I had 150 writing friends in common….150!!!! His profile looked fine, nothing concerning. Then a few days later I got this. I was grossed out but maybe even more disappointed that even w/ my screening I still got this. I expect it on IG & Twitter since they’re public but was sad to get it on a place I considered “safe-ish.”

On a much a more uplifting note, I wanted to share a few beautiful pieces I’ve loved reading these past few months…

A heartbreaking, thoughtful and important essay about mental illness, shame and family. Thank you for sharing your story with us, Mimi.

I thought this piece was so interesting, something I’ve wondered about for a while.

This piece is so honest, vulnerable, raw and also super informative. Thanks for sharing your story with us, Lisa.

Also, I wanted to share this amazing drawing with you. It broke my heart, not just for the women of Iran, but women around the world.

“Just Take Them and Leave Me Alone,” by Iranian artist, Raoof Haghighi.

Finally, thank you so much for being part of my community! It means the world to me.