With every new year comes an opportunity for a fresh start. 2025 was a very busy year, which led to me missing the mark on a few goals I had set for myself. That said, I still got a lot done!

In 2026, I’d like to challenge myself on a few fronts:

• Reading – I want to read more this year. As a writer, I feel like I never do enough reading. But also, I’d like to take time to enjoy the storytelling of other more. While I’m not going to set a hard goal for myself, I’ve already chosen my first read of the year (Altered Carbon) and there are a few other books I’m really looking forward to!
• Writing – Finishing Aiko’s Choice (the second, and last, book in the duology) felt like slamming a creative door shut. I’d been living with Aiko and her friends for so long that stepping out of that world has made taking the next step in my writing journey pretty difficult. It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to focus on, but I landed on Infringement, an Adult Cyberpunk project that I’m very excited about. I’m about 55,000 words into the first draft. My ultimate goal for this novel is to have it polished and ready for querying by the end of the year.
• Events – In 2025, I had the opportunity to attend four events. I’d like to beat that this year! I’m already signed up for two, which means I need three more. A new Barnes & Noble opened near me, so I’m going to reach out to see what signings are available, and I plan on having a book release event at a local indie bookstore near the end of February. So, now I just need to find one more event. But obviously, I’d love to get to as many more as I can fit into 2026.
• Blog Posts – Last year, I committed to one blog post a month. I was doing pretty great until around the middle of the year. This year, I’d like to challenge myself to the same goal and meet it. On top of that, I’d like to expand on what I post here a bit. On top of writing updates, I’d like to do book reviews, some “behind the curtain” looks at my writing process, as well as some samples of work that I think is ready for the world but hasn’t had any other outlet.

I’m really looking forward to everything I have planned for 2026. While I’m still early in my publishing career, I can feel the momentum starting to build. And I’m thankful for each and every one of you that has stuck with me as I work my way through the trials and tribulations of getting myself established. Your support throughout my journey has been essential to me making it this far!

Best,

Chase