Hey World,

I'm writing to you from Champaign, IL. It's currently 9 degrees (yes, that's Fahrenheit) and when I walked across the snow this morning I saw squirrels huddling in the trees. The little grey creatures looked at me like I was an idiot for being out so early. Since I didn't have a choice in the matter, I could only march on to my presentation. This year sees me back in the hallowed halls of academia--thankfully, just for the week. The rest of my time earning the next degree will be spent online from the comfort of Chicago. And by Chicago, I mean my couch. 

The start of the year always cause me to reflect on the past one. What happened, what didn't. I try not to focus on the should haves. (Like, I should have Catspaw out and don't.) But instead all you can do is focus on what actually did happen--some pretty cool things did get done. And then what you want to carry forward into the new year. When I sat down to write this blog, I wanted to talk about goals. When I actually thought about what I want to accomplish, the long-term aims haven't changed. Keep writing. Keep publishing. Keep moving forward. 

The past two years have been an incredible learning experience in how actually to go about doing that. Both from a creative aspect and in a logistical one. I fully embrace now you can only learn by doing. Let's hope the next book reflects all that I've learned. 

Until then, keep reading and stay warm! 

"You need a stamp," the man said. I let the letter
slide into the teeth of the bin, and the drawer-door close. 
He was wrong, the stranger, you don't.  
You only need a stamp, if you want the words to
get where they're going.
For me, I wanted them gone from the pressing
murmur on my skull, gone from the insidious easing out
​through my hair
to lash me by the throat. 
So I wrote them down instead, put them in
the envelope.
The stranger assumed the words should be 
sent, but I am a modern day witch
and know
most words are better off in the graveyard
of the blue boxes than let loose on the world.