I'm a bit late on my Friday post again. last week had a lot going on. Friday was my last day at the Outpost. And since they have everything on sale it was busy. After work I jumped right into a craft fair, which was also busy. It didn't result in as many sales as I would have liked, but we did finally pass the 200 mark for copies of Madamn sold!

I have one more in person event before the end of the year in my hometown. While I don't think I will sell 800 copies, I am grateful I decided to increase my goal from the simple 100 books by the end of the year. It's been a thrill to watch all of the sale numbers and to be learning and growing so much since the launch. 

With any luck, I would love to sell another 50 copies before the end of the year. That would allow me to at least make it to 25% of the original goal, which feels both doable and a great milestone. I just love nice, round numbers like that, they are so satisfying!

Also exciting, Madamn continues to get great reviews. I had someone stop me in the street last week to say how much they were enjoying my book, and at the craft fair, I had no less than 3 people stop and say they haven't finished it yet, but they are just so impressed with how well it is written. I can't tell you how much that means to small indie authors.

If you have a book you enjoy, please reach out to the author and let them know. Writing can be a lonely business and you can really get into your own head with questions and self doubt. We live for little comments like these. Even more so when they are shared with others. 

Anywho, since I'm no longer at the Outpost and unable to holiday travel today (gotta love Wyoming weather), I plan to finally get started writing a few scenes for my next novel, so I'm going to switch gears. But I will try to get in a couple more posts before the end of the year so you know where we end!

Where We Stand on Goals

What a week! I've been sick this week and am about 85-90% better at this point. It was really stressful trying to be present at work since my job ends on Christmas Eve, while also trying to maximize on craft fairs and library signings. 

I even got to spend last night talking to a book club that read my book, which was super fun! It's always cool to see the insights that others have in my work, to be able to share more about Tourette syndrome, and to share what was real vs fiction in the novel. However, by the end of the day I was DONE. I'm surprised I felt so much better this morning instead of relapsing back into being sick. 

As of last night, book sales are up to 184, but I have a craft fair this morning and someone else is finishing up my book in KU, so I have high hopes of at least hitting 200 this weekend! And with another craft fair this weekend, and one in my hometown, 250 is my new goal before Christmas. Then, with any luck, any bookish gift cards given for the holiday, there might be a few more books sold?

At this point, I either get a Christmas miracle that gets me to that 1,000 in the next 3 weeks, or I shoot for a much more reasonable 300.

I've always been one to believe in big, impossible things. And it is still better than my initial thoughts when I first launched the book. When I learned there were 100 days from launch day to the end of the year, I had first thought that selling 100 books would be a fun goal- one book per day! Then I realized that was a small goal and I could do better, which is why I decided to 10x it, as one often hears in the business world. 

Point is, I'm still MUCH farther ahead than that initial thought process and I am grateful that I am doing so well with Madamn sales.

Because that 184 is JUST Madamn, none of my 4 other books. All 4 of my nonfiction have actually been selling as well. I just received a package yesterday restocking me for the next few shows as well. 

All in all, things are setting up for an awesome 2026! I can't wait to see where the new year takes me!

Where My Mind Is...

Is it just me or is there something about the holiday season that just makes the days much together and all fly by far too quickly?

I can't believe I missed another week! After doing so well... 

But to be fair, there has been a LOT going on in my personal life in addition to running my business and my job and the holidays. However, I've been reading Anti-Time Management by Richie Norton (strongly recommend!) and I will hopefully be able to get my life under control soon. What better time to make changes than the new year?

Fun fact, New Year's has been my favorite holiday for many years. My husband doesn't understand my odd rituals for the holiday. He was always one to go out and party to welcome in the new year. I, however, spend a few hours journaling before going to bed early so I can start the new year WITHOUT feeling hungover and get a head start on the things that are important to me.

I love looking at how far I have come over the past year and looking at where I want to go in the coming one. 

I have started mulling over these ideas a little, but nothing in depth just yet. There are actually a lot of things up in the air right now, which makes it hard to know what is going to happen. I'm still making plans of where I want to end up, but the route is still unknown.

With the flurry of holiday activities coming up, I hope you take some time for yourself to pause and express gratitude for 2025. For the highlights, for the hard lessons, and for the people most important in your life.