December 2023

Greetings, Lore Keepers! It’s December already, and what a year it’s been. This newsletter is a yearly wrap up, covering highlights of 2023 and the usual monthly content, so buckle up for a longer read than usual. If you’re new here—welcome to the community! If you’ve been a regular part of my journey—welcome back! What a pleasure to see my fellow travelers.

Flower of the month: Holly

Unsurprisingly, one of December’s birth flowers is holly. These evergreen plants are probably best recognized for their red berries, but also boast beautiful white flowers. Holly is native to North America, but its meaning—foresight and protection—comes from a variety of traditions worldwide. One can hardly imagine the holiday season without picturing pointed holly leaves and bright berries peeking out from every decoration. 

In European tradition, people hung the plants to protect against evil. In Christian tradition, the pointed leaves and red berries symbolize Christ’s crown of thorns and drops of blood, while the plant’s evergreen nature represents eternal life. Worldwide, holly evokes a sense of looking to the coming year for renewal.

We can be like the holly and welcome the new year with evergreen resilience, even in the midst of winter weather.

Reading

When I was a kid, I used to write down every book I finished reading onto a list on the back of my door. At the end of the year, I would count up my total and begin again in January. (I think the highest I ever got was 44. Clearly this was before the duties of adult life!) I don’t have nearly as much time for reading nowadays, so I try to invest in high quality books when I do have moments of leisure.

In 2023, I read books that have been on my TBR shelf for years, those I bought at conferences or festivals, and a couple I splurged on because they’ve been on my wish list. I also tried to branch out by reading more independently published books this year. If you follow me on social media, keep an eye out for a series of posts all about indie books to ring in the new year.

Here are my favorite books from 2023 (new reads only—I’m not counting those I reread).

Full Circle: Coming Home to the Faithfulness of God by Athena Dean Holtz

I read this memoir at the beginning of the year before I started sending out my newsletters, so I never got a chance to talk about it. The author also happens to be the CEO of the press I’m partnering with to publish Lily’s Passage, and she has an amazing story of redemption. Check out this highly encouraging read if you’re looking for some inspiring nonfiction in the new year!

Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson

I’ve spent many words on this book already, so it’s no surprise it comes out at the top of my list. To read my full review, you can check out my blog post.

Space Boy by Stephen McCranie

Another series that’s been all over my newsletters this year, Space Boy takes the cake for my favorite work of fiction in 2023. I’m still working through the last couple volumes as my local library acquires them, so I get to keep the enjoyment going into 2024! Even if graphic novels aren’t really your thing, I can’t recommend this series enough. Aliens, future societies, sweet romance, robots, complex characters, beautiful artwork, big topics like our purpose in life and dealing with trauma—it’s all there.

Research

Poisons, corpses, and insects, oh my!

My writing in November led me down some rabbit trails into strange places. All in a day’s work for a writer of any genre… While there may be some things rooted in fact in my book, never fear—there’s plenty of fantastical elements to be found. You can look forward to magic and mystery within the glimpses of the real world.

Plants of the Sonoran Desert and the desert southwest

Plants and their various uses and meanings feature prominently in Holly’s Portent. Since the book’s setting is right at home for me—strongly influenced by the Sonoran Desert and Grand Canyon region—I’ve had a blast learning all about the flora and fauna that dwell here.

Updates

• National Novel Writing Month was a success! I didn’t reach my 50k word count goal, but I wrote every single day, in spite of some really busy days—a win in my book. I’m nearing the 25% mark of the draft at 48k words, so Holly’s Portent is looking to be another hefty book. (To follow my writing journey through November, check out this series of blog posts.)
• Funding update: Lily’s Passage is 25% funded. My goal to get the next round of publishing started by the end of the year has shifted, simply because November proved to be busy enough without fundraising. But I have some ideas to move fundraising forward because my big goal is to have Lily’s Passage in print by the end of 2024. Along with more craft fairs and Writer’s Workshops, one such idea is…
• Crowdfunding campaign: Starting in the new year, I’m planning to put more efforts into fundraising—crowdfund style. I haven’t settled on a platform yet, but my Lorekeepers will be the first to know about my campaign when it begins, and you might even be eligible for some special goodies.
• Let’s connect! Along with my monthly newsletters and blog posts, you can follow me on social media. Visit my Support Me page for my fundraising and social links.

Year in Review

My word for the year was bloom, and there has been plenty of growth these past months.

2023 marks the beginning of my publishing journey! While there are so many people who have been walking alongside me, I wouldn’t have begun without the encouragement from my husband. Over Thanksgiving last year, he asked me, “When are you going to publish that book you’ve been working on?” The question was promptly followed by, “I think you should start by the end of January.”

So that’s what I did. After working on my personal revisions, I realized I was far closer than I thought. I dug out the information for a publisher I’d learned about a couple years prior, and near the end of January I submitted the manuscript of Lily’s Passage to Redemption Press for review. Their response blew me away, and the acquisitions team gave me an emphatic yes to partner with me.

From there, I embarked on many tasks I never dreamed I would be doing—building a website from scratch, curating a social media presence, writing as work (not just a hobby), planning my fundraising efforts, and starting a business. When I decided to publish my novel, I didn’t realize the ripple effects my actions would have on my whole family. Other family members have been inspired to pursue their own dreams, and when I talk about my writing with others, I’m encouraged by their support of my message.

The close of 2023 brings much joy and excitement for the next year. Getting published is on the near horizon, and I hope my book opens the door for many more stories I’ve yet to tell. As always, thank you for being a part of my journey.

Lore

Winter is a time of many traditions, even in Alderdale. The people of the land are diverse in their celebrations, but a savvy reader can find glimmers of truth in each group’s folklore. While there are many reasons I love writing fantasy, the main one is that I get to explore truth from a different perspective than in the real world.

One of these truths is the reason we celebrate this time of year—the advent of our Savior.

Christmas may look different within my books, but the symbols of the season remain. Take holly and ivy—main features in my current work in progress, Holly’s Portent. The traditional carol comes to mind with the mention of these two plants, yet their meaning goes far deeper than festive singing. Foresight and fidelity are key themes the book’s plot is built upon. In Lily’s Passage, readers experience Christmas through the eyes of a human girl whose family brought their earthly traditions to a foreign land. Though the characters may not know all of the origins of their beliefs, their stories reach far back into our history here on earth.

Though it may not always be a time of rest, I pray this Christmas is filled with the joy of Christ. Jesus is the real reason for the season.

As the wind blows,

Sydney Frusti