Welcome!
So, hey, things are rough all around for so many different reasons, but I’m here with some updates, lots of books read, and some exciting things on the horizon! (Even though I’m also just sort of surviving at this point… Aren’t we all.)
January in the Rearview (and sort of December too)
If December was a blur, January was a slog. One I’m still slogging through, as you can probably tell since I’m positing this on February 6th. I swear I started it on January 31st, but I don’t know what happened. Other than the fact I’m burned out as hell and eagerly looking forward to my two weeks off in a week and then the two weeks I’ll have off in April to watch CDawg’s Cyclethon 5. It’s gonna be writing, streaming, and just hanging out with my favourite streamer. I’m so stoked.
And hopeful that I’ll come out rested and recovered.
Here in Ontario, we got way more snow that stuck around than we’ve had in ages and it’s been really fucking cold. Normally I don’t mind the cold because I don’t really leave the house, but I’ve been feeling isolated and restless lately, in addition to have my Seasonal Affective Disorder rear its head earlier than normal, so it’s made everything worse. I’m trying to counter this best I can, but with the world in the state it is—god, it’s hard.
Oh, and while we’re briefly on the topic: Yes, I’m Canadian, but fuck Trump, fuck ICE, fuck everyone who says what’s happening is okay, and fuck every Canadian who thinks we should become part of that shitshow. If you don’t agree, please stop following me.
It feels weird to talk about other stuff and promote myself after saying that, and with everything happening, but I’m only human, I need to survive, and I need to have other things to focus on or I will fall apart. I’m incredibly privileged to be in the position I am, but I also can’t help anyone else if I fall apart and/or run myself into the ground.
So, with that being said:
By the end of this year/early next year, I think I’ll be back in Toronto. It’s not something I ever thought I’d say, but when I sat down to think about what I want out of my life and came up with writing and streaming, the truth of it is that most of the big publishing events and the gaming events and the bookish and gaming conventions are all in Toronto. There are some elsewhere, but when I also think about how all of my IRL friends except for one are in Toronto, and that there’s always the possibility that my day job might say I have to go back to the office… Well, it’s back to the city for me. It’ll be a big change and there will be a period of readjustment, but it really does seem like the best choice. There are lots of other little things also influencing the decision, but I’m also kind of excited.
I’m having lots of fun with my streaming too, and it will be nice to be able to have a permanent setup. I’m hoping to be able to buy a new/better computer this year so I can start PNGTubing (I might be able to start on my circa-2017 gaming laptop but I’m skeptical lol). While I have no issue with my face being online (obviously) or using a facecam while streaming, I just think it would be fun to have a persona to differentiate between streaming and my writing. I have friends who are going to help me with the art and I think it could be really cute and fun and yes I’m excited about this too! I hope to have some art to show soon!
For now, I’ll share that I’m playing every single (main) Final Fantasy title in order this year on stream. Right now I’m on Final Fantasy II, and after I finish that, it’s time for Expedition 33.
While I’ve been working on my books (more on that below), I’m also working on getting my life into some semblance of order so I can stop feeling stuck, isolated, and restless. I’m turning 37 this year and I’ve decided I’m done with just being content and with trying to be who I thought I’d be at this age when that doesn’t serve me anymore.
Does that make sense?
Who knows.
But yeah—right now I’m working on making my life what I want it to be and doing things I’ve wanted for a long time. Mostly right now this means a lot of lists and planning and trying to find more time in the day to make sure I can get everything done that I have to but also enough to make me happy and keep me sane.
I’m also going to start planning a trip to Japan because I’ve wanted to go since I was 10 and nearly thirty years is too long to dream. Unless I make a bunch of money, it may be actually thirty years by the time I get there, but that’s okay!
2026 is going to be a big year for me. I’m determined.
From the Story Files
Am I where I wanted to be with A Burning in the Blood? Of course not. But like I said above, I’ve got two weeks off at the end of February and I’m going to spend as much time writing as I can so that I can get A Burning in the Blood into shape to go to an editor so I can still get it ready to publish for my original deadline. It’ll be tight and a lot of work, but I think I can do it. I am really excited with how it’s shaping up and I think you’ll really enjoy it.
At least I hope so.
And then there’s Gravity Well. I wanted so bad to have this story out last year but I will settle for having it out for Halloween this year. I haven’t set any dates in stone yet, but that’s my goal. Since most of it is written, I am very hopeful. I really love this project and would love to get it out into the world.
I also started planning a new book. A romance/sci-fi. But more on that in the future…
I’m still desperately struggling with marketing, but I’ve got some ideas so we’ll see what happens I guess. Marketing icks me out but I’m trying to get over that because, unfortunately, it needs to be done.
Follow me on Instagram and buy my books please!
In My Eyeballs and Earholes
Books
I read a lot in December and January and I also started reading ARCs again for some reason (because I need pressure apparently?). Anywhere, he’s a rundown.
Following reading the Saint of Steel series in November, I read Swordheart by T. Kingfisher, which is set in the same world. It was cozy and wonderful and I cannot wait to read more in this world. I really love it. I also read First Time Caller, Lovelight Farms,, and In the Weeds by BK Borison. First Time Caller was wonderful and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, and while I enjoyed the Lovelight Farms books, they didn’t grab me in the same way, but I’ll still get around to the other two in the series at some point.
I’m journeying back into manga and anime as well, and I kicked off my manga journey by reading all eight volumes of Parasyte, which was weird and wonderful and thought-provoking and a little scary. I read volume 1 of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure too, and oh my god, this wacky masterpiece has been missing from my life. I cannot wait to read more (but I have to because the wait time at the library are nuts).
I read Moon Called and Blood Bound, the first two books in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs for some urban fantasy comfort (and vibes for writing A Burning in the Blood), and listening to the audiobook of Abroad in Japan by Chris Broad, which was informative and funny and interesting and just made me want to go to Japan more. And yes, I read it because I watch him on YouTube, but I think I would have found my way to it eventually anyway.
For the reading challenge I’m doing this year (which was posted by Indigo), I read A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas and Never Flinch by Stephen King. Neither of which I loved unfortunately. Never Flinch wasn’t bad, just not my kind of book. A Court of Thorns and Roses however… I really did not like that book. I almost DNFd it, but pushed through and kind of regret doing so. If you like the book and the series, that’s great and I’m happy for you, but I will not be reading anything by Maas again. Or at least not for a very long time.
As for ARCs, I read This Weekend Doesn’t End Well for Everyone by Catherine Mack and The Photonic Effect by Mike Chen, both of which I loved and have preordered to add physical copies to my shelves. The Eleanor Dash mysteries are fun and funny and always a great time and Mike’s Chen newest is a sci-fi/space opera right after my Star Trek–loving heart that felt like the franchise in the best way possible. I recommend both. Highly. I also read The Iron Hex by Victoria S. Walsh for work, and if you like romantasy, you are in for a treat. And I’m not just saying that because she’s my friend.
Movies & Shows
I watched a slate of regular Christmas movies in December, as well as Spirited Away and Kiki’s Delivery Service for that injection of whimsy desperately needed at the end of the year, but I don’t remember anything I wanted to share specifically.
In January, however, I went kind of ham.
I watched all of Arcane in a day and absolutely fucking loved it. Such a gorgeous, emotional, incredible show, and I can’t believe it took me so long to get to it. I started watching The Pitt—holy hell is that show amazing. I did all of season 1 and I’m keeping up weekly with season 2 (I haven’t done weekly watching in ages). I rewatched Fallout season 1 and am staying up-to-date with season 2 and loving it just as much as the first season, and of course I rewatched seasons 1-3 of Bridgerton and then the first half of season 4 when it came out (Benedict, I love you, but you’re an idiot. I can’t wait to see what happens.) I also rewatched Queen Charlotte because I needed to cry. I watched the first season of Silo, which made me really angry; I liked it, I just wanted more answers. And last but not least, I started watching JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, but I can’t binge it like I normally would with a show because I have to watch it subbed (the style of the show and the camp and the drama just does not work as well in English).
Movie-wise in January, I only watched two. First was People We Meet on Vacation, which I really enjoyed, but I’m a big fan of Emily Henry’s romances and watching this made me really wanted to reread her books. Also I didn’t know the guy was young Snow in A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and I like him better in this by far. Also with dark hair. Second was Godzilla from 2014 because sometimes I just like to watch my favourite kaiju be awesome and there are legit some scenes in that movie I think about a lot, even if the movie overall is only just okay.
Even with all of that, most of my watching time was monopolized by CDawg. I don’t know what to tell you.
Video Games
Like I mentioned above, my goal is to play through all of the Final Fantasy games this year. I finished Final Fantasy in January and found myself unexpectedly emotional thinking about the little girl sitting in her grandparents’ basement discovering Final Fantasy on the NES and having no idea how to actually play but loving it anyway.
And, like a lot of people, I picked Animal Crossing New Horizons back up for the update. In fact, I restarted my island so I can make a blue-themed one.
I tried out Marvel Rivals too, which was fun, and I Might go back to, but after Final Fantasy II is Expedition 33, and I have Borderlands to finish too.
Come and hang out on Twitch and follow to find out when I go live!
Music & Podcasts
It’s still literally just been My Favorite Murder and my Current Jams playlist because sometimes I really am boring.
Parting Thoughts
Stay warm, stay safe, and stay hopeful.
That’s it for this month! Take it easy, hot dogs! 💙
If you like what I write, please consider tossing me a couple bucks on Ko-Fi!
vampires, spaceships, and fantastical worlds—the tales of L.E. Teetzel 
Leave a comment