2026 Goals and Father Winter

27 days into the new year, and I still don't know where I plan to go with the remaining 343 days of 2026. So many things are up in the air in concerns to the economy, inflation, and safety that I have decided to not really have a lot of plans for this year. You know, in case it all collapses like the fall of Rome. It's more stressful to make things happen than just trying to roll with the punches day to day.

What I do know is that I am prioritizing myself, my family, and my peace. So far, that looks like engaging with the creative and linguistic areas of my brain as often as I can by crocheting and embroidering like an 80 year old with nothing to do, writing like it's my full-time job, and spending wonderful time with my partners trying to enjoy the love and safety of inside our house.

I am going to take 2026 off in terms of publishing a new novel. I'm going to throw myself into writing and marketing. Books 3 and 4 in the Wintermoor Quartet are primary focus. My mind tends to disappear into itself when stress come calling, so the remaining 4 quartets are asking for attention, as well. Slow whisperings drifting into my day to day about outline adjustments and meaty scenes.

I think the collective 25 total book collection will be called Terrains of Fate. It's been floating around my mind, and the concept spans all 25 books in the universe! I've taken a poll, and it was also the most popular.

I've got a dystopian in a different universe brewing on the stove. It's been in the works since quarantine of 2020, but every time I work on it, the world crumbles further into its truth, and I don't want to be the prophetic world ender because I wrote a novel. #sorrynotsorry I know that it isn't possible, but my pattern recognition combined with my imagination creates truly terrifying situations that seem to mirror the devolution of reality.

I will release a new poetry collection, maybe 2. I am excited to finish Scenes in the Den, and I just may not be able to wait! The remaining two parts, Lights on the Wall and Spiders in the Carpet, are almost finished and ready for polishing.

Being a new homeowner comes with its own set of new challenges in 2026. For one, I'm not sure even how to prepare for the upcoming winter storm (Friday Night the 23rd through Sunday the 25th). They say to insulate your pipes...... That's a great idea, but after being in the crawlspace, I have no idea which pipes are appropriate to wrap. I have no clue how frequently the power goes out. At our trailer, I knew the exact conditions that needed to occur. Here? All brand new.

The storm hit and passed. We maintained power, internet, water, and heat. We wound up with at least 6 inches of a mix of snow, ice, and sleet. We still cannot get our of our driveway on the 27th, but it shouldn't be but a day or two. The main highway is clear, but other roads? Major risk.

We did have an incident with one of the outside cats. She was attacked Saturday Night we think by our inside cat or the other feral cat we brought inside. The temperatures were in single digits, and we felt so bad! We've been making her comfortable, but it's been tragic to watch her. I don't think she's going to hold on to getting to a vet. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers!

Stay safe and warm this winter,

AMH