2021: My Year in Review

2021 has been … yeah. So, my year in review is going to be quite a lengthy one. I suggest you get comfortable, maybe get yourself a hot beverage and a snack, because I am taking ya’ll on a rollercoaster ride through my life.

There were so many ups and downs … The birth of my daughter, my whole family contracted Covid-19 at one point, then there was my father-in-law’s death. We moved house, I struggled finding my feet with a newborn baby with everything else going on. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Luckily, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. Some great things happened this year, too, which kind of threw me off my whining game. 😊

My Year in Review

My Written Works – Accepted and Published

I’m pleasantly surprised by the number of things that I actually got done this year. Considering how sick I became during my pregnancy and then the abovementioned chaos taking over, it’s amazing I found some time to write. It is a testament to myself that I can do anything I put my mind to. So, here’s a brief look at all my written works that were either accepted or published in 2021.

Classic Monsters Unleashed – Edited by James Acquilone

I was invited to write a short story for Crystal Lake Publishing and Black Spot Books’ highly anticipated anthology (coming out in 2022), Classic Monsters Unleashed. My story, “Modern Monsters” was accepted to appear amongst legends like Joe R. Lansdale, F. Paul Wilson, Jonathan Maberry, Seanan McGuire, Ramsey Campbell, Lisa Morton, and Owl Goingback. I am honored and grateful for this opportunity, and I can’t wait to see this beauty in print.

Under her Skin – Edited by Lindy Ryan and Toni Miller

I have never described myself as a poet, but I’m absolutely thrilled to finally have my first submitted poem, titled “Midnight Maelstrom”, accepted by Black Spot Books’ inaugural poetry showcase, Under Her Skin. Again, my name appears amongst some of the best female horror writers of our time. Coming in 2022, this poetry showcase is not to be missed!

Black Mariah: Victoria West, Northern Cape, South Africa (S1E8)

When I was asked to participate in the Black Mariah shared world series, I jumped at the chance. What writer in their right mind would say no to writing a political thriller where conspiracy theories are found in abundance? Okay, maybe it’s just me, but wow! It’s been a wonderful journey to be part of this shared world and to have met so many great authors along the way.

What’s more, the entire first season is now available in print! Look at that glorious book … 784 pages of AWESOME!

Season 2 is coming in 2022, so I sincerely hope you’re ready to be taken on another helluva journey.

Some Honors and Achievements

2021 may have thrown a lot of curveballs my way, but I also got a few shiny gold stars. 😉

The Bone Carver (The Night Weaver #2) was a finalist in the 2020 Bram Stoker Awards for superior achievement in a Young Adult Novel. I didn’t think I’d get a second nomination, but holy cow, I did! Unfortunately, I couldn’t watch the ceremony, because I was in the hospital at the time, recovering from a C-section, but what an honor … *gets the shivers again*

Dark Country (Dark Country #1), which will be released in 2022, also became a Quarterfinalist in the 2021 Screencraft Cinematic Book Competition.

Not too shabby for 2021, eh?

My 2022 Writing Goals

2022 is going to be a hectic year, I already know that much. “Hectic” and “Bad”, however, aren’t synonyms. Will 2022 be pleasant, though? I sincerely hope so, because if I’m gonna get stuck with a 2021 sequel, I’ll probably go into permanent hiding. Alas, I won’t be too quick to disappear, after all I have some hefty goals for 2022.

• Finish The Night Weaver (Book #3) – I’ve been trying to finish this one for a while now, I know, but I will have it done soon. No more playing around. *nods*
• Begin writing the sequel to Dark Country – This one will, hopefully, see its release in 2023 if I can get it written in time. Eeeep! So, I better get a move on.
• Finish my second episode in the Black Mariah series – This one’s already been started and will, hopefully, see its release in 2022.
• Secret project #1 – I submitted a pitch to a publisher for a standalone horror, which is tentatively being released in 2023. Still gotta write the book, though. Yikes.
• Secret project #2 – Been quietly working on another standalone horror since last year. I’m hoping to get this one done in 2022. 😊

This is just the writing goals. There are several editing projects waiting for me. Also, I have some personal goals I don’t feel comfortable sharing yet (when I achieve them, you’ll struggle to get me to shut up, I promise you).

And that’s it. That’s basically my year in review. It was both a long year and a very short year in other ways. I’m just glad 2021 is coming to an end.

If I don’t see you again in 2021, have yourself a happy holiday season and please stay safe during these strange times.

Season’s greetings,

Monique