a whirlwind start to the 2026 year of the fire horse

Tis been a whirlwind of a start to the 2026 year of the fire horse—apparently we're supposed to be careful of things involving fire (ex. cooking and leaving things on the stove unattended) as well as anything that involves "riding" (ex. motorcycles).

I'm still figuring out the direction of my writing career it seems, but my ever-changing nature prevents me from firmly settling in one lane. But something I've reconciled with is the seemingly glacial nature of the publishing industry, the importance of fit and how in the end it's not about the number of yeses you get but finding the one person who really resonates with your voice and work and vision, and also the subjectivity of it all.

I've been trying to juggle short stories and side projects alongside long form, and it seems it's becoming more and more difficult trying to switch between the two and still maintain momentum. I'll likely step back from short form projects so I can catch up on all the books I'm planning for the next couple of years, but I'm not the best at saying no—something I'll be working on moving forward.

Something else I've been working on is work-life balance. I'm trying to exercise more, run at least twice a week, play badminton three times a week. Spend more time with both friends and family. And it's been an interesting time as I sort out how to better prioritize and use my time wisely while trying to escape burnout. At moments, it feels a little bit like I'm back in school.

Earlier this year, I had amicably parted with my former agents and returned to the query trenches. I'm honoured and overjoyed to say that I've now signed with Maria Whelan of Mushens Entertainment. I'm very excited to see where this year will take us!

In case you missed it, we have officially revealed the cover for my debut novel, AN EMPIRE IN THE CLOUDS. Preorder campaign form forthcoming, but I'm so excited that I'll finally have a full-length novel out in the world this year!

A RIVER FROM THE SKY is forthcoming later this month, and you can grab the BROKEN BINDING and INKSTONE special editions to match with the ones for A PALACE NEAR THE WIND (If you want to grab both together—Broken Binding & Inkstone). And if you haven't already, do fill out the preorder campaign form for postcard swag, bookplate, and bookmarks!

In other news, the paperback of A PALACE NEAR THE WIND is officially out and about in the world, and I really love the spine of this edition.

Some anthologies in which I have stories forthcoming — Revolution in the Heart, Unearthed, Waterbourne, The Big Bad Book of Kaiju​

A four-authored poetry collection — anOther Nemesis​