Hello friends! Long time no updates. My apologies for that. My summer has been extremely hectic with travel and a big move going on. Things have finally settled a bit, and I’m excited to share some positive writing news with you.

“Watching Your Mother Die”, my hybrid creative non-fiction piece that was published in Issue 9 of Centaur Lit has received a 2026 Best of the Net nomination. At only 13 sentences and 400 words, this was both an emotional piece and a creative challenge for me. This is now my second overall nomination for Best of the Net, and I’m eternally grateful my strange little stories have found their place in the world.

And in book news, I’ve learned Twin Tides will be available from retailers in Canada, the UK, and Australia and New Zealand. The Australian and NZ release will not be until January 14th, however. It’s wild to imagine my book visiting countries (or entire continents, for that matter) that I’ve never been before.

We are now close the the three month mark from release date. Publishing runways are very long, and Twin Tides originally sold early 2024. The months of 2025 so far have felt very long leading up to my December release. To be frank, it’s been a lot of emotional lows as my mind conjures up all the worst case scenarios possible for my book. The reality is that things are supposed to be relatively quiet until marketing and promotion ramps up closer to publication time. I’m sure I’ll have many more feels as the next few months evolve, but I also wanted to be honest. Writing journeys from the outside can appear relatively seamless, when the reality is all but that 😅

Lastly, I did want to highlight the #WeThePeopleSummerFundraiser in which I am taking part. Multiple bookish goodies (from critiques, to AMAs, signed books, and other bookish services) are all available to bid on to support #KidLit4Ceasefire and immigrant and trans rights organizations around the country. Especially in this moment, I’m reminded that I feel most alive when I am supporting my community. Up for auction is a signed ARC of Twin Tides which will include three Tarot card character art stickers.

As usual, I hope you are finding joy, creativity, and care in your communities!

Always with gratitude,

Hien