2026 Reading Challenge, Anyone?

Well, here we are. Another year gone, another New Year's Eve, another New Year's resolution. I don't know about you, but for me, 2025 has been one hell of a year. Between the nasty political crap and - well, if you've read my poetry this year, you know. This isn't about that. This is about the good things that have taken place for me this year, and, hopefully, a small way that you and I can stay connected.

So, where have I been? That seems to be the logical place to start. I'll tell you. Busy!!! I started 2025 determined to find someone, somewhere, to publish my novel. I must have sent out over a hundred and fifty queries, and I probably don't have to tell you what I pain in the tail querying is. I'm pretty sure I developed carpal tunnel this year from the queries alone. But in the end, it was worth it. My novel, Mississippi Wizards, has been picked up and will be published sometime in the late summer or early fall of 2026. Woot Woot! I can hardly believe it. Currently, it's in the publisher's editing phase, where they tell me what they want to keep, what they want more of, and what they want to toss. I can't wait to share some of the details with you as they unfold.

As many of you know, I have submitted several short stories and microfictions to competitions like NYC Midnight and Writing Battle. This year, I moved from competitor to judge. I started by volunteering as a peer judge at Reedsy, and one day, someone from my writing group told me that NYC Midnight was looking for judges. I thought it would be a wonderful idea to give back a little to a company I had grown to love, and soon afterward, I did the same for Writing Battle. Both have been a source of constant inspiration and excellent feedback. If you have never been involved with a writing competition, I highly recommend them! I'll leave a link below for you to check them out.

Between the queries, editing, upcoming publishing, and judging hundreds of stories, I haven't had much time to publish here on Vocal. Worse, I haven't had nearly enough time to read the beautiful stories and poetry I've come to love from the authors on this platform. I can't describe to you how much I've missed it. Influential writers like River and Celia, Judey Kalchik, and Mother Combs. Fantastic stories from the likes of writers like Matthew Fromm, Lamar Wiggins, and L.C. Schaefer. Poets whose words have touched my soul, like Heather Hubler, ROCK aka Andrea Polla (Simmons), and D.J. Reddall. I could go on and on. Each and every person I've followed has inspired me in some way to write more and write better. I do occasionally log in and read your stories, but it's never enough. I've seen you win Vocal challenges and seen you take top stories again and again. But I'm sure I've missed more than I've read, so, for the ones I've missed, let me say: Congratulations!

Unfortunately, for at least the first half of 2026, I don't see myself having the time I want to, though I will still check in from time to time. Meanwhile, how can we stay connected? How about, instead of a writing challenge, I give you a reading one? We all know, as writers, how critical it is to read, so I've come up with a reading challenge for 2026 that I hope you'll join me in. The challenge is simple: Read 25 books (read, not listen) that you haven't previously read before December 31, 2026. If you're interested, click the link below and join me on The StoryGraph. This way, I can see what you're reading, and you can see what I'm reading. It's a small way to keep tabs on each other, I know, but I'd still love to do it.

I wish you all the best of luck in 2026. May you continue to shine bright and find joy, happiness, and healing in your writing. I would absolutely love to hear from you!

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