Post #23: Still Kickin' in the New Year! 📆
A very brief update on early 2025, with more to come as soon as humanly possible!
Hello, Friends!
I hope 2025 is off to a good start for you. Chances are, it’s been a bit rocky, and all I can say is try to give your brain space from hyperbole news and process things at your own pace. I hope that you are able to maintain your sense of agency and community throughout these next four years — it’s more important than ever to build on your local relationships, even as you organize more broadly. I will be writing about that more soon, but know I am sending you love if you are struggling with the news lately.
I just wanted to send a quick little message. I know that haven't updated in awhile, so here goes! The first three weeks of the New Year were spent feverishly editing my memoir - I was able to cut a massive amount: 26,000 words! Now my editor is reading it. Thank you so much to the beta readers who gave me such thoughtful early feedback! The book is in a much better place now, compared to when I first typed THE END back on December 17th. Editing is an intense process, but it’s definitely worth it!
Then, this past week I turned 41 years old! It feels like yesterday I was just celebrating 40 — geez! I was able to spend a lot of quality time with family and friends this week: dinner with Paul, my parents and some extended family on my actual birthday, and then a couple craft-themed hangouts with close friends, and a game night with my nephews yesterday! I feel incredibly fortunate to have such loving people in my life.
Next weekend, Paul and I are heading to the Doctor Who Convention in Minneapolis, called CONsole Room. This fun gathering for my favorite fandom has become a bit of an annual tradition, and this year I am even performing a live score to the classic-era episode (Snakedance) with my friend George Ellsworth! It should be a great weekend.
When we get home, I will be starting on a second round of edits based on feedback from my editor. I will have to cut around 10,000 more words... After that it'll be one more pass with a fine-tooth comb, and then I can finally submit the book for publication early next year! And last, but not least — in March, Kevin Kling and I are once again doing our original musical, Invisible Fences (with Jeremy Ylvisaker as narrator!) at Open Eye Theatre... We are excited to revive this show for its third run!
Anyway, that's it for now. I have about 36 different Substack posts swimming around in my head, just waiting to be born (spawned? released?) and I promise that I will write them as soon as I have gotten over the hurdle of editing this dang memoir!
I know the news is heavy right now, and it can be overwhelming. But try to remember that the only person you can control is YOU, so just make sure you are searching your heart every day for the next right action you can take — one that is grounded in love.
Sending Love,
Gaelynn Lea