Parisian Phoenix Publishing

 I dedicated myself to my publishing business more seriously when I was laid off in September 2023. I have not worked a full-time job since.

In true working writer fashion, I accept freelance writing and editing and journalism assignments, teach college courses when they are available and even serve as an author’s assistant, but I have not worked a traditional 9-to-5 in more than two years.

Is it scary to have such a precarious existence? Yes. Is it hard to survive on book royalties? Big yes. Do I sometimes accept other part-time employment? Absolutely yes.

But all of these experiences fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. And while I don’t know the end picture on that puzzle, the journey of discovering pieces and syncing them gives me faith that the picture will be gorgeous.

As a writer, every experience I have deepens what I can write about, and even when I end up places where I am “overqualified” or “overeducated” or “not using my skills,” it usually enhances my writing and my book publishing business, primarily because I meet more people from more diverse backgrounds. I use those experiences to network or as inspiration.

Here’s to 2026— which has had a bumpy start. We will announce both sad and happy news as January progresses but for right now, let’s put our best foot forward.