I wrote last week about finding joy. This week, I’m writing about celebrating joy. It’s valid. It’s warranted. And perhaps most importantly, it gives others reason to hold on to hope.
Yesterday, November 19th, I became a published author. My short story, The Seafarer & the Keeper, is now out in the world for all to see, to read, to judge, to love. It’s honestly not quite sunk in yet. Part of it might be due to the whirlwind events happening all around us, but I think a larger part is that I’ve been working toward this since 2019. All I’ve dreamed of is publishing my work, seeing it in print, and knowing that my words have touched others. I’ve been dreaming of it for so long that now, when it’s finally happened, it feels like I’m still dreaming.
And it’s funny how it happened, I think. I embarked on this authorship journey with the intention of publishing my book, Unraveled, as my debut. This was going to be my big break, a flashy entrance, the whole grandiose thing. But the universe has a funny way of giving us what we want in the most unexpected of ways. My debut into publishing is a short story—still fantasy, but much lower stakes, much quieter than my larger projects. Instead of tackling large scale topics like anti-colonialism, racism, hidden truths and entangling lies, The Seafarer & the Keeper explores humanity on a more intimate level. The friendship that develops between the two main characters is as heartwarming as it is unexpected. Unbreakable as it is inevitable.
The idea for this story came to me in a casual conversation with a dear friend. They mentioned something in passing about lighthouse keepers sitting in one of the most isolating professions (also notorious for driving some to madness), and for some reason, that comment alone sparked a lightbulb in my brain. I wanted to explore this loneliness beyond the confines of my private journals. I wanted to find a way to make loneliness… less lonely.
Enter the seafarer. This character was honestly such a joy to write. Her optimism in the bleakest of times reflects a secret desire of mine to be a source of encouragement for others. Her kindness and warmth are traits I hope to one day embody. In many ways, she is the kind of person I aspire to be. As individuals, the seafarer and the keeper couldn’t be more different. Where she answers every call to adventure, he is content to stay where it is safe and familiar; where he dwells on all he has lost in his life, she reminds him that every loss makes way for something greater. With no pun intended, these characters are the ebb and flow of human relationships.
That’s what I hope will make this story come to life for all of you who read it. I hope you find your own humanity, gorgeous in all its scarred ways, reflected in these characters. I hope their story touches your heart the same way that it did mine—that it still does, especially now that your collective excitement has crowned this entire anthology #1 in new releases for fantasy short stories.
It’s no secret that these past couple weeks have been tumultuous, full of mixed emotions and uncertainty of our future. But I’m choosing to let this little victory shine through the darkness. Good things are still happening. Even if they’re small in the grand scheme of things, they are worth acknowledging. They are worth celebrating.
Keep setting goals. Keep celebrating every accomplishment. Joy is a contagious thing that, once spread, is hard to stamp out.
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