Here we are again. The end of the year. The annual retrospective. It was another challenging year full of fresh hells but also peppered with healing and joy. Perhaps closer to balance than I’ve been in a long time.
Writing
After Followers, I did a lot of producing but not a lot of editing, querying, or publishing. This year, it finally caught up to me. I focused a lot on editing and critique group sessions and made it through my WIP stack (three books) at last! Then I even got around to submitting.
It paid off. Red Walls is under contract with Graveside Press, targeting a 2025 release. Invisible Girls also has a pending contract and potential 2026 release. (Working titles for both, of course).
Unfortunately, Savage Island (Savages #2) has only found rejection so far. The rejection was particularly crushing since Savages is my first and favorite book and the story is very close to my heart. In all naked honesty, it made me want to quit the entire publication pursuit. But I have worked through it and resolved to find Savage Island the right home.
As far as short stories, “Freaks” found a new home in The Horror Collection: Topaz Edition. More rejections on other stories, naturally, but I also had a couple more shorts picked up that will be released in the coming year.
2025 is shaping up to see new work from me out on the pages.
Events
I was quite busy with events this year. From vending to conventions to film festivals, it was horror year round.
I worked several different events, sharing a table with the delightful Mighty Quinn from Wyrd Wanderings. We paired my horror books and razor blade art with old medical texts and Uranium glass from his ghost hunting adventures.
My husband and I had a fantastic time volunteering at Colorado Festival of Horror, and I also spoke on multiple panels over the weekend.
We went to Telluride Horror Show, like every year. Only this year was different as we took our son fresh from the hospital with us.
I did talks and readings and saw a lot of horror movies. I danced and performed.
It was a full year, full of things I love.
Regular Life
Health-wise, this was a year of healing for me. After problems with medication and losing all my hair yet again, I got on a new regime that appears to be working. I have hair again, but more importantly, I am seeing improvement in my labs and symptoms that I have not experienced in years. I feel better. I might even say I feel like myself at times.
We had big traumas this year, but they were easier to navigate being physically stronger and more stable.
Many things were put into perspective for me this year. The most important of which is that, even on the worse day, I have a pretty damn good life. Worth living and worth appreciating.
So, while there are many broken things in the micro and macro-cosms, here we go into the next year.
Christina Bergling
https://linktr.ee/chrstnabergling
Like my writing? Check out my books!
- Followers – You never know who is on the other side of the screen. Followers is a mystery and thriller that blends women’s fiction with horror.
- The Rest Will Come – Online dating would drive anyone to murder, especially Emma.
- Savages – Two survivors search the ruins for the last strain of humanity. Until the discovery of a baby changes everything.
- The Waning – Locked in a cage, Beatrix must survive to escape or be broken completely.
- Screechers – Mutant monsters and humans collide in the apocalyptic fallout of a burned world. Co-authored with Kevin J. Kennedy.
- Horror Anthologies
Fiery Pen 