Here's my long overdue wrap-up of 2025! I'll try to keep it short, since it's already well into February.

I spent the first half of the year revising and fine tuning The Star of Moon Village to get it ready for publication in January 2026. Reviews for the book started coming in as early as the fall, including recognition as a Gold Standard Selection by the Junior Library Guild!

On October 4, I participated in International Observe the Moon Night (see previous post). I was hoping to take a really good close-up photo of the moon, but I couldn't get my equipment together, so I ended up with a so-so photo from a medium distance.

Author events included a January book signing at the Barnes & Noble in Rehoboth Beach and a February appearance at North Dover Elementary's Black History Month Celebration. In the spring/summer, I presented at Milford Library's Homeschool Hour and Milton Library's Middle Grade Reader's Club. Rounding out the year, I attended the Friends of the Harrington Public Library Book Fest and the ROOTS Farm and Forest School Holiday Book Fair.

So, what else happened this year? Well, I started a new job teaching English as a Second Language at Delaware Technical Community College. It's been a challenge, since my last steady teaching gig was back in the late 1990s. At the same time, it's been an extremely rewarding experience helping immigrants improve their language skills.

And my Purple Martin condo experiment? Well, not one Purple Martin showed up. Instead, it became the "in" spot for House Sparrow families. The condo really needs to be moved to a wide-open space to attract Purple Martins. I'll regroup and see what I can do. Or I may just give it away to a more fitting owner.

Okay, I think that's it for highlights. For a steadier stream of current news and photos, check out my Instagram page (that's where I hang out the most)!