It’s hard to remember, when the world is on fire, that there are still things to celebrate and that we should, in fact, be celebrating them. The last several book-selling events have been relatively dismal in sales. I might be tempted to think I’m doing something wrong, but the fact of the matter is that, if I am, everyone is. Vendors at every event I’ve been to in the last year have mostly reported that sales are down. It’s not hard to see why.

When you have to choose between paying for groceries and paying for luxury items, groceries will always win. (And books are a luxury no matter how much I believe they are necessary for life. Arguably, one might say that art is necessary for hope, if not life itself.) Add in having to make choices between paying for groceries, paying for a monthly mortgage or rent, paying for utilities, or paying for gas or public transportation and the weight of the decision of where those limited funds will go becomes incredibly heavy. I am lucky. I don’t have to make those decisions. (Not yet.) But millions do.

As a result, sales are down across the arts. Which breaks my heart. Because that means somewhere, a story that could make a life-altering difference to someone isn’t going to be read. I hope that people are utilizing their libraries and that online library apps like Libby or Hoopla are thriving. I hope that people are still able to enjoy reading, even if they can’t afford to purchase a book outright.

All of this to say… Despite the struggle, despite it all, there are still good things that happen. And sometimes those good things happen right here in my small corner of the world. Today, I received word that Slip placed first in the Young Adult category of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. I was lucky enough to be a finalist in 2024 with Temper the Dark and in 2025 with Marit Unsanctioned. But Slip made it to the top of its category and I so am incredibly grateful to everyone involved in making that decision. But a gold medal and a small unexpected paycheck aren’t all I’m celebrating.

During my last event, not one, but two readers approached to tell me that they had Slip on their shelves. One hadn’t yet read it. (TBR lists…never-ending. Am I right?) The other was an English teacher who not only read it, but told me how much she enjoyed it and how much it meant to her. Which, of course, nearly sent me out of my mind with disbelief and excitement. Play it cool, Storms. Don’t be a dork. Ah, but dorkiness is in my blood. (Sorry, fam.) Anyway, not only did she know about Slip and love Slip, but she also knew about Love, Death, & Pen Pals and said that she couldn’t wait for it to come out! Wait. Someone I don’t know in person actually paid attention to the fact that I have a book releasing soon? What even is life right now?

This. This is why I write. Because writing connects us.

It connects us through all the shared human experiences we accumulate during our time on this earth. It allows us to explore the minds and lives of others and to reflect on the parallels. Sometimes, it highlights our differences the most and that, too, is eye-opening. Storytelling isn’t a lucrative business. But sometimes, just sometimes, it pays off anyway.