Well, what do you know, apparently I began my 2016 in Review post by saying 2016 had been awful. Little did I know what 2017 had in store! -_- But again, despite the political train wreck and the grad school angst, 2017 also had its share of joys. Instead of doing a month-by-month recap of 2017, I’ve decided to just recall some highlights, in no particular order:

• I advanced to candidacy!
• I presented at conferences in Indianapolis, Chicago, and New York City
• I participated in the Women’s March, the March for Science, a 4th of July parade protest, and the grad student tax bill walkout
• I volunteered at several WriteGirl workshops
• I went to Maui for my mother’s cousin’s wedding and saw whales!
• I went to three Yumi Sakugawa events
• The Turkish translation of Sparkers was published
• I acquired a hammered dulcimer
• I witnessed the partial solar eclipse in Los Angeles
• I made my first zine (and a second one too)!
• I went on a road trip to the Utah Shakespeare Festival
• I spent a few days at a Buddhist monastery in northern California

And 2017 is ending on an exciting note–on Friday, I learned that a short story of mine had been accepted for publication! This is my first short fiction sale. I’ll be excited to share it with you in 2018! Happy New Year!