I’ve never been good at only sharing the good, so here’s the real 2023: Our youngest was diagnosed as legally blind, her vision quickly deteriorating due to her type of albinism, and she adjusted to her new glasses (after loathing them) like the badass she is. We lost our English bully Diesel (who inspired Tairn) at the ancient age of 12.5, which broke our hearts. We spent a lot of time with orthopedists—5 of us have EDS—and I watched in terror as Iron Man played his 1st season of hockey where checking is allowed, utterly grateful that the titanium bar in his chest stayed put just like his surgeon promised. My platform here erupted to 270K over 6 months, so...hi! I loved interacting with everyone while simultaneously realizing I’m not nearly eloquent as I once foolishly believed. Mistakes abounded, and I’m sorry. I’m still struggling to find my feet in these very new waters, and I’ll do better this year. The clock app still scares the shit out of me, which is why I’m primarily on other platforms. I got my 7th tattoo: a semi-colon to match my son’s. IYKYK. The good things...Man, are we LUCKY. Fourth Wing was my 22nd book written & my 1st to hit the NYT—for 34 astonishing weeks. I say it constantly, but I truly never expected this. THANK YOU. I released book 23 (In the Likely Event), wrote 364K words, spoke at the Kennedy Center about the dangers of book banning, announced the Fourth Wing TV series, and my sister traveled with me through it all like the extroverted safety blanket she is. THOUSANDS of you came out to say hi and get your books signed, bringing your laughter & love. Midnight releases, WHAT? I’ll forever be grateful for how you embraced Iron Flame! Our oldest got married, we brought home a puppy (London), and were gifted by the cat distribution system with a half-tailed orange tabby named Boots—who Artemis hates. And my husband—he ran our family, cheered me on, and built a proverbial wall to buffer the world when my usually manageable GAD became, well, unmanageable. He’s not just my soulmate, but my rock. That’s our real 2023. Here’s to 2024. Love to you all!
#fourthwing #ironflame #rebeccayarros