Rebecca M. Zornow

2023 Year in Review

A black and white sketch of gargoyles viewing colorful fireworks over the town.

Many people think you put your first book out and, ha, you’ve got it! You now understand the intricacies of the writing world. But the writing journey is a constant. And this year, I honed my writing schedule, evaluated my priorities, and learned more about myself as a creator.

Here’s some highlights from 2023:

Writing

  • I published my third book, Negotiated Fate, and closed The Displacement Duology. This story had been with me for a decade, and I’m glad it can now live its life on the shelves.
  • I’m working on my next book, a long, far future tale, and have now logged 30,000 words in the story. And there’s still so much to tell.
  • My essay Smooth Skinned appeared in FSM.
  • My short stories appeared in 17 Secrets including The Manors and A Magical Date, available at The Book Store.
  • I supported 18 writers one-on-one through my book coaching business, Conquer Books, and several dozen more through workshops and writerly events.
  • I got to collaborate with my sister, Nicole, to create a workbook for writers that helps them start their story right.
A softcover and hardcover of Rebecca M. Zornow's book, Negotiated Fate, standing up side-by-side on a bookshelf.

Reading

  • My favorite fiction title was The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal.
  • And the book that had the biggest impact on my creative life was The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.
Rebecca wearing sunglasses outside, holding up The Artist's Way.

Travel

  • My biggest trip was to France. My family spent four weeks in the French countryside eating cheese, visiting castles, and, in my case, writing.
A castle with a red, white, and blue flag flying on top.

Things I Tried

A woman dressed up in costume reaching into a box on a table.

Summed up in those neat little bullet points, it feels complete—as if I knew what I was doing all along. But, on the rainy days—the days where it felt like a cloud hovered over my writing desk—I didn’t know if I’d get there. Now that I have, I feel a boost of new confidence. And my sights are set on 2024.

See you there!

Picture of I'm Rebecca Zornow

I'm Rebecca Zornow

A science fiction author living in Wisconsin, I love traveling, eating good food, and reading long books.

About

Find me on:

More Posts

A black and white sketch of two people staring up at the night sky. A real image of the Landsome Roses book cover sitting on a cloud in the sky.

Landsome Roses Launch Party

At series end, how can Dottie save Draw from a plot gone wrong? I knew Dottie would have an enormous task in book three. She’s still

A black and white sketch of the base of a waterfall. A real life mossy rock, plant, and red mushrooms growing in the water.

Castle Maol

The trees hid the castle from view, but I knew it was down this path. My kids ran ahead, soon lost from view. I just

A black and white sketch of a dog walking through a forest. A photo of a balloon animal dog staring back at the sketched dog.

The Romance of Dottie & Draw

I want to share some of what went into crafting the romance between Draw and Dottie, but be aware there are massive spoilers ahead if

A black and white sketch of a boat landing with sailboats. Two of the sailboats have colorful, realistic sails attached to them.

Featured Episode

I had the chance to talk with Luella Schmidt and Ken Humphrey of the Midwest Writers Room podcast about my writer origin story and work

Black and white sketch of an old building with steps in the foreground. Real life colorful wallpaper on the stairs and a sconce light hanging next to them.

Before Becoming a Writer

I published my first book in 2021. Before that, I worked for a decade to hone my writing craft and build a network in the

Send me a message