Looking back, 2025 was not a year that tiptoed in quietly. It arrived with momentum, lessons, and a few plot twists I did not see coming. Every part of my life shifted creatively, emotionally, spiritually, and professionally, and there was no option but to grow alongside it.
What began as a dream written down years ago turned into a year that reshaped who I am and how I show up in the world.
From a Dream to a Publishing Contract
In January 2025, I signed with my publisher. Shortly after, the announcement went live on Publishers Marketplace. What once lived quietly in a notebook, written as a dream, suddenly became official. That moment marked the beginning of a year that would move faster than I could have imagined.
Signing with a publisher was validating, exciting, and slightly terrifying. It was also the moment I realized that dreaming is the easy part. Showing up for work is where everything changes.
Building, Creating, and Showing Up Anyway
Throughout the year, I continued building my creative world. I relaunched my Fourthwall store with new items, updated my podcast in March, and hosted my first YouTube Live in May. That first live was a mix of excitement and nerves, the kind where you smile on camera while wondering if your voice sounds strange. Spoiler alert: it did not.
At the same time, I was deep in edits with my publisher, preparing The Whimsical Gifts of Emma for its November release. Editing a fiction book is a humbling experience. You read the same sentences so many times that the words start staring back at you. Sometimes the magic fades, sometimes it returns, and sometimes you catch a missing comma and wonder how it survived twelve rounds of editing. By the end, I honestly did not want to see the manuscript again, but I loved it deeply all the same.
Losing Everything and Learning Boundaries
June brought an unexpected challenge. My account was hacked, and I had to start my author Instagram, Facebook, and Threads from zero. Losing that work was frustrating and exhausting. Starting over was humbling.
In July, I recovered my Anita Inspires account, and that experience taught me a lesson I will never forget. You do not need to respond to every message. Protecting your energy is not rude; it is necessary. Boundaries are part of growth, even when they are learned the hard way.
Choosing Inspiration Over Algorithms
The months of July and August became months of seeking real-life inspiration. I decided to visit places I had only seen through other people’s posts. I visited Yonkers and took in a beautiful view that grounded me in ways scrolling never could. In August, I visited a waterfall in Pennsylvania. Standing there reminded me of why I create in the first place. Sometimes you have to step away from the screen to remember who you are.
Creatively, August also marked the beginning of Book 3. Even while editing Book 2, ideas kept coming. I wrote them down whenever I could. By September, I was finalizing edits for Book 1, polishing Book 2, and continuing to write Book 3. It was a lot, but it showed me how far I had come.
The Reality of Book Marketing and Burnout
Book marketing is nonstop. Every day requires ideas, planning, posting, and showing up. I underestimated how draining that could be, and burnout crept in quietly. To create space for deeper connection, I started a Substack account at https://substack.com/@authoranitafonteboa.
On Substack, I shared a seven-part behind-the-scenes series on how I wrote The Whimsical Gifts of Emma—each week focused on a different detail, from the story’s inspiration to small moments that shaped the characters and the journey. It became a place to slow down, reflect, and share the parts of writing that do not always make it to social media.
Even so, I had to make intentional changes. I decided to scale back my podcast to once a month and pause hiring help for video editing. Everything adds up financially, especially when you are saving for book marketing, artwork, and release materials. Stepping back was not quitting. It was choosing sustainability over burnout.
Preorders, Release Day, and a Birthday Wrapped in Magic
In October, my publisher told me the preorder for The Whimsical Gifts of Emma was live. I was emotional. That moment felt like proof that believing matters, even when nothing is visible yet.
November was unforgettable. My book was released on November eighteenth, my birthday, and my favorite radio station switched to Christmas music the same week. It felt like the universe decided to celebrate with me.
That month, I also submitted Book 2 to my publisher for a 2026 release. In November and December, I personally reached out to everyone acknowledged in my book to thank them. Connecting with Susan Lynn and telling her that she inspired my story was deeply meaningful. We often forget to tell people how much they mattered to us. I am grateful I did not let that moment pass.
Looking Ahead and Leaving You With This
As I look toward 2026, it feels like a year of transformation. A caterpillar becoming a butterfly. A deeper trust in myself and the path I am on.
What do I hope readers take away from my story?
That dreams are worth writing down.
That faith matters, even when the outcome is unclear.
That believing comes before seeing.
There is a reason I turned this belief into a sticker. It carried me through every high and low of 2025, and it truly embodies what this year was about for me:
All things are possible if you believe.
If this story reminds you to keep going, then it did exactly what it was meant to do.
