Presenting at online conferences and for various organizations. Running writing workshops. Publishing a novel. And being named one of ten New Voices of Aotearoa.
There is no doubt about it: 2025 has been a massive year for me, with a huge step forward within my writing career. But there were also massive steps forward within my physical and mental wellbeing too. And here's hoping that 2026 sees the momentum continue.
It's that time of year again, when I look back at the year just been and celebrate my successes.
The Women in Publishing Summit
The year started with the Women in Publishing (WIP) Summit, where I returned as a presenter—this time working with a crime writer based out of the UK, Elizabeth Ducie.
Both of us have the same complaint about the industry. So much of the material out there for writing and publishing is US-centric, and enough of it is completely useless to those of us outside of the US. So, Elizabeth and I decided that it was time that the WIP Community remembers that it really is international, and presented on ISBNs on the international stage.
Let's face it, ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. With the word international in the name, why, oh why, would people assume that you can only get ISBNs from the US? This is 100% not true. It's a topic I've written about before on my blog, and I'm likely to write about it again.
Sadly, I won't be taking part in the WIP Summit for 2026. Finances are a massive consideration for me this year (with the NZD buying power plummeting and effectively doubling the cost of everything), and unfortunately, my presentation proposal was rejected for the 2026 lineup. It is what it is. But I'm taking the rejection as a sign that it's time for me to move on and expand my reach to other groups (a feeling that I've been having for a while).
The Rain Started in Purple Stars
My novel Dancing in the Purple Rain was released in August 2025. But before it was even made public, it was earning attention and garnering awards.
In June 2025, I was named one of ten New Voices of Aotearoa. And the judges called me a "dynamic new voice in speculative fiction." They even compared me to Butler, Wyndham and Carroll. Talk about praise.
And the praise for the book continued to come in even after the release. Maria Ashford of BookShelfie said, "the pacing is tight, sharp, and when the story cuts, it cuts deep. Mohr knows how to describe a world where a thimble of coffee can be the best part of the day, where you’re constantly at risk of acid rain eating holes in your jacket. I’ll also say the novel is competently edited and beautifully presented throughout, befitting a traditional publisher."
There were a lot of awesome things said about the book (and me personally as a writer) in that review. If you haven't read it, you can find the link here.
And to add to the excitement and success, Dancing in the Purple Rain was named the Best Book Overall by BookShelfie for 2025. Out of over 150 books that they reviewed during 2025, my book topped them all. I can't complain about that!
Post-release marketing is the bane of my existence at the moment, but I'll get there. Eventually, I'll find a rhythm that works for me that keeps the sales coming in.
Other Books
Everything seems to be currently on scheduled for the 2026 releases.
Antagonistic Beats of a Story is currently in its pre-launch phase, with the release scheduled for February 10, 2026. Advance reader copies have been sent out the door, and all that's left to do is schedule the promos on social media. Then it will be a blog tour and other promotional fun that will likely continue long after the book has been released.
The Eagle Order is also on schedule, though I've hit a minor snag. My cover designer was forced to pull out due to health reasons. So… Some of my early pre-launch dates might need to move as I try to scramble to get another cover designer (one that I can afford and work magic like my previous cover designer could). I'm confident that everything will work out the way it should.
Now, if only I could find the energy needed to write the 2027 and 2028 releases. Yeah, energy at the moment is waning. I'm blaming the end-of-the-year rush.
SpecFic New Zealand Fun
In the wake of the New Voices of Aotearoa award, I was approached to be a presenter at the SpecFicNZ online summit, presenting on marketing.
When I got the email, I laughed. "You want me to present on marketing? Sure, why not? I know nothing about marketing. We can all go down in flames together."
And shortly after that invite, I was asked to be a judge for the Te Pae Tawhiti awards, a New Zealand-based literary award for speculative fiction. You have no idea how much of a boost to the ego that was to get that email.
But with the two emails combined (along with a few others), that's when I realized that I actually know a lot about marketing. I just suck at the sales funnel parts.
So, when I put together my presentation for the SpecFicNZ summit, I talked about how I'm the brand, highlighting the name change that happened to my business in May.
Trademark Messes
In April/May, I found myself in the middle of a trademark mess, which ultimately led me to change the name of my business and my publishing imprint. I am still managing the fallout from that, because Dancing in the Purple Rain and Hidden Traps of the Internet were both published under the old imprint name. But thankfully, there are ways to absorb the catalogue of one imprint into another.
If you want to know what the full story is behind the trademark mess and the name change, you can read about it here.
Physical Strength to Climb to Heights
So… With the urging of my daughter, I started taking pole dancing classes back in October 2024. And within 4 weeks, I saw the changes in my physical strength and mobility.
A year later, and I'm regularly climbing the pole to the top, able to sit on the pole and lean back, and I actually did a headstand! I never thought I would learn how to do headstands at my age. And in September, I was named the Student of the Month at my studio. It was a little smile, and nothing earned from it, other than learning that others are noticing what I'm doing.
For the first time ever, I’ve found an environment where I don’t feel awkward about my body type, my aging knees, the wrinkles and flab accumulated over the years, or the fact that I’m not as physically strong as others. I’m now on a personal journey, but one that gets the cheers from my classmates and instructors as I unlock a mobility or strength skill that I had been struggling with for years.
To anyone thinking about trying pole dancing… Seriously, just give it a go!
An Online Writing School
I started professionally editing back in 2015, taking on board my first client in October of that year. Back then, I had this dream that I would one day start a writing school. And exactly 10 years later, it's finally happening.
The writing school is opening its doors with two programs open for registration, both programs geared towards developing sustainable writing routines and accountability, with classes officially starting on January 9, 2026.
I still can't believe that it's happening. It still feels surreal. But it's the start of what I'm hoping will be an awesome journey.
You can learn about the courses and programs found in the writing school at: storycoach.judylmohr.com/webinars-and-courses
A Lesson in Pacing Myself
I still have yet to learn how to pace myself properly. I can't do it all. But my subconscious brain sees that word "can't" as an invitation to "Do."
I need to stop saying, "I can't do it all," and shift it to, "I don't want to do it all." Perhaps then my brain will stop going 100 miles per hour all the time and let me take a break.
At least I'm starting to recognize for myself the early signs of burnout. And seeing how my phrase for 2025 was commit to protecting my health, that has to be progress.
But my hubby and I are working together to reclaim our home, finding the outside yard and doing something about our main living areas to make them more relaxing.
And I'm enjoying casual reading again, learning how to turn off the editor brain occasionally—which is not something that comes to me naturally.
And the food exploration is continuing.
Looking back at it all, I'm calling 2025 a great year! And 2026 is already shaping up to be a good year too—and it hasn't even started yet.
The Plans for 2026
As I've already mentioned above, two books will be published during 2026:
- Antagonistic Beats of a Story (to be published February 2026)
- The Eagle Order (to be published Quarter 3, 2026)
I will also be releasing another short story, which I'm looking forward to sharing with you all.
And I'll be ramping up efforts connected with writing coaching, building the writing school and presenting to other organizations. (I already have a presentation lined up for March with the Editorial Freelancers Association.)
But the part of 2026 that I'm looking forward to the most is the next phase of life!
I turn 50 in 2026… and as a present to myself, I'm giving myself permission to occasionally disconnect from the world to reconnect with myself. I have already scheduled into my annual calendar three periods of total disconnect, going internet dark and just chilling (me, myself, and my characters).
And the goal is to regain enough physical strength in my knees, so I can also go back to hiking. I miss those hikes with my husband. I miss those disconnection moments, where I was able to reconnect with the environment around me. I desperately want to get that back. (And believe it or not, pole dancing is actually helping on this front, because I'm learning how to recognize my physical limits… but learning how to push them safely too.)
It's my current mantra: One step at a time. And with each step is more freedom to my spirit.
2026 will be a year of COMMITTING TO MYSELF. I'll still be aiming to protect my health (physical, mental, financial, and relationship health), but I'm also giving myself permission to forget about the world at times and just be myself, loving myself, and embracing all of who I am. And bringing the odd person along for the merry ride.
I'll see you in 2026.