Welcome 2026 to Friends, Family and New Viewers
Welcome to 2026, and welcome back to The Storystead.
December was quieter than I originally planned. The quiet was unexpected but honesty is best here. I stepped back to tend to my own mental health and to process the death of my best friend. Grief has a way of reshaping everything, including the work that once felt effortless. Reading, annotating, and sitting with books about loss and longing became heavier than usual, even when those stories are ones I deeply believe in. I bawled like a baby reading Maybe Tomorrow?
That pause was necessary.
At The Storystead, stories are chosen with heart and intention, and that includes honoring when the curator needs space, too. This project is built on care, not speed, and December reminded me why that matters. I am not doing this project because I can, but because I feel it could be very beneficial. I want to do it right, not fast.
As we move into 2026, I feel steadier. The shelves are filling. I’m finding a rhythm again, one that feels sustainable rather than rushed. What once felt hesitant now feels purposeful. Grief is still here, but it’s no longer stopping the work, it’s informing it.
This year is about growth, not pressure.
Right now, I consider The Storystead to be in a pre-launch phase. The foundation is here, the values are clear, and the system is taking shape. When the collection reaches a critical mass of books, with consistent annotations, guidance, and themes, I have a goal to do more of a soft launch once the website holds 25 finished book listings. I will increase the outreach, start the merch, and increase the presence on social media.
What matters most to me is that the site feels intentional at every stage, not incomplete or overwhelming. Though the slightly incomplete feeling will be here a bit until more books make it on these shelves.
I’m excited for what 2026 holds. More books. More range. More emotional honesty. More clarity around how stories can support kids, teens, caregivers, educators, and sensitive readers without talking down to any of them.
If you’ve been reading along, browsing quietly, or checking back to see what’s new, thank you. And if there’s something you’d love to see this year, specific themes, age ranges, hard topics, hopeful ones, or even questions about how I annotate and guide, I want to hear it.
The Storystead is being built slowly, carefully, and with intention. I’m glad you’re here for this part of the journey.