2023 Q2: Humility, Hustle, and Pride

(3-4 minute read; 5 minute listen)

Nicky crowned Prom Royal during Queer Prom, a benefit for Equality Fashion Week. [Alt text: An Asian-american Trans person wearing a purple dress, crown, and sash that reads “Prom Royal” stands in front of a rainbow banner for Queer Prom, an event put on for West Hollywood Pride that benefits Equality Fashion Week.]

Happy Pride, Friends!

Q2 kicked off for me with a rough start. Just an hour after publishing my Q1 Newsletter, which expressed my excitement to be prepping to film in Guam, we got the news that the film was delayed. But like the Re-Live’s team said on social media: diamonds are made under pressure. And such has been true for me, too!

After I’d shuffled schedules, turned down work, and missed the Audio Publisher Association Conference to accommodate the film, I was feeling anxious about my Q2 prospects. So after a weekend of self-care and gentle kindness, I re-framed my situation: for the first time in over a year, I wasn’t feeling “too busy building and maintaining a business to… whatever.” I decided to spend my time & energy nurturing personal relationships, making new commitments to self-care & work-life balance, and devoting more hours to my community and advocacy work.

I listened to audiobooks, binged some series that have long been sitting in my “to watch” list, started learning yoga, and facilitated some sex-positivity & consent workshops.

And after also reaching out a bit (hello again and thank you!) I was auditioning and booking narration work again. All in all, it was a mix of humility and hustle that has been good for me, and I’m grateful to share I’m feeling rather… Proud!

So that too — Pride — in the midst of LGBTQIA+ folks being under attack in the US and elsewhere, it has been important for me to center Queer Joy — both my own, and others’; for both myself and others. Which is why I’m elated to share that I also was awarded some audiobook narration awards, voted Prom Royal for Queer Prom, featured in Penguin Random House’s Q&A series for their blog, and highlighted by AudioFile Magazine for June Recommendations. I’m grateful and honored to be recognized for my art as well as for my advocacy. It took me a while to find my true voice and I’m just happy to be able to be using it now for the inclusion and belonging of all.

And now it’s time for the breakdown:

🎧 Audiobooks 🎧

{ earphones emoji }

Awards & Recommendations:

• TELL ME I’M WORTHLESS awarded Earphones Award

• WALKING PRACTICE awarded Earphones Award

• AudioFile spotlight for CHEF’S CHOICE

• Interview with PRH

Releases:

• THE WINTER KNIGHT

• QUEER POWER

• LIKE, LITERALLY, DUDE

• TRANSMOGRIFY!

• CHEF’S CHOICE

• THE GRIMOIRE OF GRAVE FATES

Recording:

• YA graphic novel for Penguin Random House

• YA dramedy for Penguin Random House

• Legal Thriller (with Second Chance Romance!) for Tantor

• Dark, Satirical Horror for Macmillan

• Greek mythology (in present day!) fantasy with Penguin Random House

🎬 Film & TV 🎬

{ clapperboard emoji }

• Writer’s Strike solidarity

• Voted to authorize SAG-AFTRA to strike, if needed

😆 Comedy 😆

{ laughing face emoji }

Image Alt Text: Promotional graphic for Asian American Eyz’d featuring three comics, each with a microphone: a cis woman, a Trans woman, and a cis man

My friend/collaborator, Ana Tuazon Parsons, interviewed about our special, ASIAN AMERICAN EYZ’D for the Asian Hustle Network!

🎙 Voiceover 🎙

{ microphone emoji }

• Anime Dub

• Sci Fi Dub

• Documentary Dub

• School Drama Dub

Thanks for spending time with me and sharing my celebrations again this quarter! Much love!

🖤🤎❤🧡💛💚💙💜 { progress rainbow heart emojis }

Cheers!

Nicky