What a year! When Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City, Maryland officially launched on May 24 and I had no idea what kind of whirlwind 2025 would become but you all made it unforgettable.

Book Launch & First Readers

Welcome to Seagull Street took flight in the spring and from the very first preorder to the first Kindle Unlimited page read in September, I felt so supported. Seeing readers fall in love with Ray, Olivia, Evan, and the seagulls with big personalities has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Indie Bookshops & Signed Copies

One of my favorite parts of 2025 was partnering with small businesses in Maryland and Delaware who supported me and my book. Signed copies made their way onto shelves at:

• Raggamuffin Boutique (24th Street, Ocean City, MD)
• Bethany Beach Books (Bethany Beach, DE)
• Second Edition Books (Columbia, MD)
• Queen Takes Book (Columbia, MD)
• Caprichos Books (Ocean Pines, MD)

Nothing compares to walking into a shop and seeing your book on display, or dropping off a fresh stack of signed copies because they sold out. Truly surreal!

Events, Book Fairs & Meeting Readers

This year brought so many wonderful book events: book club discussions, book fairs, author days, holiday markets, neighbors and friends asking for signed copies, and even setting up a table on the OCMD Boardwalk for Memorial Day and Fourth of July. Every conversation, every photo, every comment made the entire journey feel real.

I loved getting to meet readers who shared:

• Ocean City memories
• Favorite characters (apparently Ray has a big fan club!)
• Stories of seagulls, moving and starting over, divorce, and found family

The Unexpected Best Part: The Community Behind the Pages

Beyond the readers, one of the most rewarding surprises of 2025 was meeting other authors, indie shop owners, event organizers, and creative partners along the way.

From local Maryland writers to fellow indie authors at book fairs, to small-business owners who championed my book on their shelves, to the many people who helped me navigate my first year as a published author, these relationships became a true highlight of the journey.

Writing can feel solitary, but this year reminded me how collaborative and generous the book world really is. The friendships formed, advice shared, and support exchanged have been just as meaningful as launching the book itself.

Reviews, Ratings & Reader Love

One of the most meaningful parts of this year was watching reviews come in on Amazon, Goodreads, the comments and DMs on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, and the many emails and form submissions on my website. Every review helped the book find new readers, and every message meant more than I can say!

You told me:

• The Ocean City setting resonated
• The book felt like a mini-vacation
• The twists kept you turning pages
• The characters felt real
• The topics were sometimes too real
• You want to read more about these characters in this setting

As a debut indie author, that feedback is everything!

Marketing, Giveaways & Seagull Shenanigans

2025 was also the year I fully embraced my inner book marketer:

• A book launch party
• Fancy PR Book Boxes for friends and influencers
• AlissaArford.com, blogs, emails, and newsletters
• BookTok and Bookstagram posts with fries, sunsets, snarky gull humor, and dramatic AI videos
• Ad campaigns on Facebook and Instagram
• Social media contests and giveaways: Free books and Fishers Popcorn anyone?
• Kindle Unlimited promotions
• Holiday gift bundles
• Sand dollar seagull holiday ornaments

It was fun, chaotic, and creatively energizing.

Looking Ahead

Book 2 is halfway done and it includes a flashback to Ocean City Senior Week 1989 (cue Aqua Net, Ferris Bueller quotes, and questionable decisions). It’s the story of Jack (Evan’s uncle) and Juni (a new character) and I can’t wait to share more about it early next year!

Thank you for reading, supporting, reviewing, shopping local, and cheering me on through this debut year. Whether you bought a signed copy, read on Kindle Unlimited, came to an event, or simply recommended it to a friend… you helped bring Seagull Street to life.

Cheers to more stories, more sunsets, and maybe a few more seagulls stealing fries in 2026.