It’s a tradition here on the Margins that I use my first post of the year to share the historical topics that I plan on spending time with in the coming year. It’s a way to put my thoughts in order. A little self-indulgent perhaps, but I hope some of you find it enticing. Maybe even thought-provoking.

My first answer when I asked myself what I’d be working on in 2025 was “I have no flipping idea.” But in fact that isn’t true. The Dragon From Chicago will continue to take up a good deal of my time, energy, and enthusiasm. (And rightly so.) I already have speaking gigs, virtual and in real life, lined up well into the year, and I am hoping for more.*

But, much as I love talking about Sigrid Schultz, I need to re-fill the well. Here are some other historical topics that I expect to be thinking, reading, and writing about this year:

1. Women’s history in general. I have a big pile of unread books to work my way through during this period when I am relatively deadline free.** And a list of more books that I plan to add to the pile as soon as I get to my neighborhood bookstore. (My Own True Love gave me a nice gift card for Christmas and I am eager to use it.)

2. Women cartoonists and illustrators in general. (The Queens of Animation made me curious.***)

3. Ancient Egypt: an old passion with a new impetus. I’m taking a trip down the Nile with my BFF from graduate school. So. Dang. Excited.

4. Plane-spotting in World War II, and some other aviation topics.

If I’m lucky, something totally unexpected will catch my imagination and send me on a detour. I love a good detour. And I love taking you on the trip with me.

Here’s to a New Year filled with health, happiness, and history-nerdery for us all.

 

*And speaking of speaking, if you belong to a group that needs speakers, send me an email and we’ll try to work it out. Zoom has made things possible that were not possible before. If you want to know where I’ll be or find links to podcasts I’ve been on, the newsletter is the most reliable place to check . I am ashamed to admit that I have fallen behind on updating the events page on my website. And until I started typing this I had forgotten about the events page on this blog altogether. (Moving updates up the to-do list as I speak. So to speak.)

**Except for blog posts, and newsletters, and prepping for speaking gigs, and… Well, you get the idea. There is always something in the pipeline.

***This is how it starts.