Each year, I create a list of goals for every area of my life. Throughout the year, I work on my goals, track my progress, and commit to posting my top accomplishments (and some smaller ones). I hope to inspire others to do the same.
Writing Goals
Novels/Novellas
- My action horror novel, YEAR OF THE DEMON, was published by Crossroad Press in print, ebook, and audio.
- Joined International Thriller Writers (ITW) as an active member after YOTD was published this year.
- Magic Moment: many martial arts friends supported my writing by purchasing my novel.
- Signed my first novel to a martial arts friend and sifu.
- Worked with voice actor and narrator Michael Cottam to produce audiobook. I reviewed each chapter.
- Submitted YOTD audio to ITW Awards.
- Signed up for NetGalley through the Victory Editing Co-Op and managed my title.
- Sent out press releases.
- My hometown newspaper ran an article on me and YOTD
- I received my author copies of YOTD from Crossroad Press.
- I received my first royalties from Crossroad Press for YOTD sales.
- I sent my ghost-haunting domestic crime thriller hybrid novel to three open-call markets.
- I began writing a creature SF horror novel.
- I returned to an older horror crime noir novel manuscript and began a rewrite.
- I wrote a poem on a whim and sent it to a poetry contest. I also joined the poetry association.
- Interviewed by Alan R. Warren on the House of Mystery Radio Show on NBC about YOTD. The interview was the top 5 most downloaded interview in March.
- Began a Substack to create a mailing list so I can stay in touch with readers.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-161471115?source=queue
- I produced videos on Youtube, Instagram, and Tiktok to advertise YOTD.
- Signed up for Terrify Your Tablet to promote WOLVES OF VENGENCE and YEAR OF THE DEMON.
- WOLVES OF VENGEANCE reached #15 on Amazon Free Occult Horror.
- Praise for WOLVES OF VENGEANCE
- Praise for my fantasy novella BLADE OF THE VAGABOND: HEAVEN, EARTH, & WOMAN
- Submitted BOTV to an audiobook open call.
- Continued to send short stories to markets.
Martial Arts: Shedding my Martial Arts Past in the Year of the Snake
Seminars
- Attended Sifu Fong seminar with my gung fu brother Jim at Nubreed Martial Arts in Queens, NY.
- Attended Drowning in Kali at Derderian Academy of Martial Arts.
- Attended Drowning in JKD at Derderian Academy of Martial Arts.
- Attended weekend Big 3 FMA Origins Seminar (12 hours) with Guro Raffi Derderian (Inosanto Blend), Guro Hock Hochheim (Modern Arnis), and Tuhon Bill McGrath (Pekiti Tersia). 10/25-26/2025
Ranking (Level Up!)
- Earned Kali Level Three at Derderian Academy of Martial Arts
- Earned JKD Level Four at Derderian Academy of Martial Arts.
- Another year of training is complete. Hard work but a great time with great people!
- Trained Kali with Jim in his backyard, where we prepared for our next test.
- I appear in a Tuhon Bill McGrath (Pekiti Tersia) video segment as his uke (training partner/receiver of the technique).
- Celebrated 38 Years of martial arts training!
- Magic Moment: A viewer on YouTube thanked me for helping him pass his white belt test.
Broadcasting & Podcasting
- I’m listed as co-hosting twenty-five shows in 2025 between the various podcasts, including House of Mystery on IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm16649941/
- Altogether, from 2021-2025, I co-hosted over 400 episodes.
- I resigned from House of Mystery and the other podcasts this year because of time constraints. I also shelved my movie reviews for the time being.
YouTube and Social Media
- Created and published 5 long form YouTube videos on my main channel and 2 on my secondary.
- Created and published 17 short form YouTube videos on my main channel and 1 on my secondary.
- Published short videos on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
- https://www.youtube.com/@davidnorth-martino
- https://www.youtube.com/@hdavemi6667
Family
- Bought my Dad to many appointments this year, including a blood transfusion, catscan, and two surgeries, requiring overnight trips and driving into Boston on multiple occasions. We made the best of it!
- Called my mom and Dad 2x per week on average.
- Brought Patty to her second hand surgery.
- Bought a family member to multiple appointments, including daily appointments for a full month.
- Attended my Niece’s wedding.
- Celebrated our 33rd anniversary of our first date and our 30th wedding anniversary.
- Brought Diesel to all vet appointments. Added fluoride to his water. Treated for a skin issue with meds. Switched him to oral flea medication.
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In Memoriam
- My Uncle Freddy passed away this year at 89.
- My second cousin, William “Thorny” H. Thorndike Jr., passed away this year at the age of 101. He was an avid martial artist, a teacher, mentor, and inspiration to our family.
Health
- Two appointments for a crown at dentist.
- Eye doctor appointment
- Switched to mail-order eye drops
- Dental cleaning appointments
- Had a cavity filled.
- Had a mouthguard made by my dentist for martial arts sparring.
- Shingles Vaccination (two shots)
- Annual Physical. Lost 3 pounds since my last physical. I am the picture of health! Haha!
Friends
- Traveled to Queens NY with Jim for a seminar
- Ate at the Empire Buffet with Jim.
- Celebrated passing our tests in Kali with my DAMA family at the Bon Asian Bistro & Hibachi Grill in Johnston, RI.
- Continued a great friendship with Al Warren.
- Celebrated Thanksgiving with Patty. I made a meal, and we watched Rocky II and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles as is our tradition.
- Kept in contact with my college English professor through email and social media.
- Kept in contact with writer friends.
- Kept in contact with martial arts friends and buyu.
- Send Off to 2025 Get-Together for Derderian Academy of Martial Arts.
Cars
- Patty’s car – Inspection, oil and filter change. install gap fillers between the seats.
- My car – Jump car, drive 100 miles (Foxwoods), pass inspection, oil change and filter.
Travel/Fun
- Attended Def Leppard Concert at Mohegan Sun. Stayed overnight. Met up with martial arts friends. Ate at Summer Shack. Had breakfast at Hash House A-go-go. A really great concert, they sounded fantastic!
- Attended the Lita Ford concert with special guests Dee Snider and Firehouse at the Great Cedar Showroom at Foxwoods. A great night of music. Stayed overnight at the Great Cedar Hotel and had dinner at Walburgers.
- Went to the B-Town Diner in Bellingham, a fun 50’s style restaurant, for breakfast.
- Went to the Dragon 88 Chinese Restaurant in West Boylston with my mom. I hear they have strong Mai Tais. I couldn’t drink that day, but I want to try one eventually
- Went to Sol De Mexico Bar & Grill in Milford, MA. Big portions and margaritas.
- We began grilling outside again this summer.
- Went to see A Christmas Carol at the Stadium Theater in Woonsocket, RI, with my Sister-in-Law, our nephew, and his girlfriend.
House
- I disassembled our dining nook, placing one bench into the mudroom/foyer and the other in the garage dojo.
- We had a whiskey barrel table installed where the dining nook used to be.
- I put together a coffee bar, placing a Kuerig and a kettle on top and filling it with coffee, tea, and accouterments.
- I put together a pantry to more easily store canned goods, etc.
- I installed a coatrack for more efficient storage
- I repurposed an older TV and hung it on the wall of the dining area to complete the pub-like feel of the space.
- Attended shred day at local bank and got rid of a lot of paper that needed shredding.
- Assembled another cat tree for Diesel.
- Installed Perfect Pushup Bar in a doorway.
- Put together a new office chair for Patty.
- Began a cleanout of the garage to create home dojo and gym for supplemental solo training.
- Cleaned out the media room. Put up two shelves and filled them with physical media and collectables. Removed podcasting bench and set up dorm fridge again. Installed TV and soundbar to transform room from a podcasting studio into a hybrid home cinema media room.
- That’s all I can remember for 2025. See you in 2026!
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