’24 was far kinder to me than ’23. Here are the highlights.

Just celebrated my 36^th wedding anniversary with this guy.

Four of my many siblings visited me this year!

Here we are, a bit younger: The first six of us in 1963, and a photo with the seventh, my baby sister, in 1970-ish (oldest brother isn’t in the second photo.)

A lot of quality time with my daughters.

Feeling strong again and dancing almost every day, whether teaching my wonderful adult students at Scarsdale Ballet Studio or taking classes from so many talented and inspirational teachers of ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance.

Entered a new decade with a fabulous birthday party!

Culled through videos of several decades of my dance career and posted compilations of highlights: Vija on Stage, and Vija’s Choreography.

Three short stories published: “Better than a Dating App,” in Mystery Magazine, “A Father’s Duty,” in multi-author anthology Let Me Tell You About…, and “Rosemary and Reuben” in Short Story Substack. (Click on link to Short Story Substack to read “Rosemary and Reuben” free.) These and others will be in my next short story collection, planned for ’26.

And the big news: Cover Reveal!

My new novel, Indelicate Deception, releases on April 5, 2025. I chose that date because—why not?—it’s my Latvian Name Day, although the novel has nothing to do with Latvia. Here is how one reviewer describes it:

“V.S. Kemanis’s layered examination of what initially appears to be a love story at the Bay Area epicenter of the flower-power era morphs into a compelling mystery that asks hard questions about race and commitment. In alternating chapters, Indelicate Deception follows Caty, from the 1990s, and her parents, from the early 1970s, until the stories merge and escalate to a chilling conclusion… Caty’s pursuit of the truth pulses with the page-turning urgency of a thriller. Characters shine with dimension and depth as Kemanis offers honest portrayals of human courage and deep flaws.” BlueInk Review (Starred Review)

Here are a few more pre-publication reviews:

“A woman’s quest for the truth unravels a web of secrets and lies that threaten everything she thought she knew about her family in Kemanis’ utterly absorbing novel… Themes of truth, perception, and deception run throughout, urging readers to question how much of our reality is shaped by what we choose to believe. The novel expertly examines how memory can serve both as a comfort and an obstacle to understanding, particularly within the emotionally charged realm of family history. A beautifully crafted and deeply moving story.” — BookView Review (5 stars)

“Gripping, intense, and profound… Evocative prose and authentic dialogue enrich the emotional complexity of the narrative, blending moments of tenderness, humor, and heartbreak. Kemanis masterfully weaves emotional depth with nuanced character development… A captivating, thought-provoking exploration of family secrets and the pursuit of truth.” — The Prairies Book Review

“Colorful prose full of sharply-realized dialogue [and] third-act revelations will keep readers turning pages. An involving story of intergenerational discovery.”— Kirkus Reviews

“Recommended” — The U.S. Review of Books

Stay tuned for preorder links and more book news as it comes in.

With gratitude for wonderful family and friends, I wish you all a happy, healthy, successful 2025!