Author's Corner

A Letter to My Readers: The Journey of "Sterilized"

Hello everyone, and welcome.

My name is Isis Daniel, and I’m so excited to share my novel, "Sterilized," with you here on Substack. This story has been a long time in the making, a journey with its own unexpected twists and turns, much like the novel itself.

The first spark for "Sterilized" ignited way back in 2013, an idea sparked by a conversation that I jotted down in a journal. It was one of those persistent thoughts that stays with you. Though that original note is long gone (a casualty of a recent decluttering spree – oh, the things we wish we’d kept!), the core idea lingered. It wasn't until 2017, while working at The Walrus Oyster House in National Harbor, Maryland, that I truly began to write. During the slow seasons, I was fortunate enough to have some leniency to work on the manuscript.

Those early days of writing were exhilarating. It was my first attempt at a full novel, and there was something incredibly special about sharing the chapters as I wrote them with my colleagues and staff members. I vividly remember one server who would eagerly ask for the next chapter each week, her enthusiasm a mirror of my own excitement. That shared experience of unfolding a story together was pure joy, a feeling I’m hoping to recapture with all of you here.

Then, life, as it often does, took an unexpected turn. In 2017, I couldn't have predicted the events of late 2019 and early 2020. Suddenly, writing a book about a global pandemic and the controversies surrounding vaccines while living through the reality of COVID-19 felt… mind-boggling, to say the least. Many of my fictional predictions about how people might respond to such a crisis were challenged by what I saw unfolding in real time. During this period, my father also became very ill, and I became his primary caregiver. The weight of these real-world events and responsibilities made continuing "Sterilized" feel almost irresponsible, perhaps even inaccurate to the moment we were all living through. So, I made the difficult decision to set it aside and focus on other projects, including my work in the wine world.

It wasn't until April of this year, 2025, that "Sterilized" called me back. An email regarding a competition I’d submitted the first chapter to in 2018 landed in my inbox. Curiosity piqued, I went back and reread those early chapters, and then the later ones I’d drafted. I realized the story was much closer to completion than I remembered – perhaps only five or so chapters away from a full first draft. With a renewed sense of purpose and a bit of unexpected time on my hands, I decided to finish it.

As I completed the manuscript, I was immediately drawn back to those days at The Walrus, and particularly to that enthusiastic server. Her eagerness to know what happened next is a huge inspiration for sharing "Sterilized" with you in this serialized format. I feel incredibly blessed to have a mind that I find to be creative and, yes, complex, and I truly hope I can do a decent job of bringing you into this world I’ve envisioned. Every time a flicker of self-doubt creeps in, I think back to her – she got it. And that tells me there will be others out there who will get it too.

This Substack, this novel, is my way of honoring my younger self. Before my career in wine blossomed, writing was one of my most cherished dreams. You may know me from my work in the wine industry – I’ve been fortunate to be recognized as a Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker and a WineBusiness Monthly leader in 'Connecting with Consumers.' I create content, host the #TastingThursday Podcast, partner with some incredible brands, and travel the world speaking at conferences about connecting with younger consumers and utilizing influencer marketing. My professional life as a social media strategist and digital content creator is built on fostering meaningful connections.

And that’s what I hope to do here, with "Sterilized." While it's a shift from wine education, the core desire is the same: to connect, to share a story, to explore complex ideas. It’s an honor to finally bring this idea, conceived when I was just 18, to life now at 30. It’s been a crazy journey to get here, but it feels like the right time.

I’m so excited for you to join me. There will be much more to share about my writing process and the evolution of this story as we go.

Thank you for being here.

Warmly,

Isis Daniel