MARCH 2026

Counting down the days…

Time is strange. It creeps along so slowly, then lurches forward in a sudden blink. March to April, winter to spring… I can’t believe I’m saying this, but we’ve somehow hit the one month countdown to my next book release!

THE SEA SPINNER

APRIL 28, 2026

Yes, at long last, the sequel to THE WIND WEAVER is almost here. This is book two in my high fantasy trilogy, and my second favorite thing I’ve ever written in my decade-long career. (Book three THE ***** ****** remains my ultimate favorite, and you’ll see why when it’s published in February 2027.)

As for book two, you can expect a tumultuous, tide-changing sequel full of complicated characters, expansive world-building, lush descriptions, terrifying monsters, and (of course) some heart-racing romance.

It’s received a starred review from the trade reviewer Library Journal, which called it, “a well-rounded and powerful sequel with strong character arcs, nuanced handling of difficult themes, and beautifully crafted world.” And the feedback from early readers so far has ranged from threats to sue me for emotional damage (LOL) to long messages in my inbox begging for book three ASAP.

If you enjoyed book one, I think — hope — this second installment will surpass it in every way.

I feel like I’ve been waiting FOREVER for this story to be out in the world so I can finally chat with you all about it. I know you’ll have some big feelings about the plot twists… not to mention the explosive ending…

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

As in all my newsletters, we’ll kick things off by discussing what’s going on in book world, then shift to what’s happing in my life behind the scenes, and close out with what I’ve recently been reading/watching to fill the creative well.

I’ve got a huge cup of coffee by my side and morning sunshine is pouring through the kitchen windows. I’m ready to dive in if you are, my friend, so pull up a chair…

I’ve often described life as an author as a balancing act between writing books and marketing them. Long gone are the days when you could simply produce a manuscript, pass it off to an editor, and move on to your next work in progress.

Now, generally speaking, to be a successful author you must also be a social media influencer of sorts, learning to run digital ads and create content, and (gods help us) lip-sync on TikTok to trending sounds. We writers are no longer just slaves to our creative muses; we are slaves to the algorithms.

Some stretches are quieter than others, the need to self-promote fading away into dull background noise instead of a clanging alarm bell between your ears. But for me, this month, with a looming book release… let’s just say the clanging is LOUD.

I’ll be ramping up my marketing efforts in the coming weeks, shifting away from writer mode and into promotion mode. That means at least temporarily stepping back from the things I care most about: my characters, my stories, my words, my worlds. It also means you’ll be seeing a lot more of my face if you follow me over on social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok. (Sorry in advance.)

The funny thing is, I’m not even sure humiliating myself in a series of increasingly desperate short-form videos makes a damned bit of difference in the long run. Authors themselves have precious little control when it comes to meaningfully moving the sales needle — not when compared to organic reader buzz or the push of a professional publicist.

Will that stop me from trying?

Nope!

I’m a certified Type A control freak workaholic with zero work-life balance.

I’d also really like to buy a house this year.

I’m probably not supposed to admit that to you, though. Because authors are supposed to write only for the love of the written word, right? For the sheer beauty of prose, feeding off the utter inspiration of our own intellect...

Can you see my eyes rolling right now through the screen?

For whatever reason, the strangely romanticized cultural stereotype of the “starving artist” persists even after all this time. There seems to be a lingering consensus that creative people should suffer for their authenticity; that if you aren’t in some degree of pain, you aren’t making something genuine.

But I would argue that, in a time when art is being stolen by AI language models left and right, it’s more important than ever to pour value into human work, and to fairly compensate the people who create it.

Basically, what I’m saying is… bring back billionaires who acted as patrons of the arts instead of the loser ones we have now, who just seem intent on stealing it for their own profit.

Where were we?

Oh, right. I was updating you on publishing things.

Since last month, I’ve officially completed developmental edits on book three in the Reign of Remnants trilogy (hooray!) which means it is off to copyedits. This stage is really just about catching typos, grammatical mistakes, small continuity errors, and the like.

Once I get copyedits back from my publisher, which will likely be in a few weeks, I’ll read over the manuscript for approximately the zillionth time before it moves on to the final stage pre-publication: formatting.

That’s where they design the fonts and layout so it looks like an actual book.

Sometimes readers are upset by the long gaps between book releases. But there’s a reason things move so slowly, especially when it comes to the traditional publishing industry. It’s far more than simply writing the manuscript. By the time a book reaches shelves in bookstores, it’s gone through so many rounds of edits, been touched by so many hands, been read by so many eyeballs…

And DOUBLE that process for a translated version!

Which is why I’m so thrilled that book three is coming so soon after book two. I know February 2027 seems like a long wait to finish this trilogy, but I promise it will be worth it. Like I said at the start of this newsletter, book three THE ***** ****** is my favorite thing I’ve ever written.

No one has managed to guess the title yet, by the way.

Before we move on, I want to make one last plea for you to pre-order if you are able before release day next month!

Pre-order sales are one of the most important things you can do to support an author besides leaving a review or telling a friend.

Strong sales early on often dictate how my copies get printed, how big the marketing push is… basically whether a series lives or dies. So I truly appreciate every single one of you who is able to purchase a copy, whether in advance or next month when it’s out in the wild.

As a way of saying thanks, I’ve set up a special pre-order bonus incentive. Fill out this form to provide proof of purchase, and you’ll receive a little gift in the mail from me shortly after release day: a signed book plate for your copy, some custom bookmarks, a character art print, and other series swag.

PS: for any of you interested in signed/personalized editions, my local indie Lovestruck Books is offering them on their website.

Spring has finally made an appearance in Massachusetts. Long overdue, if you ask me. Though there’s really nothing like the first sunny, 60 degree day to restore your will to live. (We humans really are just emotionally complex houseplants, aren’t we?)

Mainly, I’m happy the snow has melted and the roads are no longer slicked with salt and ice. Some of you may or may not know that back in 2021, for my 30th birthday, I bought myself a used two-seater convertible sportscar.

Fun to drive in the summertime? Hell yes. Practical for a New England winter? Hell no.

And yet, apparently I have not learned my lesson, because earlier this month, on the very first day of spring, I walked into the dealership and traded in said sporty little convertible… not for an SUV or a reliable sedan...

No, my friends. I walked out of that dealership with the exact same impractical two-seater convertible I had before. Just 7 years newer.

Will I regret this decision come next winter? Only time shall tell. But for now, I plan to have a fun summer with the top down and the wind in my hair. To hell with the consequences.

Beyond impulsive car purchases, March was pretty chill overall. I booked some travel for later in the year, cleaned my cottage top to bottom, spent some time in the garden, read a handful of great books, and did my best not to doom-scroll.

I have a week of writing (and marketing, ugh) ahead before I pack my bags for California to visit family. My niece and nephew are growing like weeds, and I miss them terribly. I’m excited for some west coast sunshine and a little break from my laptop.

You can follow along over on my IG — I always post a few pictures whenever I travel!

Surprise, surprise… The Pitt continues to reign as my favorite show of the year. Every week, I watch and it somehow manages to be the most stressful yet exciting hour of television ever.

Meanwhile, in the listening department, Paris Paloma continues to compete for my favorite musical artist (I’ve been playing Good Boy and Miyazaki on repeat) with longtime love Florence + The Machine and newer discovery Olivia Dean.

Last Friday night, I went to see Project Hail Mary in IMAX and I loved every minute of it. Wow, what a film. And I say that as someone who read (and adored!) the book, but also as someone who isn’t a big fan of outer space/physics/intergalactic travel. I highly recommend going to see it in theaters if you can… It’s the kind of movie meant for big screens, and Ryan Gosling is simply mesmerizing.

I read a handful of great books this month including Half City by Kate Golden, which filled the Buffy-shaped hole in my heart. I was also lucky enough to get some advanced copies from my publishers: The Sweetest Fiend by Raven Kennedy and Drown the Bones by Alexandra Kennington, both of which I am tripping over myself with excitement to start ASAP.

What are you reading? What are you watching?

Feel free to reply to this email and let me know! I’m always looking for great things to fill the creative well when I’m not busy writing (or marketing, ugh again)…

Okay, whew. We made it.

That’s it for March.

I’ll be back at the end of April… at which point THE SEA SPINNER will officially be out in the world.

AhhhHHHhhhHHHhh!

In the meantime, I’ll just be over here counting down the days… hours… minutes… seconds…

Until next time…