DECEMBER 2025

Goodbye, 2025…

Happy holidays, everyone!

And happy (almost) 2026.

Can I confess something? I enjoy the week in between Christmas and New Year’s Day far more than the holidays themselves. It’s a lawless stretch of the calendar. A liminal space where time doesn’t really exist and the rules of proper society no longer apply. Sort of like an airport.

I love that no one cares if you spend all day in your pajamas, or read for six hours straight. No one is emailing you with work tasks or demanding your constant attention. The news headlines feel more distant, the noise of the outside world somehow muted. It’s peaceful. (And, after the craziness of this year, I think we are all entitled to a bit of peace.)

I don’t know about you, but I’m more than ready to bid farewell to 2025 when the clock strikes midnight tonight. These 365 days were a true rollercoaster of highs and lows. Ups and downs. Some fabulously big wins and a handful of bitter disappointments.

2025 was the year I made the leap over to traditional publishing after a decade as an indie/hybrid author. The year The Wind Weaver took flight all over the world…

From the USA where I celebrated my launch night at Lovestruck Books, to the United Kingdom where I became a # 1 Sunday Times bestseller, to Germany where I spent multiple weeks on the Spiegel bestseller list…

To Portugal where I was my publisher’s top-selling new title, to France where I was awarded “best foreign romance” at the Festival New Romance…

From virtual discussions to podcast episodes to book club chats… I was overwhelmed by the love I felt from every direction.

Readers, both in person and online. Other authors. Booksellers. Reviewers. Edit-makers. Character artists.

You all uplifted me every single day. You kept me going on the darkest ones, and cheered me on during the brightest.

2025 was a year of many firsts, both professionally and personally. A year of learning hard lessons and embracing big changes. I smiled until my cheeks ached and laughed myself silly. I cried many tears. (Mostly happy ones.) I held some very precious things in my arms, from the gorgeous FairyLoot special edition to my brand new nephew.

I will never forget this chapter of my life, or take it for granted. To say I’m excited for all that’s to come in 2026 is a huge understatement…

Speaking of 2026…

I have three books releasing next year.

Yes, three!

Two of them are releases from my publishers. One will be an indie release. (My first indie book since early 2024! Can you believe that?!)

First up, in March, we have the long-awaited paperback edition of THE WIND WEAVER. Then, in April, the hardcover edition of THE SEA SPINNER lands in bookstores (and on e-readers) all over the world. And, last but not least, I’ll be releasing AT LAST SIGHT, a third standalone rom-com in my Witch City Series, next autumn.

Meanwhile, I’ve been hard at work on another manuscript which will likely not see the light of day until 2028. (I know, I know. Traditional publishing is so very slow.)

This is a dystopian fantasy with lots of dark humor (and even darker social commentary). It has all my favorite things: terrifying monsters, a cool magic system, high stakes, enemies-to-lovers, and world-building galore.

I can’t tell you much else yet, but it’s safe to say I’m enjoying every moment of the writing process so far!

I’ll be sending off a proposal to my agents in January so they can get the ball rolling and start chatting with publishers about potential interest in this new series. This is called “going out on submission” in the business, and while it can be chaotic/scary/full of rejection, it’s also extremely exciting. (At least, it was the last time I did it, way back in 2023 with THE WIND WEAVER.)

With any luck, I’ll have some slightly less vague updates for you over the next few months about the future of this new series.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

December was a busy month. (Isn’t it always?)

Before the true holiday madness descended, I spent some time out in California visiting my older brother and his family. It was some much needed quality time after not seeing them since the summertime.

I love being an aunt. My niece calls me “Ju-Ju”, which makes my heart melt into a puddle. She’s not quite two, and she’s getting so grown up already. It makes me want to freeze time… or at least slow it down a little bit.

While I was in Santa Cruz, I also got to meet the newest addition to our family tree: my brand new baby nephew!

So, now, I’m an Aunt x2.

It was great to see family. Not to mention escape the bitter New England cold for a few days. That West Coast sunshine is almost enough to make me consider leaving Massachusetts.

Almost.

(I think we all know I’m never leaving. LOL.)

By the time I got back home to Boston, it was time to pull out the ugly Christmas sweaters and crack open the spiked egg nog.

I’ve always loved this time of year. I try to soak in the magic as much as possible, even when I’m busy writing. But between gift shopping, house decorating, cookie making, watching my favorite holiday movies, and sitting by the twinkly lights of the Christmas tree for hours on end, I was — much like the Grinch — positively booked.

Needless to say, I’m ready to descend into full hibernation mode as soon as the calendar flips over to January. I have a manuscript to finish — two, actually — and after a month of nonstop merriment, indulgence, and distraction, it’s time to shift gears into productivity mode and get back into a consistent work rhythm.

I usually use this section to discuss what I’m currently reading and watching. (To be fair, like everyone else in the world, I’m watching the final season of Stranger Things and plan to start Heated Rivalry next.) But, this time, I also wanted to include some of my favorites from the year as a whole.

Overall, it was a great reading year for me. I read more books in 2025 than in the previous two years combined. Here’s hoping that trend continues into 2026...

If you’ve made it this far, I want to say a sincere THANK YOU for making this such a special year in my life. I also want to wish you a happy, healthy 2026.

Wherever you are in the world, I hope the next chapter of your story is the sweetest one yet.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! xx

Until next time…