A Thoughtful New Year

It’s an old habit wishing people a Happy New Year, but it’s hard to let go of the optimism a fresh beginning offers. It’s a chance to let go of what doesn’t work and embrace what does with an eye toward something better waiting in the wings. It’s the epitome of hope, really.

For myself, I plan on slowing the pace in the next year. I’ll have published nine novels in seven years in 2026, and now I’m feeling the need to take a little more time with my words and intentions. I’m wrapping up the final edits on The Gilded City of Dreams this week, and then I’ll be starting a new project in January that is going to take a little more deliberation to tell the story right. I plan on sipping lots of tea and getting lost in plenty of daydreams in the new year, and that sounds pretty good to me.

Wishing everyone the chance to take the time they need in the coming year!

The Gilded City of Dreams Coming in 2026!

The second book in the Golden Age of Magic series is coming in June 2026. There is more to the story for these Gardiennes during their adventure in America, so if you enjoyed the first novel, make sure to check out the follow-up!

Synopsis for The Gilded City of Dreams:

In 1920s Manhattan, a young fairy godmother is caught in an evil conspiracy to control her sisterhood’s magic in a sweeping historical fantasy by the bestselling author of The Vine Witch.

Unlike most dreamers, Celeste made it in Hollywood—albeit as a Fée Gardienne in a magical, centuries-old sisterhood. Yet her excitement is tempered by the death of the Gardiennes’ leader, making Celeste and her fellow fairy godmother Anaïs caretakers of the sacred elder staff. Charged with returning the ancient relic to Paris, they set off for New York City to catch a steamship to France. But the 1920s Big Apple roars with danger in ways Celeste and Anaïs never anticipated.

Upon their arrival, a street urchin steals the staff and disappears into the shadows. When Anaïs taps into her rebellious streak to search for the thief on her own, she falls into the clutches of a mysterious band of kidnappers who are seemingly aware of the magical possibilities the stolen staff can offer. To find Anaïs and retrieve the enchanted heart of the sisterhood, Celeste must rely on her wits, her magic, and her trust in a stranger—even if it means putting her friend at risk.

Now available for preorder.

Happy Thanksgiving

It’s the holidays, so naturally I’m working on copy edits for The Gilded City of Dreams in between baking and cleaning. This is the second book in The Golden Age of Magic duology, with an expected publication date of June 9, 2026. Pre-orders are already up and running on Amazon if interested.

We should have an official story blurb ready soon, but in the meantime here is the beautiful cover created by the talented Kimberly Glyder:

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Happy Witchy Season!

Just an update to say I’ve been working on revisions for The Gilded City of Dreams, the follow-up to The Golden Age of Magic. And, yes, there is a second book in the series!

I’ve also been traveling and gathering ideas for a new story that won’t leave me alone. And now that it’s spooky season, the urge to get writing is strong! But, I have to finish the edits first, and then I will dive in to the new project. Perhaps there will be more to tell about the story-in-waiting later on. Until then, happy witchy season!

Rejection Reflection

Look what I came across while cleaning out a drawer in my office. It’s a rejection letter from Simon & Schuster for the very first novel I ever wrote, a middle-grade story written for the ten to twelve-year-old crowd. There’s no date on the letter. No recognition of my name or even an editor signature. It is a generic piss-off rejection letter, of which I collected several hundred before getting novel number four published (The Vine Witch).

The fact that it’s a typed letter is the first clue to how old it is. When I first started my journey toward publication over twenty years ago we were still mailing manuscripts off in brown envelopes and including a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return response from the intended recipient. I have a few of the more personal and encouraging ones that I kept stashed away, but somehow this one got shoved in a drawer by itself. Many others got ripped up and thrown in the trash upon arrival.

And yet I persisted.

And if anyone reading this blog post is a writer hoping to get published, you should do the same. Persistence is as valuable as writing or storytelling talent when it comes to traditional publishing. The first few rejections sting personally, but you build up a tolerance for the pain. Eventually. If you stick with it.

My ninth book, The Gilded City of Dreams, will be out in June 2026. Just saying.