Liv, Kae, and I are back by popular demand at The Atlas Collective for a pre-release event! Grab your copy of Not the Way it Ends EARLY on November 8, and come hang out with us. It’s guaranteed to be a good time!

RSVP here!

Come hang out with me and Cara Tanamachi on November 11 at Partners in Crime bookstore to celebrate the release of Not the Way it Ends! It is sure to be worth coming out on a school night!

Get your ticket here!

See you soon!

I know it’s not Wednesday, but it IS Halloween, and I also ran into a bit of a problem. I promised that in the next chapter, Evie and August would meet, but Crystal went a little off the rails, and August needed some more time to come to terms with the fact that hexes are real. Sometimes we just have to give in and let things unfold. (I just work here, after all. The characters do what they want most of the time.)

So I figured, why not send this chapter (in which Crystal goes off the rails and August processes what he’s done) ON HALLOWEEN for a fun little bonus? That way, they really can meet on Wednesday as promised!

As a reminder, Messy Hexes is available only to paid subscribers, but you can still grab a subscription for 20% off through the end of November!

20% off!

And if you’re looking for a completed Halloween novella that you can start and finish TODAY, grab Pumpkin to Talk About on Kindle+ or Audible+! You can also order signed copies on my website for only $10 for the next 24 hours (discount automatically applied at checkout, shipping is free)!

So, without further ado, Messy Hexes Chapter Six!

August

Just as I’m about to set out to meet Maddox for our weekly argument about whether pumpkin spice belongs in beer, I’m struck with a sudden wave of dizziness. It’s enough that I need to sit down and hold my head for a moment.

I curse sharply. “If I’m getting the flu, I swear to all that is holy—”

And then, as quickly as it started, it stops.

I hang out for a minute on my couch, afraid to make any sudden movements. When I finally stand up, the room doesn’t spin, so I shrug it off. My blood sugar must be low from skipping lunch. Good thing we’re meeting at our favorite bar—The Bubbly Cauldron—then, because they make some of the best mac and cheese I’ve ever had. They even serve it steaming hot in mini cauldron-shaped bowls. It’s a little kitschy for me, but even I can admit their commitment to a theme is exemplary.

The bar isn’t far away from my apartment, but that dizzy spell made me late, so I choose to drive. Maybe not the best choice given my low blood sugar, but some food should take care of that before I have to drive home. When I get to The Bubbly Cauldron, Maddox is already there with a pumpkin beer in hand, waving me over to one of the high-top tables in the corner.

“I’m starving,” I say by way of greeting as I slide into my seat. I wave at the waitress, who gives me a nod of acknowledgment before finishing another table’s order. “I think I skipped lunch today.”

“Can’t be drinking your shitty beer on an empty stomach.” Maddox takes a swig from his bottle.

“My shitty beer?” I protest, waving a hand at his seasonal trash. “At least mine doesn’t taste like a pie.”

“What’s wrong with pie?”

“Nothing, except that it doesn’t belong in a beer.”

Read more

At every decade, people told me the next one would be even better. It turned out my 30s that were supposed to be so fun were a bit of a wash between three pregnancies and COVID (womp womp). But when I was entering my 40s, I started listening to all sorts of midlife stories—women who completely blew up their lives. They quit stable jobs, started new businesses, left partners who were slowly and systematically making them miserable, moved across the country. I read about hormones and other theories about why women stopped giving a shit as they entered this decade of their lives. I even wrote a book about it.

It was inspiring, honestly, and two years ago, I was ready. I was a burned out teacher and mom writing books to find myself again. My hormones were probably all over the place. (Arguably, they still are.) When I put Love Out Loud—that book I wrote about a 40-year-old mom finding herself again—on submission, I had big dreams of a book deal and a different day job that afforded me more time to write. Everything was falling into place. It was finally my turn to blow everything up, to rise like the phoenix from the ashes and recreate myself anew.

And then…nothing happened. I mean, there were some job offers, some interest in the book, but nothing was blow-up-my-life worthy. Nothing was life changing.

So I went back for another school year. I wrote Not a Strong Enough Word. You know how that story ends—I’m about to release the third book in that series with a publisher. But I’m still teaching. And I’m still writing books.

On the outside, it looks like I didn’t blow anything up, which kind of disappointed me, honestly. But over the past year or two, I’ve come to realize that my explosions have been there; they’ve just been quieter. I set boundaries at school. I started setting boundaries with men who thought they could say anything to me they wanted, too. I got out of some pretty toxic relationships in the publishing industry. I tried to reconnect with people I missed because I had to focus so hard just to stay afloat that I didn’t have a ton of time for extras.

In short, after what I thought was going to blow up my life and didn’t, I started to prioritize my peace.

I’m a work in progress, as we all are. My midlife crisis is far from over. There could still be some explosions in my future. But I think this is why I write workplace romances with characters who don’t always leave their jobs. Sometimes, you don’t need to burn it all down. Sometimes you need to set fire to your past self instead—the habits that no longer serve you, the pieces of your life that aren’t working anymore—and come back anew.

This is why I love Anastasios so much in Not the Way it Ends. He’s been collecting information about work and love and life and burnout. He feels out of place in the middle of his life, but he isn’t quite sure why. He’s burned out, but he isn’t going to leave the publishing company he built with his own two hands. He’s divorced, but he isn’t going to abandon his family. He thinks he’s doing everything right, even if it doesn’t feel right anymore. And yet a trip to Greece for a family wedding (and his daughter’s hot dance teacher) ends up showing him exactly what’s missing. Intention. Joy. Laughter. A love for his daughter as big as the sea, and a love for a woman as deep. Permission to feel it all with abandon, and bring it back with him to Chicago.

He doesn’t blow up his life, either. He just realizes he’s a puzzle piece that’s shaped a bit differently than he used to be. But there’s still a slot for him, if he wants it.

So, actually, maybe we don’t need to blow up our lives at all. Maybe, what we need is a trip to the beaches of Crete. And while I can’t offer you that, I can give you the next best thing, which is a book about a trip to Greece and a silver fox who leaves the ashes of his previous self in the sand.

Your fictional trip awaits

Not a Strong Enough Word & Not on the Same Page - Available Now!

Not the Way it Ends - November 10, 2026

Preorder now to get the limited edition sprayed edges and goodies from your favorite indie bookstore!

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Come meet me, chat, and grab a signed copy of Not the Way it Ends!

I’m coming back for a repeat performance at The Atlas Collective for a PRE-RELEASE event! That’s right, you can get your books EARLY! Come out and see me!

RSVP here

And for my Chicago-area friends, come hang out with me and Cara Tanamachi at Partners in Crime for an 11/11 (lucky day!) release event! I can’t wait!

Get tickets here

Enter to win a paperback copy of Not the Way it Ends on Goodreads!

Enter to win

And don’t forget, preordering any format of Not the Way it Ends from anywhere gets you a chance to win some cool goodies if you submit your proof of purchase*! (Might I suggest preordering from one of our incredible indie bookstore partners for another art print and sticker sheet incentive?)

Preorder info and form here

*No purchase necessary. See form for details.

Speech season has started, the Not the Way it Ends release is upon us, and we are deep in Samberts birthday season while gearing up for the holidays. In other words, coffee is now a major food group until February when I can come back up for air. So I’m not being super mindful about what type of coffee I’m drinking, as long as it’s caffeinated. But writing this post has reminded me to find joy, and my goal for this week is to change that. Sit, sip, and savor, as they say.

Read now on KU!

Small town | Country music star x studio owner | Broken golden retriever | Forced proximity | Found family

Remember, the full chapters are only released to paid members. However, I’m offering a 20% discount on subscriptions again through the end of November! Because why not?! That’s only $4/month or $24/year to participate in this novella (there are polls for paid subscribers to sometimes help shape the story!), be the first to read the chapters, and support an author. You can’t beat that.

20% off!

Also, you’ll notice a color change in my branding! That’s part of the fun of the serial novella (that I’m completely making up as I go). Things change! In fact, for those of you asking if there will be a full text option and/or paperback at the end of this, the answer is YES, and the colors have changed because we have a cover!

Am I going to go back and redo the past graphics in this series? Maybe! But probably not. That doesn’t feel worth it just for a color update. Rest assured, though, the cover is coming.

And now, without further ado, Messy Hexes - Chapter Five!

Evie

Edmund makes a grumbly, warning sound as soon as I open up the envelope from August and dump out its contents.

“An opal?” He lets out a low whistle. “Set in gold? Oh, honey. That jewelry is going to magnify every little feeling you have and project it outward.”

“I have no feelings about this,” I say through gritted teeth.

“Sure you do,” he replies as if he’s giving me brand new information. “You hate doing hexes. You said so yourself.”

I widen my eyes and press my lips together as a frustrated growl rumbles in my throat. “And yet, someone told me to offer expensive hexes on Hexty because no one in their right mind would spend this much money on a hex.”

Edmund shrugs, unbothered. Which is fair given that there isn’t much I can do to physically hurt him since he’s already dead. “This is not my fault for two reasons.” He lifts a pale finger. “One, you should know by now that you shouldn’t listen to me.” He raises another finger. “And two, that boy’s friend is an idiot who told him that the more expensive the hex, the more likely it was to work.”

Read more

With just about two weeks until the (stunning) conclusion of the Strong Enough series is released, this is normally the time in the release cycle when I’d be introducing you to characters, talking about the importance of preorders, trying to hook you with swoon-worthy quotes. But today, I’m just emotional. My author copies of Not the Way it Ends arrived, and the gang’s finally all here.

I immediately cracked open that box, cried at the dedication page, and then lined up the whole family together so I could do an impromptu photo shoot in my bedroom’s moody, afternoon lighting.

These three books represent so much for me. Not a Strong Enough Word was the book of my soul, the book that landed me a trad deal, the book that changed the way I look at writing and romance. Not on the Same Page was built from my blood, sweat, and tears. (So many tears.) Not the Way it Ends popped out of my head like Athena and reminded me that this is fun, I am good at this, and closing out a series is emotional AF.

This series put my books on those very same bookstore shelves I used to look at and say, “My books will be there someday.” They taught me so much. I am a new person—and author—because of them.

So yeah, I’m taking a moment today to appreciate this gorgeous series. Maybe seeing all three of them together persuades you to buy them. Maybe it doesn’t. Maybe stumbling upon the pretty colors in your feed brings you a little happiness. Maybe it doesn’t.

Regardless, the gang’s all here, and I’ve never been more proud of something I’ve created. Because I was strong enough to do this. And I’ll be strong enough to do the next thing, too, whatever that is.

Buy the completed series

Oh, who am I kidding? I’m still going to try to hook you with a swoon-worthy quote.

“Put me out of my misery. Please.” I don’t know if I’m asking her to kiss me so I can taste her or reject me so I can lick my wounds and move on. The ball’s in her court. All I can do is count my breaths as my words settle between us.

One…

Two…

Three…

Four…

And the next thing I know, she reaches out and fists my shirt as she tips her face up to me.

Did it work??

Preorder now

Not a Strong Enough Word & Not on the Same Page - Available Now!

Not the Way it Ends - November 10, 2026

Preorder now to get the limited edition sprayed edges and goodies from your favorite indie bookstore!

Preorder Now!

Come meet me, chat, and grab a signed copy of Not the Way it Ends!

I’m coming back for a repeat performance at The Atlas Collective for a PRE-RELEASE event! That’s right, you can get your books EARLY! Come out and see me!

RSVP here

And for my Chicago-area friends, come hang out with me and Cara Tanamachi at Partners in Crime for an 11/11 (lucky day!) release event! I can’t wait!

Get tickets here

Enter to win a paperback copy of Not the Way it Ends on Goodreads!

Enter to win

And don’t forget, preordering any format of Not the Way it Ends from anywhere gets you a chance to win some cool goodies if you submit your proof of purchase*! (Might I suggest preordering from one of our incredible indie bookstore partners for another art print and sticker sheet incentive?)

Preorder info and form here

*No purchase necessary. See form for details.

Coffee is still my lifeblood, but I recently ordered some tea, and it is SO GOOD. Pumpkin spice tea, of course, but also orange spice, green chai, and turmeric chai. The flavors are incredible. This isn’t sponsored, but I would 10/10 recommend Adagio Teas! I’ve been buying tea from them for years, and I’ve never been disappointed.

Single Mom | Second Chance | Football Romance | Small Town Romance

Read now on KU!

Today, we get to see whether or not August buys a hex from Evie, and their very first interaction! Ahh, I love these moments before everything goes ridiculously, hilariously wrong. (You can picture me cackling and rubbing my hands together like an evil genius if you like.)

The full chapters are available only to paid subscribers, so be sure to subscribe below so you can read them all!

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August

I don’t even know if I believe in hexes. I certainly don’t believe in witches—no one over the age of ten does. Which is why it’s so strange that, days later, I’m still perusing the Hexty site Maddox showed me.

“This stuff can’t be real,” I mumble to myself as I scroll through the offerings. Crystals and teas for everything from building self-confidence to curing IBS. Tarot readings and psychic forecasts. Jewelry for protection. Astrology chart mapping. Love spells. Even little customizable hand-sewn and hand-painted dolls.

I click away from the doll listings quickly. Even if it’s completely fake, those give me the heebie-jeebies. I’m sure they’re not used for altruistic purposes.

Better off naming a cockroach. Crystal the Cockroach. It has a nice ring to it.

I click over to the zoo’s website. Sure enough, the cockroach-naming donation fund is open year-round. I type in Crystal’s name, then click through to the next option. It asks what type of cockroach I’d like to name, complete with pictures. Cringing, I shiver as I select what looks like the ugliest bug in the bunch. Which is saying something because they’re all disgusting.

Next, I’m taken to a page with some “fun facts” about the Florida Woods Cockroach. I’m not in the mood to be educated, but the fact that this particular bug can essentially skunk its predators with some stinky liquid is kind of interesting. But another picture has me dry heaving, so I advance to the next screen where it asks for my credit card number. I type that in, and moments later, a certificate for Crystal the Cockroach lands in my inbox.

Read more

Not a Strong Enough Word & Not on the Same Page - Available Now!

Not the Way it Ends - November 10, 2026

Preorder now to get the limited edition sprayed edges and goodies from your favorite indie bookstore!

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Have you visited Leade Park yet? The Write Place is FREE on Kindle through this weekend! Grab it now and dive into this fall favorite.

The Write Place is FREE

Don’t forget to preorder Not the Way it Ends and enter to win some sweet goodies! You can preorder from anywhere, but I suggest one of our awesome indie bookstore partners to double up on your merch!

Preorder now and enter to win!

There will now be TWO chances to meet me for the Not the Way it Ends release! I’ll be back at The Atlas Collective in Moline on November 8 (details coming soon) and at Partners in Crime in Chicago on November 11!

RSVP to see me at Atlas!

My goal is to PACK THE HOUSE for the last book in this series. So come on out and celebrate with me! I can’t wait to see you.

Get your Ticket Now!

We are firmly in pumpkin spice season, so you better believe I’m adding pumpkin spice to EVERYTHING. Coffee, tea, bread, muffins, candles…you name it. If it wasn’t weird to add it to my water, I would do it. But we took a trip to Boston for the long weekend and stumbled upon The Thinking Cup—an absolutely adorable coffee shop off the Commons—and I had sweet potato bread. It was to DIE for. Paired with their honey cinnamon cold brew? Absolute heaven. The MINUTE I head back to Boston, I’m going to be hitting up that shop again. 10/10 would recommend.

One Night Stand | Accidental Pregnancy | Late 30s MCs | He Falls First | Small Town Montana Ranch | Only One Tent

Read now on KU!

I’m excited to get to the romance part of this little story, but for now, establishing the cozy, fall setting is important, too, so grab a mug of tea and come on in.

Remember, you can subscribe at any time to have access to all the chapters! So far, I’ve been able to get in one chapter per week, and I hope to keep up that pace until it’s done!

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Evie

A week later, Edmund’s marketing promises aren’t really paying off as far as I can tell. The Hexty site analytics are showing some visitors to my online shop, but no orders have come through. I probably need to get myself on social media if I want anyone to know the site exists. Maybe make some videos to prove I know how to make a delicious tea that also invites abundance into your career, or cast spells to stop dog hair from being impossible to remove from the sofa and smooth out those stubborn facial wrinkles. That last one is really just a spell to remind people to drink more water. Simple, yet effective.

But putting my face on the internet for everyone to see sounds like my worst nightmare, so I continue to hold out hope that Edmund knows what he’s doing. Or, at the very least, that he’s not doing anything illegal or nefarious. He’s dead, so he wouldn’t be the one getting in trouble.

Knowing him, I actually shouldn’t ask. Plausible deniability.

I check the site one more time before I have to head to the shop. Dejected at all the zeroes on my dashboard, I snap my laptop shut and grab my travel mug off the counter along with my keys.

My apartment is above Toil & Trouble, so it takes me almost no time to get to work. Still, when the little chime dings as I enter the front door, Aunt Agnes glances pointedly at the cat clock on the wall and back to me with an unintelligible grumble. She’s one of those “being early is being on time” types, but I’m not late, so there’s nothing she can do but be annoyed.

Her dismay doesn’t affect me anymore. It’s been a constant fixture in my life since I was born. Probably before then, actually, when my mother—her sister—fell in love with my father. The way she tells it, he was trouble from the start. Handsome and charming, he could have had his pick of witches. And he wasn’t all that interested in settling down. That didn’t stop my mother, though. She fell in love with him, and soon after he learned she was pregnant with me, he left Leafland Falls for good. According to Aunt Agnes, she met her fate because I looked so much like him that her heart broke a little more each day, unable to bear the reminder of her lost love. A romantic notion, even if it’s untrue. She’s not even dead. She was distracted—maybe because of my father, and maybe not—and cast a spell that backfired and turned her into the toad currently sitting in the tank on the windowsill.

It was a powerful spell, though, and no one has been able to change her back. Aunt Agnes is disappointed in that, too.

Read more

And we have some incredible deals going on! The Not a Strong Enough Word ebook is $0.99 on all platforms!

Buy Not a Strong Enough Word now!

And Not on the Same Page is finally in Kindle Unlimited! So you can grab Not a Strong Enough Word for $0.99, read Not on the Same Page on KU, and be ready for Not the Way it Ends to drop in ONE MONTH!

Read Not on the Same Page on KU!

Don’t forget to preorder Not the Way it Ends and enter to win some sweet goodies! You can preorder from anywhere, but I suggest one of our awesome indie bookstore partners to double up on your merch!

Preorder now and enter to win!

Not a Strong Enough Word & Not on the Same Page - Available Now!

Not the Way it Ends - November 10, 2026

Preorder now to get the limited edition sprayed edges and goodies from your favorite indie bookstore!

Preorder Now!

There will now be TWO chances to meet me for the Not the Way it Ends release! I’ll be back at The Atlas Collective in Moline on November 8 (details coming soon) and at Partners in Crime in Chicago on November 11!

My goal is to PACK THE HOUSE for the last book in this series. So come on out and celebrate with me! I can’t wait to see you.

Get your Ticket Now!

Hockey Romance | Female Coach | Secret Relationship | Super Slow Burn | She’s Older

Read now on KU!

You can still subscribe for 20% off to get each chapter of this novella delivered to your inbox every Wednesday until we’re done! That’s only $24 for the WHOLE YEAR!

20% off!

And be sure to check out the end of the post for a poll. One of the best things about posting this chapter-by-chapter is that I can do what I want! And I can do what YOU want! So make sure to vote.

August

“You gotta get even,” my friend, Maddox, says around a giant bite of pizza. He chases the lump of cheese he had been working on for the past two minutes with a large gulp of his seasonal beer.

“And why should I take advice from a man who can’t chew with his mouth closed, exactly?” I ask with a grimace as he grabs another slice and shoves the tip of it into his mouth.

Thankfully, he swallows before speaking this time. “My method of eating is irrelevant.” He points the pizza at me. “What is relevant is the fact that Crystal cheated on you and then dumped you via text message from the other guy’s house.”

A low blow, for sure, but I wave it away. “We only dated for like five months. If I got hung up over every woman I dated for almost half a year…” I huff. “Okay, so it was just her, but that’s besides the point. It wasn’t that serious.”

Maddox dramatically drops his slice along with his jaw, as if the two were attached to the same string. “You bought her jewelry.”

“I mean, yeah, isn’t that what you do when you’ve been dating almost six months?”

“I’ve never bought a woman jewelry in my entire life.”

Narrowing my eyes at him, I take a sip of my own beer. “Which is maybe why you’re single.”

“You bought Crystal jewelry, and you’re still single.”

He’s kind of an asshole, but he makes a fair point.

Read more

If you’re here for chapter two of Messy Hexes, I promise it’s coming! Ya girl still needs to send out some news and updates. I’m thinking most weeks, I’ll release a new chapter on Wednesdays. Witchy Wednesdays, if you will. So mark your calendars for chapter two on October 7! (I write fast, but we’re in a particularly busy season, so give me some grace!) You can still subscribe for 20% off if you want to follow along on this journey!

Get a subscription for 20% off

I’ll tell you what, though. It feels good to have a plan. It might surprise you to know (it won’t) that I don’t deal well with uncertainty. And my life has had a whole hell of a lot of uncertainty lately. In so many ways, things have remained exactly the same—my daughter is still dancing her heart out. My son is still sweet as ever. My husband is still the literal greatest. I still have a book coming out in November that I love (and you should totally preorder). Samberts birthday season is still starting next week, which leads into Speech season and the holidays. Before I know it, it’ll be spring, then summer, and I think things will look so much different then. I’m ready.

But in a lot of ways, I’m in limbo. I left my agent a few weeks ago, and Page & Vine decided to pass on my witchy series. I might write more about all of that later, when the dust settles, but I am a firm believer that everything works out in the end. Even that belief can’t save me from the messy middle, though, and I think it serves as a good reminder that your favorite authors are doing a lot more than writing and editing behind the scenes. There’s so much that goes into this business that I expected—rejection, hard work, compromise, money—but there is so much that I never thought of. Agents and publishers being one of them.

When I published The Write Place, I thought I’d be indie forever. Even before it took off, I realized I loved the entire process from start to finish. It was fun, and that was what I started this for. If you’d have asked me why I took a book on submission a few years ago, I don’t know if I’d be able to tell you with any real certainty. I definitely saw the writing on the wall—it was getting harder for indie authors to break out. AI slop and bot page readers are dominating the Amazon charts, the algorithm changes seemingly every day, and an increasingly fatigued online community all played a role, for starters. And yes, I write for me, but I still want people to read what I write. And they can’t really do that if they don’t see my books. So a trad deal felt like the right move. It certainly felt like the next move. It was the thing successful indie authors seemed to be doing. And hey, I’ll try anything once.

Have I loved being a trad author? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. But I’ve had a career long enough to know that you aren’t going to love every single part of the journey. I didn’t love every part about being indie, either. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet so many readers and work with an incredible team of women to bring these stories into the world. But every time I walked into a Barnes & Noble, I saw my books on the shelf. And that was something I couldn’t do by myself. It was, truly, a dream fully realized.

So where am I going from here? I will start the search for a new agent who aligns a little better with my goals and vision. I have some time before I’d be willing to publish anything after Not the Way it Ends, so I hope to put my witchy series on submission. I’d love another trad deal, and if that doesn’t work out, I’d love to self-publish it. I might be in limbo, but what a privilege (and the result of a lot of hard work) it is to say that any outcome is a win.

Luck is where preparation meets opportunity, if the inspirational poster on my classroom wall is to be believed, and you better believe I’m prepared. I have a whole book written and ready, along with the entire series mapped out! The one thing I do know is that there are more books coming from me in the very near future. And that is no small thing.

Not a Strong Enough Word & Not on the Same Page - Available Now!

Not the Way it Ends - November 10, 2026

Preorder now to get the limited edition sprayed edges and goodies from your favorite indie bookstore!

Preorder Now!

Did you hear?? I’m going to be at Partners in Crime bookstore in Chicago on Wednesday, November 11 with Cara Tanamachi to celebrate the release of Not the Way it Ends. My goal is to PACK THE HOUSE for the last book in this series. So come on out and celebrate with me! I can’t wait to see you.

Get your Ticket Now!

And don’t forget, if you preorder Not the Way it Ends, you can enter to win some sweet goodies! Just fill out the form with your proof of purchase. (See form for details and ways to enter.)

Preorder NTWIE now!

In my quest for a healthier (and cheaper?) pumpkin spice latte, I treated myself to some pumpkin spice flavored protein and I’ve been adding it to my coffee. I’m pleased to report that it tastes AMAZING, and I’m getting some added protein. As I’m typing this, I feel like I’ve written about this before, but that’s okay. It deserves a second mention. It’s that good.

Brothers Rival | Fake Dating | Spicy Lessons | Surprise Pregnancy | Large Families

Read Now on Kindle Unlimited

Be on the lookout for a new chapter of Messy Hexes on Wednesday! We get to hear from our MMC this time, and his scene is so fun!

I do mean that literally. My next series is a witchy one (I PROMISE THIS TIME), and while I don’t have any information about when it’s coming, I do know that it is. The first book is written (has been since before I signed with Page & Vine for the Strong Enough series…and then was rewritten this summer. More on that later), and I’m ready to dive back in.

But I do so love to celebrate this season of pumpkin spice joy. So I thought…why not start a cute chapter-by-chapter witchy romcom as part of the paid tier of my newsletter! You know I’ve been wanting to do a serial novella for a while now, but the timing hasn’t ever lined up. But I got this idea stuck in my head, and now I can’t think of anything else.

Hear me out. She’s a witch with a website to sell little spells and handmade witchy goods. He’s got a terrible ex-girlfriend he hires her to hex. Only she’s really bad at hexes, and it goes terribly wrong. So of course they have to team up to fix this problem. and of course they can’t ignore the attraction brewing between them. (Brewing! See what I did there??)

Right?? So cute.

Here’s what I can promise: At least one chapter every two weeks. (Maybe more!) There will be a teaser each time, but the full chapter will be behind a paywall. Chapters won’t be released for free, so the only way to get access will be through the paid newsletter.

But good news! Subscribe in the next two weeks, and you’ll get 20% off the subscription price. That’s $4/month or $24/year!

20% off!

And…without further ado… the first chapter of Messy Hexes, a witchy romcom by yours truly!

Evie

I pick up one of the bills spread out in front of me the table, glaring at the number of dollars I owe this particular utility company as if that could change my fate. I stare at it so hard for so long that the numbers jumble, but the five at the front is switched with the eight at the end, making the amount almost double what it was.

“Oh, screw you,” I spit out. The numbers arrange themselves back in their proper order, bouncing around on their way to their rightful places.

Even my utility bills are laughing at me.

“You of all people should know you can’t shrink your debt with magic, Evie,” my best friend, Edmund, says from over my shoulder.

“I didn’t try to shrink it,” I protest, resting my cheek in the palm of my hand. “I tried to tell it how irritated I was with it. It didn’t seem to care.”

“I can’t imagine it would.” Edmund glides around and silently lowers himself into the chair next to me. “Bills don’t generally have sentient emotions.”

“Generally,” I say flatly, remembering how it was clearly laughing at me a moment ago.

Edmund shrugs. “Never say never. “ He peers over my arm at the paper I’m holding and lets out a low whistle. “Inflation certainly can ruin one’s day, can’t it? I certainly never remember paying that much for water.”

Shooting him a sidelong glance, I huff. “And how much was a water bill in 1925?”

A wistful look passes over his pale features as he leans so far back in the chair that he passes through it before realizing what he’s done and leaning forward again. One hundred years as a ghost, and he still hasn’t quite learned how to fake using solid objects.

“The last water bill I paid was sixty-five cents for the month.” He glances up at me, eyebrows raised. “It was the water that did me in, you know.”

“Yes, Edmund. I know,” I drone. Usually, I’m not opposed to hearing his stories from his time among the living, but I’m not in the mood today.

“Typhoid fever.” He shakes his head ruefully. “Damn shame.”

Read more

Sure!

To celebrate the season, Pumpkin to Talk About is FREE on Kindle today and tomorrow! Go grab this 100-page, small town, pumpkin-spicy novella and get yourself into the Halloween spirit!

Grab Your Free Book

Not a Strong Enough Word & Not on the Same Page - Available Now!

Not the Way it Ends - November 10, 2026

Preorder now to get the limited edition sprayed edges and goodies from your favorite indie bookstore!

Preorder Now!

Not the Way it Ends is READ NOW on NetGalley for ONE DAY ONLY. That means you can go download it without having to be approved RIGHT NOW! (Just please promise to read it and leave a review by release day. Pretty please?)

Go forth! Download Zaddy Anastasios! And then be sure to hit up my DMs and gush about them because I love them so much, and I hope you do too.

Get your ARC now!

Not a Strong Enough Word & Not on the Same Page - Available Now!

Not the Way it Ends - November 10, 2026

Preorder now to get the limited edition sprayed edges and goodies from your favorite indie bookstore!

Preorder Now!

Ex-Hockey Player | Age Gap | Grumpy/Sunshine | One Bed | He Falls First | Small Town

Read Now on Kindle Unlimited

To celebrate, I’m offering 15% off my signed copies with code FALLYALL through Friday! Grab yourself a cozy book to read while sipping your latte and snuggled under a blanket!

Get Your Books!

And to sweeten the deal, the first 5 orders will get a signed copy of Not on the Same Page. So don’t wait! Grab those books!

Don’t forget to preorder Not the Way it Ends and upload your proof of purchase to enter into the sweepstakes for an “I am strong enough” T-shirt or tote and handmade bag charm! EVERYONE who enters gets an art print, bookplate, and invite to a virtual event with me!

Enter Now

Not a Strong Enough Word & Not on the Same Page - Available Now!

Not the Way it Ends - November 10, 2026

Preorder now to get the limited edition sprayed edges and goodies from your favorite indie bookstore!

Preorder Now!

First things first, we’ve got a preorder sweepstakes. Preorder in any format from anywhere, and enter for a chance to win a T-shirt or a tote bag plus a bag charm. Everyone who preorders will get a signed bookplate, art print, and an invite to an exclusive virtual event.

So what are you waiting for? Get those preorders in NOW! If you preorder now and it’s delivered in November, it’s basically free. I don’t make the rules.

Enter Now!

Want even more goodies? You can preorder from one of our indie bookstore partners now and snag another art print and sticker sheet! Aren’t these SO CUTE?? You can grab these incentives from Partners in Crime (HAND SIGNED!), The Well Red Damsel, Shelf Love DSM, The New Romantics, and Novella Books!

Preorder from Indie Stores

If you prefer, today is the LAST DAY of the Barnes & Noble preorder sale. You can also snag Not the Way it Ends without the incentives (but with those gorgeous sprayed edges) for 25% off, but don’t wait! The sale ends today!

Preorder at B&N

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to turn this place PINK. I am in love with Anastasios and Caitlin, and I know you will be, too. I can’t wait to tell you more about them! For now, here’s a little more:

What feels like the end is just the start of a different story.

Anastasios Martis has built a life of responsibility. As he enters his fifties, he’s running a successful publishing house, navigating a messy divorce, and trying to be the best dad he can for thirteen-year-old Elena, who’s dealing with preteen drama and a recent type 1 diabetes diagnosis.

After spending too many years in an emotionally abusive relationship, thirty-five-year-old Caitlin Johnson swears she’ll never risk dating again. She’s happy teaching dance and living a simple life, even if that means struggling to make ends meet as her own diabetes care expenses rise.

As Elena’s dance teacher, Caitlin has become the steady presence Anastasios can’t always be. He’s doing his best, but he’s struggling to keep up with all the teenage emotions and health concerns. So when a family wedding in Greece offers a lifeline for a father and daughter in need of bonding, Anastasios makes a desperate ask of Caitlin—go with them.

When she agrees, Anastasios doesn’t expect how easily he and Caitlin fall in step with each other, or how her quiet strength awakens feelings he had assumed were dormant.

Both Anastasios and Caitlin thought their chance at love had passed them by, but maybe their next chapter is just beginning.

Not a Strong Enough Word & Not on the Same Page - Available Now!

Not the Way it Ends - November 10, 2026

Preorder now to get the limited edition sprayed edges and goodies from your favorite indie bookstore!

Preorder Now!

Who am I seeing at From Milwaukee with Love this weekend? I’ll be at the Milwaukee Central Library TODAY at 11 for a panel about finding your writing community, and then I’ll be signing in the Wauwatosa Public Library on Saturday! If you’re there, stop by and say hi! You can find more about what I’m offering here.

It’s pumpkin season, y’all. It might be summer in the weather, but it’s fall in my heart. I’m loading up on all things pumpkin spice. I had to skip a lot of it last year, and my goal this year is to make up for lost time. If you’ve got anything pumpkin-flavored you love, please tell me in the comments. I’m always looking for my next treat.

Rockstar | Children’s TV Creator | Fake Dating | Single Dad | Small Town

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Preorders are so important to authors, so I hope you consider preordering this last book in my series!! I know you’ll love it.

Happy reading!

Every author’s worst nightmare happened to me this week—my release week of all weeks. There was a moment at one of my events when I thought literally no one was going to show up.

There I was, in the break room of the bookstore with my conversation partner. The start time of the event rolled around, and when the employee working the event came back, we asked her if it was time to go.

“Well, that’s up to you,” she said, and my heart dropped because I knew what was coming next. “No one is here yet. You can get started and see if people walking around are interested in joining the conversation, or you can wait.”

People reserved books at this particular event, so we decided to wait. Sure enough, those people did roll in. I knew all of them. This was a big store, too, and they had ordered A LOT of books, so I had expected something totally different. My conversation partner was incredibly gracious, and we had a great time. (What else is there to do? We’ve all been there.) But when expectations don’t match reality, it’s hard not to feel disappointed.

There has been a lot about this release that has felt disappointing. This isn’t pity marketing, I swear; it’s just hard to focus on the positives sometimes. Especially when Not on the Same Page felt like the little book that could from the start. It was proof that sheer grit and determination (and probably an unhealthy fear of failure) really can motivate you to show up every day and get words on the page. It was proof that I could push through illness and anxiety and a metric shit ton of imposter syndrome to write a book I’m really proud of. Even if it wasn’t the book of my heart, it was the book I needed. And that’s no small thing.

But it’s hard not to feel like small potatoes when your friends are hitting bestseller lists and having sold-out auditorium-sized events, and you’re struggling to get four people to show up on your release week.

On Saturday, I did another event at a bookstore I love. My Q&A partners were people I adore. My husband drove with me, and one of my best friends from college came out. In an effort to protect my fragile heart, I had emailed the store owner asking how many people had RSVPed. She said ten, with an exclamation point.

“Ten!” is so much different than “Ten.” Isn’t it? “Ten!” feels exciting. Intimate, in a good way. Worth making the trip. Still small, but maybe with an exclamation point, small isn’t necessarily bad. I’ve gotten emails from store owners telling me they were disappointed in the attendance. Some have wanted to postpone or cancel. Some have wanted me to hunker down and sell more tickets. Like somehow if I try hard enough, I can be more famous. More interesting. Worth more of people’s time.

But “Ten!” didn’t say any of that. “Ten!” said that any expectations they might have had were met or exceeded. “Ten!” told my imposter syndrome to shut the hell up. (It didn’t, but it did get quieter.)

It wasn’t an auditorium-sized crowd. But it was Ten!

It actually ended up being slightly more than ten, which was perfect for the space. A great mix of new readers and people I recognized. Everyone laughed a lot, which is always true at any of my events, no matter the size. I’m funny! I’m incapable of being serious! My newest books might be rom-traums, but damn, we have a good time talking about them!

There was a kid there. A literal preteen child. She was with her mom. I figured her mom really wanted to come and didn’t have childcare, so I made a mental note to keep the F-bombs to a minimum and talk less about Casey *eating* than normal. Kids don’t scare me, and if a parent has OKed their presence, who am I to argue? I figured she’d hang out, enjoy her coffee drink, maybe catch a little of what I was saying while her mom enjoyed the conversation, and that’d be that.

It was in the middle of my answer to the second or third question when her hand went up in the air. Okay, we’re going off-script, I thought. No problem there. I’m a teacher, and I’ve almost never had something I’m presenting go as planned. I finished what I was saying and, amused, asked her if she had a question. She did. It was insightful and curious, and I answered it with delight. A little while later, she had another question, and another. She wanted to know about writing and romance and motivation. She was curious and open and excited, and I quickly realized her mom was there to see me, but so was this kid.

In the signing line, she hung back until closer to the end. She told me all about her plans for a romance series about three brothers and their love interests. A sports romance, because she’s an athlete. It was brilliant and adorable, and I loved every second of listening to her. She let me sign the book to her mom, but told me she’d be reading it when she was old enough. And then she asked me if I’d be open to an interview for something she was working on. I told her I’d be honored.

After they left, someone thanked me for being cool about the kid. But why wouldn’t I? Being literally small doesn’t mean she’s small potatoes—she’s worth just as much as everyone else in that room.

I remember being that age, wanting to be a writer. I wrote to Patricia C. Wrede to tell her I loved her books and I wanted to be a writer just like her. She wrote a two-page typed letter back with all sorts of advice a young writer needs to hear. I don’t still have it (I wish I did), but it’s clear as day in my mind’s eye. I can still picture the gray ink from the 90s printer she printed it on, the perforated edge where she must have torn off the edges with those little holes on them before she folded it into the envelope. It took me a little while to get around to writing that first book, but I never forgot what it felt like to be worth writing to by someone who I thought was famous. She’d written books, after all, which was enough for me to think everyone knew who she was.

If twelve-year-old Allie could see me now, she wouldn’t believe her eyes. I told my college friend I was truly living the dream—writing books, traveling around and talking about them, meeting new people and seeing old friends when I’m somewhere they live now. I meant it, too, even still feeling like small potatoes. That’s the funny thing about life, isn’t it? That you can be on top of the world and humbled at exactly the same time. That Ten! and Ten. are the same damn word, after all. That you can have surpassed what your childhood self could have ever dreamed of while still wanting more. That you can be important to someone while feeling insignificant in so many other ways.

It’s an exclamation point versus a period. It’s getting a letter in the mail when you never expected one back. It’s the curiosity and openness of a kid. It’s the four people who showed up instead of zero.

Sometimes, we play to sold-out crowds. Sometimes, we play to far less than that. But we’re always playing. Because, ultimately, this is the dream—I’m the person I never thought I could be. This is the book I never thought I could write. It means something to someone, and that means everything to me.

The only person who can ever truly make me feel small is myself. I realized this week that I’m giving too many people that power, when it’s actually mine alone. I’ve started telling people I’m not a bestselling author yet. That yet is important—it’s an exclamation point. Four people. A letter in the mail. Someone who told me my book found them when they needed it the most.

It found me, too. It was the book I needed to write. At these events, I saw the people I needed to see—who needed to see me. Words and sentences and language bringing us together. Building connections. Meeting readers young and young at heart.

There are no small potatoes here. We’re a whole damn garden waiting for harvest, ready to bloom.

Not a Strong Enough Word & Not on the Same Page - Available Now

Not the Way it Ends - November 10, 2026

Preorder now to get the limited edition sprayed edges and goodies from your favorite indie bookstore!

Preorder Now!

This is the time when I remind you that reviews mean everything to authors, even if we’re traditionally published! Please, if you loved Not on the Same Page, leave a review everywhere you can! Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble are especially important retail and social platforms if you can swing it. And then maybe tell a friend.

Finally, after weeks of being sick with a cold and then a sinus infection, I’ve gotten back to some workouts this week. I’m really trying to change my body composition, so I’ve been working on increasing my protein intake. Unfortunately for me, my gut has made that harder than it used to be. I’ve had to be very careful about protein powder because some of them do not agree with me! But I found one that I tolerate okay if I only do half a serving, and—lucky me!—this variety tastes like birthday cake. I’ve been adding it to my cold brew, which is delightful. Whatever works, amirite?

Marriage of Convenience | Football Romance | Opposites Attract | Forced Proximity | Protective Hero | Southern Socialite | Strangers to Friends to Lovers | He Falls First

Read Now on Kindle Unlimited

There are so many ways you can show up for authors you love, and you never know when they might be feeling small enough that your review or purchase or seeing you at an event makes their whole day. Please, even if it’s not for me, pick some way to show up for an author this week. I promise, they’ll appreciate it more than you know.

Happy reading!

Don’t forget, those beautiful sprayed edges are super limited, so make sure you grab a copy if you see it in the wild. They won’t last long!

If you’re an audiobook lover, the audiobook is also available today, and it is SO SO SO GOOD. You won’t want to miss it!

Read NOTSP Now!

They agreed on no strings. But their hearts keep landing on the same page.

A year ago, literary agent Trina McBryde and editor Casey Endersen ended their no-strings arrangement. What started as a way to blow off steam and have a little fun almost put their careers at stake, along with their feelings for each other.

When an important publishing conference brings them together again, the desire they tried to deny is back and stronger than ever. But the real challenge comes afterward—Casey needs Trina to sign a promising new writer, which means after a year of avoiding each other, they’ll be forced to work together again. Late-night calls, whispered strategy sessions, and stolen glances make every professional interaction dangerously personal.

Every secret meeting carries the risk of exposure. If anyone finds out, they could lose more than just their jobs—they could lose their reputations.

But Casey has already fallen…again. And Trina is running out of ways to resist.

As professional boundaries blur, they’ll have to decide if being on the same page means following the rules—or finally writing their own.

Read Now!

Perfect for fans of:

• Found family

• No strings attached

• He falls first

• Workplace romance

• Opposites attract

Get NOTSP Now!

Not a Strong Enough Word & Not on the Same Page - Available NOW!

Not the Way it Ends - November 10, 2026

Preorder now to get the limited edition sprayed edges and goodies from your favorite indie bookstore!

And don’t forget you can still see me at my events! I’d love to meet you and sign a copy of Not on the Same Page for you.

We’re still taking release day purchases for the virtual event tickets, too! Make sure you fill out the form below to snag your goodies and virtual even ticket.

August 18 – Release Party/Q&A and signing for Not on the Same Page
In conversation with Eliza MacArthur
Love’s Sweet Arrow in Tinley Park, IL

August 20 – Q&A and signing for Not on the Same Page
In conversation with Melonie Johnson
Barnes & Noble in Oakbrook, IL

August 22 – Q&A and signing for Not on the Same Page
The Atlas Collective in Moline, IL

August 24 – Bedazzling Not on the Same Page
The Well Red Damsel in Wauwatosa, WI

August 25 – Virtual Q&A event for readers who preorder Not on the Same Page
With exclusive character art, a bookplate, and stickers mailed to you!
In conversation with Hannah Bird

I hope you love Casey and Trina as much as I do. Please tag me in your posts, and don’t forget to request the book at your local library and LEAVE THOSE REVIEWS!!!

Happy reading!

This summer was so good to me. (I mean, it sucked in a lot of ways—hello, heat waves, constant rain, unprecedented storms, wildfire smoke, stomach flu, and a sinus infection… Honestly, I feel like I’ve lived a lifetime in these past ten weeks.) But if we ignore a lot of that icky stuff, WHAT A WILD SUMMER. Two book releases??? A book tour??? Signed books in EIGHT STATES?! What even is this life?

Alas, I must return to my day job today of all days. And yesterday morning, I sent my big kid off to middle school and my little kid off to first grade. Not to mention Not on the Same Page will be released on Tuesday.

I’m just along for the ride. And I have thoughts.

But first…

We’re back to travel mugs and mid-day Dunkin runs, my friends. There isn’t enough caffeine in the world for the week I have coming up, but it’s going to be SO GOOD. A new year! A new book! Meeting readers and students and setting up my classroom and maybe a little writing in between. It’s going to be awesome…and then I’m going to need approximately 15 business days to recover. But I am so, so excited! It’s going to be great.

Before this summer, I hadn’t been book shopping for myself in a Barnes & Noble in a really long time. I don’t generally read paperbacks, and when I do get them these days, they’re purchased from authors directly, sent to me as a thank you for beta reading, or I’ve grabbed one I’ve been eyeing when I visit an indie store.

But I used to go to B&N all the time. There was one right down the street from my house. It’s a mattress store now. Or maybe it sells gym equipment? I’m not sure. But in high school, we’d meet there for study groups or just to chat. The cafe portion was more open than the local Starbucks. Brighter. And all my friends were nerds (complimentary), so we loved being able to hang out, drink coffee, and wander around the bookstore.

In college, it was Borders. (Remember Borders?) By then, I was into music as much as books, and my friends and I would spend hours picking out albums, scanning them into the machines so we could listen to sample tracks and share our favorites with each other.

Every time I’d go to either of these stores, I’d wander the aisles, picking up books and turning them over, feeling them in my hands. I’d usually let the cover or my intuition drive my choices, but I’d always—ALWAYS—leave with a new book I’d finish in a week or so, and then the cycle would start again.

Wait, who am I talking to? You’re readers. You know all about this process.

The thing is, like I said, I haven’t done this in a long time. With the advent of digital media, I lost the tactile element of shopping. And I didn’t realize I missed it! I still had books and music, after all. I wasn’t on an island.

Any time I’d go into B&N, it’d be with my kids. I’d let them wander, but book shopping for myself with children in tow shockingly wasn’t the relaxing experience it used to be. Going for myself—by myself—felt indulgent. When we were knee-deep in the newborn and toddler years, paying for daycare that’s as much as public college tuition and trying to make ends meet, it wasn’t in the budget for either my time or my finances to buy books that way. And who was to say they wouldn’t have ended up ruined by a child, anyway? More likely, they’d sit on a shelf, unread. And while I love books, there were just other priorities at the time.

Perhaps related, I spent a lot of time at the library during those years.

But when your book appears at a Barnes & Noble…no, at several Barnes & Nobles, you go see it there. I don’t make the rules.

The first time I walked into a B&N to see my book, I was with my PA, Kayla. We needed a place to stop on our way up to The Well Red Damsel, and the store happened to have a copy of Not a Strong Enough Word, so we took a little detour. It was exciting, nerve-racking, exhilarating, and everything you might expect from walking into a bookstore to look for your book on a shelf.

And then, I was immediately overwhelmed. Not because, OMG my book is here, but because OMG how is anyone going to find it among all these other gorgeous books?? It’s a strange thing, being on the other side. I kind of equate it to the first time you’re a teacher in the classroom instead of a student—you start to look at things totally differently. You understand what it took to get to this point, and you’re much kinder to your past teachers in retrospect. You also start to realize that you’re a teacher because you liked school, and you’re now teaching a bunch of kids who don’t.

Essentially, you are not your target audience.

So, walking through Barnes & Noble, doing the alphabet song in my head to find my last name, and then seeing my book on the shelf was exciting, but it was also daunting as hell. My book—that huge thing that came pouring out of my soul and consumed me for the better part of two years—was so tiny next to all the other gorgeous books. I mean, sure, it’s comparably sized to what’s on the shelves in a literal sense, but when I saw it amongst all the others, it blended in. It was one among many.

A humbling experience, indeed.

It’s almost like dropping your kid off at their first day of school only to watch the horde of other kids sweep them up and the big school building swallow them all.

Cue the internal panic, because I want people to find this thing and read it. How is anyone going to find my little book amongst so many options? Why would they even bother to give it a second look, let alone pick it up, turn it over in their hands, read the back cover, take it home?

When I drop my kids off at school, I never hope they’ll be the most popular. I don’t wish for them to be the center of the universe. I’m also a teacher—I know what it’s like to have your attention pulled in so many different directions. Of course, I want my kids to be treated like the unique gems they are, but I’m not a fool. I know there are many, many gems, and all of them deserve their moment.

What we wish for when we send our kids out into the world is that, on any given day, one person will see them, appreciate them. The same isn’t exactly true for our books, obviously, because there are so many copies of them scattered throughout the country, but at the core of it, it’s not so different. When I was in school—visiting a bookstore, wandering through the aisles, letting my fingertips graze the spines and landing on one that looked interesting enough to pull off the shelf—I was searching for something that would make me feel seen. Maybe, in that way, the books were finding me.

And when my book finds the right readers, it’s not a small thing at all. Maybe it helps them feel seen. Maybe it becomes something bigger than a book for them. It takes up space, opens their minds, expands their horizons. Books did that for me. They changed the trajectory of my whole life. They became my life.

I’m working on trusting the process. I have a team now, and they want the same thing I do. They’re helping to set my books up for success, making sure they get in the hands of people who will treat them like the unique gems they are. But I have another little book releasing next week, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous to send her out into the world.

I hope someone finds it who needs it. I hope they trail their fingers along the spines on the shelf and stop when they see the gorgeous teal on the spine. I hope they pull it down and read the back and smell the pages. I hope they take it home and let it consume them like it consumed me. I hope, for a little while, it’s bigger than just a book. I hope they feel seen.

But from this side, I will never not be humbled. Out of all the books out there, you chose mine. And that is something truly special.

Not a Strong Enough Word - Available Now * Not on the Same Page - August 18, 2026 * Not the Way it Ends - November 10, 2026

Preorder now to get the limited edition sprayed edges and goodies from your favorite indie bookstore!

Preorder Now!

There’s still time to preorder Not on the Same Page! Not much time! You have to hurry! But you can!!

You can grab hand-signed copies from The Atlas Collective, The Well Red Damsel, and Love’s Sweet Arrow! Or, if you prefer, you can get your book with the preorder incentives and a signed bookplate from Romance-landia, Shelf Love DSM, and Chapter & Coast.

And don’t forget to grab your tickets to see me! It’s going to be a great time.

August 15 – Anderson’s After Dark
Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville, IL

August 18 – Release Party/Q&A and signing for Not on the Same Page
In conversation with Eliza MacArthur
Love’s Sweet Arrow in Tinley Park, IL

August 20 – Q&A and signing for Not on the Same Page
In conversation with Melonie Johnson
Barnes & Noble in Oakbrook, IL

August 22 – Q&A and signing for Not on the Same Page
The Atlas Collective in Moline, IL

August 24 – Bedazzling Not on the Same Page
The Well Red Damsel in Wauwatosa, WI

August 25 – Virtual Q&A event for readers who preorder Not on the Same Page
With exclusive character art, a bookplate, and stickers mailed to you!
In conversation with Hannah Bird

Strangers to Friends to Lovers | Mutual Pining | Spicy Book Club | Reenact Spicy Book Scenes | Dual POV | Small Town | Grief Rep | Caretaking | Road Trip

Read Now on Kindle Unlimited

For those of you starting school, or dropping your kids off at school, or both, I hope you have the best year. We got this.

Happy reading,

June was awesome. I my first traditional book release, a book tour, meeting so many cool readers and chatting with so many awesome authors… I am seriously so fortunate.

July continued the streak with some amazing events and discoveries (and an uptick in sales!).

August is the Not on the Same Page release month (and back to school, but we’re not talking about that)! Can we make it even better?

But first…

When I was in Michigan last week, Jillian Meadows and I visited a coffee shop down the street from Love and Other Books called Balam Coffee & Wine. We both had an iced churro latte, and it was to die for. I’m honestly still dreaming about it, and now I kind of want to know if I can make one myself at home. This recipe looks promising. Stay tuned…

July was truly so amazing. I got to fly to Kansas City! For a person who hates flying and has avoided doing it at all costs, flying twice in one summer honestly has given me the itch to do it again, and soon. (Where should I go next???) While I was there, I was able to write and edit with the most gorgeous views, eat some amazing food, spend time with my husband, and visit Under the Cover KC with Kara McDowell. I saw The Write Place in the library, and was able to sign Not a Strong Enough Word in Barnes & Noble. It was truly the perfect bookish trip.

And the following week, I met up with Jillian Meadows again for an event at Love and Other Books that left my heart so full. I got to meet two of my amazing street team members (hi, Courtney and April!) and see two dear friends who I haven’t gotten to hang out with in a long time. And at the event itself, I laughed so hard, I cried! (CASEY EATS, IYKYK.) It was the type of event that makes me want to do more events.

Which is good because in August… I have a lot of events.

Basically, I am still having “pinch me” moments pretty much every day on this journey of mine, and I am so excited to see what’s next.

So, let’s make August even better, shall we? Preorder Not on the Same Page now! (Dare we try to get it on some kind of list somewhere? Eh?) Come hang out with me at my Illinois mini-tour! Fall in love with Casey and Trina with my first new full-length book in over a year!

I’m so beyond excited.

Not a Strong Enough Word - June 2, 2026 * Not on the Same Page - August 18, 2026 * Not the Way it Ends - November 10, 2026

Preorder now to get the limited edition sprayed edges and goodies from your favorite indie bookstore!

Preorder Now!

If you’re an audiobook lover, the ALC for Not on the Same Page is on NetGalley now! Go request it!

Request an ALC now!

In case you still need event tickets, grab them now!

August 15 – Anderson’s After Dark
(YES, Not on the Same Page WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE!)
Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville, IL

August 18 – Release Party/Q&A and signing for Not on the Same Page
In conversation with Eliza MacArthur
Love’s Sweet Arrow in Tinley Park, IL

August 20 – Q&A and signing for Not on the Same Page
In conversation with Melonie Johnson
Barnes & Noble in Oakbrook, IL

August 22 – Q&A and signing for Not on the Same Page
In covnersation with reads.with.kae and liv.c.reads
The Atlas Collective in Moline, IL

August 24 – Bedazzling Not on the Same Page
The Well Red Damsel in Wauwatosa, WI

August 25 – Virtual Q&A event for readers who preorder Not on the Same Page
With exclusive character art, a bookplate, and stickers mailed to you!
In conversation with Hannah Bird

Small Town Romance | Second Chance | Broken MCs | Found Family | Childhood Friends to Enemies to Lovers | Romantic Suspense | Angsty & Emotional | Mental Health & Therapy Rep

Read now on Kindle Unlimited

August is gonna be LIT, my friends! Let’s go!

Happy reading,