Pumpkins, Potions, & Postscripts is almost here! It comes out this Tuesday and the ebook is on a .99 cent preorder sale until then. On October 6th the paperback will also be available.

ARC readers are leaving reviews and they have been loving it!

If you’d like a signed copy from me you can order one here. They are running a little behind though so it won’t be shipped until after 10/13. If you’d like to get your signed copy from me in person my first event since my surgery will be Bundok Books Murder Mystery Book Fair on Sat Oct 24th.

I’ll have copies of all my books and swag!

What am I working on?

Whew. What am I not working on?? After my cancer diagnosis, I’ve had a hard time locking in on one project. I’m about 10,000 words into The Rosewood Sisters book 2. I’m querying my thriller, SUCH A GOOD GIRL, and wavering daily if it’s really the route I want to go with it. I’ve been writing a new thriller that is a group of forty-something women on a girls trip and it goes very wrong. I also started drafting a cozy mystery set in a small mountain town based in a running store. There are a few other projects I’ve been noodling with too.

So, I’ve been busy, but scattered. My husband got out his twenty-sided and we made a list of the projects and rolled. The die chose the girl’s trip thriller, so my somewhat unhinged goal is to write 50k words on that this month. I have the time and it’ll give me something to focus on (instead of doom scrolling my phone). So far I’m 5k words in, and I used my writing time this morning to write this….so….we’ll see if I pull it off.

After I finish my draft of that, I will return to The Rosewood Sisters book 2 and my hope/goal/editing schedule says I will have it in your hands by February!!!!

Health Updates: CW Cancer-talk

At the end of July I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It stage one, but since I had two tumors in my breast (instead of the typical one found in that stage cancer) I had a mastectomy instead of a lumpectomy.

I had my mastectomy on Sept 16th and I’m off work until the end of October to heal. I got my node results on Friday and my surgeon told me I’M CANCER FREE!!!

They’re still doing test and I may need chemo as a precaution but that test is two weeks out. They also are planning hormone therapy but I’m not sure what that entails yet. For everyone that has reached out with kind words or a funny meme sent care packages or even just reading this now, I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your support.

What I’ve been Reading

Everything.

Literally. I’ve read so many books in September and have already read three this month.

Ones I’ve LOVED.

I don’t know how I missed this thriller from 2024 but holy moly, I couldn’t put it down. LOVED it. Can’t wait for her next one The Guilty Party coming out in Jan.

This book is so cute! I’m not done with it yet because I’m savoring it like rich chocolate. It has all the fall vibes. A writer and a bookstore owner, friends to lovers, she’s teaching him how to write romance. It’s wonderful.

My friend Chrsite Curry sent me a copy of this with swag!!! I just started it last night and I’m already LOVING IT. So fun.

This was a fun cozy mystery and I LOVED that it’s set on Bainbridge. Quick, easy low stress read.

Books I’m Looking Forward Too

I just preordered my copy of this cute lil baby from Danielle Smyth. Dual POV. Christmas vibes. GHOSTS! I’m in. Comes out Nov 13th.

My copy of this is also preordered! Comes out Oct 13th. Bumbling millenials solving a murder. Sign me up.

Also releasing Oct 13th is this one from Ally Carter. I loved the first on in this series and I can NOT wait for this one to come out.

Last but not least I’m so excited for the fourth book in my friend Lia Duchaine’s Bestie Series to come out on Nov 12th! All the others in the series are just delightful and I’m sure this one will be too. Plus, she had me at Checklist.

Thank you all so much for being here. I’ll be back with more news and hopefully some more events on the calendar. As an extra special thank you, you can read the first chapter of Pumpkins, Potions, & Postcripst here.

It’s soooooo pretty! Here is the amazing cover designed by Gowtham Thangaraj. I’m obsessed!!!

It’s on a preorder sale for .99 cents. And ARC applications are opening Tuesday. Or you can join my street team and skip the ARC app.

Here’s a little more about Pumpkins, Potions, & Postscripts.

If You’ve Got Mail and Practical Magic are your comfort movies, you are in the right place.

Pumpkins, Potions, & Postscripts, a cozy magical rom com comes out October 6th!

Things you’ll love:

🌊small town (island in the PNW)

✨four sister witches

❤️rivals to lovers

💌 secret pen pals (online)

🔥 Slow burn

🙋🏻‍♀️eldest daughter

Lillian Rosewood is doing just fine…thank you very much. She has her three sisters, her daughter, her plant shop, and a budding online “friendship” with a mysterious man who fills her heart with glee. She does not have any room for magic (much to her sisters’ disappointment) or relationships.

Then she meets Silas Barstow.

The chemistry between them is heady, and every time he’s near, Lillian’s long-buried magic stirs to life as though she hadn’t abandoned it. There’s just one problem—Silas has opened a plant shop/brewery only a block from hers. On a tiny island like Owen’s Hollow, there’s barely enough business for one of them, let alone two.

Determined to save her shop, Lillian throws herself into planning the biggest Halloween festival the island has ever seen. Unfortunately, thanks to her meddling aunt, she and Silas are forced to organize the event together. As they spend more time side by side, rivalry gives way to friendship, friendship to undeniable attraction.

Then strange things begin happening at Silas’s brewery.

Silas is convinced someone is sabotaging his business, and suddenly every lingering glance and stolen smile is overshadowed by suspicion. But Lillian senses something far more unsettling is at work. The brewery isn’t being sabotaged. It’s haunted.

As if the ghost weren’t enough trouble, Lillian makes an even more shocking discovery—Silas is the mysterious man she’s been chatting with online. Now she’s hiding a secret that could destroy all the trust they’ve built. How can she tell him the truth when he suspects she’s trying to ruin his business?

Lilian must embrace the magic she’s spent years denying, uncover the truth behind the haunting, and decide whether love is worth taking a chance on.

Upcoming Events

This Saturday I’ll be at Bundok Books to celebrate my friend Leah Cutter’s book release!!!! I’m there from 10am-12:30pm. If you’re out and about come say hi. This’ll be my last event for a little while.

Thank you so much for being here!!!

Tomorrow over on IG I’m revealing my title for my cozy magical rom com coming out this October….but since you’re a newsletter subscriber or reader (ppsst subscribe), I thought I’d share with you a day early.

PUMPKINS, POTIONS, & POSTSCRIPTS is You’ve Got Mail x Practical Magic. Think cozy fall vibes, magic, and kissing.

More on it coming soon!!! But it is on a .99 preorder sale.

If you’re on IG I’ll be sharing it tomorrow around 9 AM EST. @ncbartonwrites.

Yay!!! Go get your copy!!!

Also if you’re in the area I’ll be at Odd Otter Brewing in Tacoma on July 10th from 5pm to 8pm with cupcakes from Baby Cakes and large art prints for the first twenty people that buy a copy of Meet Me at the Villa. If you want to make sure to get one you can preorder your release party copy here.

If you’d like a signed copy but don’t live in the area you can get one here. It won’t come with a large art print but it will come with a postcard sized one and swag.

Thank you all so much for being here. I’ll be back soon with some exciting news!!!! 😘

Hello friends!

Meet Me at the Villa comes out in less than a month!!! You can preorder the ebook for .99 cents!

I’m so excited.

If you’d like to be an arc reader and you’re not already on my street team you can sign up here. Or if you’d like to be on my street team you can apply here.

Whooo! I have been bust with events lately and I have more coming up.

If you’d like to meet up in person here’s where I’ll be:

Marysville Strawberry Festival this Saturday June 20th from 10am-2:30pm.

Bremerton Bridge Blast next Saturday June 27th from 11am-4:30pm

Odd Otter Brewing with @Pagesandpintsevents Friday July 10th from 5pm-8pm for Meet Me at the Villa’s release party!!!!!

Tides and Tomes at Foss Waterway Seaport Sunday July 19th 5pm-9pm.

and more to come :)

On a personal note

today is my last day as a Library Paraeducator. They eliminated my position. I still have a job, but it’s not in the library. Which is going to take me a minute to get used to.

And it’s my daughters last day of kindergarten. 🥹 I am so proud of her. This year has felt like an eternity and the blink of an eye all at once.

Her and I have been keeping daily gratitude journals since Spring Break. We write three things were grateful for and one thing we’re looking forward too/hope for the future. My hope for the future is that she will love school next year as much as she loved this year. And I am grateful for her (my family), for having four wonderful years in an elementary school library and for you.

Thank you all so much for being here. Hope to see you soon.

It’s pub day!!!!!!!! Woot Woot!

THE SHIPPED TRIP is out today in paperback, ebook and Kindle Unlimited! It’s the fourth and final book in the Fortune Fall Series. (But you may see some of the characters again).

Thank you to all my arc readers for reading and reviewing!

If you’d like a signed copy come see me this Friday at Odd Otter Brewing. (There was a slight printing error with the copies I have, but more are on the way and I’ll hopefully have them by Friday).

As soon as I get my copies, you’ll be able to purchase The Shipped Trip at Bundok Books and We Be Book’n as well.

If you’re not local but want a signed copy you can check out my shop.

Stay tuned for the title reveal of my next Love on Location book! It’ll be on my IG and my author Facebook this Friday!

Events

Come out and see me!

Thank you all for being here.

Sales!

Today, THE NOW IN FOREVER is a Kindle Daily Deal! Woot Woot! It’s .99 cents for today only.

Also THE SHIPPED TRIP is on a pre-order sale. It will be 2.99 until it comes out on May 19th!!!!!

This will complete The Fortune Falls series. I’m so proud of this series. It is filled with FMCs chasing their dreams, because that’s what writing this series has been for me. Thank you to all of you that have read and reviewed and if you missed some, no worries there is always time to go back.

Love on Location 2 is moving right along.

The title reveal is Friday May 22nd!!!! Want in on the fun? You can apply to be on my street team. Perks of being on the street team—early looks at covers, titles, blurbs. First access to ARCS. And fun surprises. On pub day (May 19th) I’m going to draw a lucky winner to get a signed copy of The Shipped Trip. If you ‘re interested you can join the team here.

Events

There’s lots of opportunities to come out and say hi! If you’re not local but would like a signed copy check out my shop.

Hope to see you at one or more.

On a personal note… Please scroll past if mother’s day or child loss is a trigger for you.

Lastly, I would like to wish everyone a happy mother’s day for those who celebrate. And for all those out there who have lost mothers, children, struggling to become a mom, or any other reason that might make this day difficult, know that my heart is with you. The hardest mother’s day I ever had was after I lost a much wanted pregnancy at 19 weeks. I went on a long walk and found this sign near a bench. It felt like it was placed there just for me. A message from my little bean. I sat and sobbed.

I hope your day is filled with joy but if it’s not, know that’s okay too.

Thank you all so much for being here. It really means the world to me.

ARC sign ups for The Shipped Trip close this week. If you’d like to sign up here is the link.

Here’s a little info:

Chloe, an almost-ballerina desperate for a fresh start, and Holden, her brother’s overworked best friend, agree to fake-date on a couples-only Caribbean cruise only to find that between dance classes and stolen kisses, the one thing they can’t fake is falling in love.

Things You’ll Love

Brother’s Best Friend

Forced Proximity

Only One Bed

Destination Romance

Dirty Dancing references

“Let’s get it out of our system.”

It’s a lot of fun, and I hope you love it. If you are already on my street team, no need to sign up. If you’d like to join my street team, you can do that here.

Love on Location Book Two

Oh man. Love on Location Book two is nearly ready to send to my first readers, then edits!!!!!! Title and cover reveal are coming soon.

Super Secret Project

Meets

EEEEE!!!!!!! That’s right. The super secret project I’m working on (if you know me, you know I’m terrible at secrets which is why I’m telling you now) is a Practical Magic meets You’ve Got Mail rom com.

It’s a magical open door contemporary cozy romance book coming this fall!!!!

Things you’ll love:

🌊Tiny island in the PNW

✨four sister witches

❤️rivals to lovers

💌 secret pen pals (online)

🔥 Steamy

I’m so excited about it.

As always, Thank you so much for being here. It means the world to me.

My debut mystery IN A DARK AND LOVLEY WOOD is out now under my pen name NC James.

This one was so fun and challenging to write. It has had many many many drafts. (I started it in 2023). I’m so pleased with how it came out!

If you love closed circle mysteries, early 2000’s vibes, thrillers with modern day media snippets, and multiple POVs check it out!

Here’s what some Goodreads reviews have to say:

Thanks to all my early readers who read and reviewed. If you’d like to pick up a copy of IN A DARK AND LOVELY WOOD you can get the ebook everywhere you get ebooks.

If you’d like a signed paperback here is the link :) Or you can come see me this Saturday at We Be Book’N for Murder at High Tide from 5pm-8pm.

Thank you all for being here.

I’m a worrier. Always have been. Probably always will be. My brain always working leads to a lot of story ideas, but sometimes it’s exhausting.

Here is a non-comprehensive list of things I worry about usually when I wake up in the middle of the night.

I worry that I set up my book business stuff wrong. There’s so many little pieces involved with self-publishing and I worry that I’m doing it all wrong.

I worry that because I write obsessively and fast that people will think I use AI. I published four books last year, but I didn’t write them all last year. I’ve been writing everyday for five years. The words add up. The books pile up. I have three other mysteries from 2021, 2022, and 2023 that I may never do anything with. I’m currently rewriting a romance I originally wrote in 2023. Writing is my happy place. And truth be told, I’m not the best sleeper. I’d rather just get up at four or sometimes three than lie in bed and worry that I’m not sleeping. Also I like em dashes and lists of threes. And when I come up with good metaphors it gives me tingles. This all makes me worry that people will think I use AI. I don’t.

I worry I am not marketing enough.

I worry that I’m marketing too much.

I want to have a Romance Writer Summer Camp and I’m not quite sure how to do it yet. I worry there won’t be any interest.

I’m so in love with my new idea and I worry that I’m not going to do it justice.

It’s not also doom and gloom. I also hope.

I hope someone will find my book and it’ll will touch them. I hope it will move them. I at least hope it will entertain them.

I hope I am able to write all the stories in my head. (There’s a lot).

I hope my efforts are helping.

Anyway. Not much content here really. I just wanted to share my hopes and my fears on this cloudy (in PNW) Tuesday.

If you want to say hey, or get a copy of my new thriller you can catch me at one of these events.

If you’d like to get a signed copy of one of my books but can’t make it to one of these events you can order from me. The Shipped Trip and In a Dark and Lovely Wood.

Thanks for being here. It really means a lot to me. If you’d like to share what you worry about at 3 am I’d love to listen.

I’m so excited to share the cover with you!!!! I have been working with the team at Get Covers and am in LOVE with this design.

Without further ado…..

This book was so much fun to write. And while it was truly a blast, it was also cathartic. The female main character Chloe was a dancer until an accident broke her hip and shattered her dreams of dancing professionally.

While I was never on the track to become a professional dancer, I did break my hip ten years ago and I deal with some chronic pain issues from that and arthritis. It was healing for me to write a character also dealing with chronic pain and finding ways to still pursue her passions. I hope it resonates with some of you as well.

Here is a short blurb.

If you’d like to sign up for an arc you can sign up through the PR company I’m working with here.

Or if you’d like applications are open for my street team. You can sign up here for access to ARCS, character art, cover reveals, and sneak peeks at what I’m working on next.

This Saturday I’ll be in Puyallup at Bundok Book’s Spring Break Book Fair. I hope to see you there.

Hey Friends,

Lots of exciting things are happening.

What’s not been so exciting is that I got back to back colds. And I have to say, in all honesty, this cold took me to a bit of a dark place. It happens sometimes when your head is so congested and you can’t sleep and your daughter can’t sleep. I started feeling really low. I felt like I was dropping all the balls, so many balls I wasn’t even sure what they all were. (I know there’s a joke in there somewhere but it escapes me at the moment, I’m still a bit fuzzy). I turned on Practical Magic and had myself a real nice cry. It’s such a gorgeous movie. The theme of stepping into who you are instead of running from it hit home for me. It also gave me an interesting idea… but more on that later.

I’m on the mend-ish (my nose hasn’t got the message yet) and here to share some fun things with you!

Fun thing #1

The title for the forth Fortune Falls book was revealed! The cover reveal for The Shipped Trip is March 26th!! Want to be a part of it. You can sign-up here. Make sure to include your a newsletter subscriber. ❤️💕

Fun Thing #2

My alter ego NC James has a thriller and it’s coming out really soon. You can sign-up for an arc on NetGalley or if NetGalley is not your thing you can sign up here and I’ll send it your way.

Fun Thing #3

I’m going to be at Bundok Books Spring Break Book Fair March 28th! I’ll add more info below under Events, but I’m so excited for this one. It’s Tarot Card themed.

Fun Thing #4

Minnie’s story is coming right along (honestly I’ve had everything but the end written for over a year, the end is becoming clearer now). The second Love on Location book should be available late June. If you missed the first Meet Me at the Loch it’s on KU.

Fun Thing #5 (last one)

I’ve started making character art for other authors. I made some for a few friends to see how I liked the process and add to my portfolio and I LOVE IT. It’s so much fun and satisfying and challenging in new ways. I’ll share more about that later, but if you’re interested in some character art (super inexpensive while I’m building my portfolio) hit me up.

Events

As always thank you so much for being here. It means the world to me. And take your vitamin C.

Hello Friends,

It’s been hectic. Boy oh boy.

There has been some family stuff going on. They may be eliminating my position at the elementary school library where I work. I’m still in PT for my knee. Everyone has been sick. And… I’m revising my book.

One thing to know about me is that drafting is my happy place. I LOVE it. A new story to me is like a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils. Discovering the characters. Seeing my little Scrivener line turn green. I love all of it.

Revising for me is harder. Trickier. Not as dopamine inducing.

For whatever reason, with this current novel, revising has been (I may regret saying this later)…fun. I can see the issues clearly. And so far with the help of my romance girlies (crit partners), I’ve been able to find my way through.

Which is a good thing because it’s headed your way really soon. The title reveal is next Tuesday!!!!!

Book News

Meet Me at the Loch ebook is free today and tomorrow. Woot! Woot!

IN A DARK AND LOVLEY WOOD is going to be on NetGalley next week. EEEE!!! I’m nervous and excited. This is by far the most challenging book I have ever written and I’m so pleased with how it’s turned out.

If you are not on NetGalley but would like an ARC please fill out this form. ARCS will be sent out April first.

Upcoming In Person Events

Lots of exciting events coming up!!!!! I’ll have copies of IN A DARK AND LOVELY WOOD at We Be Book’n Murder at High Tide event and possibly the Book’d and Tatt’d on April 12th.

I hope to see you soon! And if your not local but would like a signed copy of IN A DARK AND LOVLEY WOOD you can get one here.

Things Bringing Me Joy

Hunter’s Treasure by Olivia Jackson. This is my current before bed read and I am loving it. It’s funny and swoony and just a delight.

Listening to the Rebel Ranch Series by Lyla Sage. I’m nearly through the second one and it’s so fun!!!!!!!

Also if Teddy Hamilton could narrate Holden’s POV in my current WIP I’d just be over the moon. Dream cast!

Learning Procreate. I went to art school. When I went I didn’t learn the digital arts. I used real film in photography and a real pencil in drawing class. But art is my first love so I’ve been learning some new skills and I’m obsessed!!!! I’ve been working on some character art for friends. It’s been fun and inspiring and tickles that visual creator part of my brain. I’ll share more here about it soon.

Thanks so much for being here. :)

January was ten million years long, and yet I still didn’t get quite as much done as I’d like to. But the fourth and final Fortune Falls book is well on it’s way and if everything goes to plan (knock on wood) it will come out in early May!!!!!

I’m so excited about it. The world has been a dumpster fire (ICE GTF OUT) and personaly I’ve been going through a lot. This story has been the vacation my brain needs. And it’a a literal vacation. Here’s a sneak peak at the blurb.

Chloe’s life would be falling apart—if it ever felt like it really got started.

Her dream of becoming a professional dancer was shattered in the same accident that totaled her car at seventeen. Ever since, Chloe has been drifting from one thing to the next, never quite finding her footing. Now, at twenty-nine, she’s back living at home, working at her brother’s bar, and failing spectacularly at learning how to knit.

Then Ruby (of Road Not Taken fame) offers her a free Caribbean cruise. A fresh start, a change of scenery, maybe even a clue about what she’s meant to do next. There’s just one catch: someone else was supposed to go with her. And the man who shows up at the airport is none other than her brother’s best friend, Holden Hartman.

Holden is everything Chloe is not: focused, successful, and firmly on track. He runs a thriving brewery and barely has time to breathe, let alone take a vacation. But when he hears Chloe needs a travel companion, he jumps at the chance. His feelings for her have always run deeper than he lets on, but risking his friendship with her brother feels like crossing a line he can’t undo.

Once aboard, they discover the cruise isn’t just a vacation—it’s a couples cruise. To stay on the ship, they’ll have to pretend they’re together. As Chloe flips through the brochure, eyeing the endless classes and possibilities, excitement bubbles up. She could finally find her calling. Holden agrees to the farce, mostly because he will do anything for Chloe.

But as the ship sails on, pretending starts to feel easier. Sexier. More real. And somewhere between sun-soaked days and moonlit nights, Chloe and Holden must decide whether this is just a vacation fantasy or the beginning of something they’ve both been too afraid to reach for.

But that is not the news. Here it is.

The Fortune Falls Series is getting a refresh for the ebooks. EEE!!!

I’m so in love with these covers I couldn’t keep it in. To celebrate I’ll be running a keep the love going sale February 15th-20th. All three ebooks in the series (The Now in Forever, The Art of the Meet Cute and The Road Not Taken) will be .99 cents. YAY!!!! You can buy all three for three dollars.

Another bit of new is… I started a new pen name. As many of you already know I write mystery-thrillers as well as romance. And when I publish one, it will be under the name NC James. I’ve started an instagram if you want to give it a follow.

Also I hear you from the poll.

My latest thriller has been to beta readers and come back. I’ve made some revisions and I’m just dipping my toes into querying it. So far with eleven queries sent, I have two full requests. So that’s exciting. I’ll keep you posted.

Events

Book’d and Tatt’d Feb 7th 11am-5pm This Saturday!!!!

Art Major Studio 8030 Railroad Ave Snoqualmie, WA 98065. Hardline Collective will be there doing bookish flash tattoos and there will be tons of other authors there.

Book and Art Festival Mar 14th 10am-3pm

In downtown Kent 336 S Second Ave, this is going to be a lot of fun. 40 authors, 10 artists, reading, snacks! Come say hi.

More coming soon.

Thank you all so much for being here. I hope to see you soon. Also if you want to sign up for an Arc of the currently untitled Chloe and Holden story stay tuned! I’ll be looking very soon. :)

Hey friends.

This weekend in the Seattle area it has been in the fifties. Que Postal Service “no concerns about the world getting warmer, people thought they we’re just being rewarded.”

Ahh, my elder millennial is showing.

Anyway, I took my daughter to the park, my knee actually felt okay, and we tried to enjoy it. We’ve had a family thing going on, that I’m not going to get into but it has made things hard. My daughter doesn’t understand, so I’m trying to be there for her and let her have a sunny-three-day weekend. But I feel like I’m walking through a fog.

So what to do with myself when not out with my daughter…make stuff. Create. Distract.

I’ve been working on the fourth Fortune Falls Book. 🥰 It’s so cute!!!! Trying to get in the groove with it has been a bit challenging though.

I also made a YouTube video on how I sold over 10,000 copies of my books in my first four months as an indie romance author. It is in no way meant to make you feel bad or better if you sold more or less, I’m just sharing my experience in case you’d like to try any of it.

One thing I share in the video is that I learned a lot of my publishing strategies from a class I took from Sarra Cannon called Publish and Thrive. It was super informative. I loved it and I learned a ton! I share some other resources and strategies in the video so if you are at all interested in self-publishing, check it out.

Today we have big plans for another park (the one with the zip line) and I’m meeting with my OG critique partner (crit coven 4eva) about my thriller. I hope you have had a glorious weekend and if you have today off too, I hope it’s wonderful. 💕

This January has been a bit different for me. Usually, I am all about goals! I set them and reset them all year long. When it comes to New Year’s—basically a goal setting holiday—I’m into it. But this year. I’m tired.
I released four novels since August, and while this was my plan, I hoarded the novels in order to be able to do that very thing (I did not write them all last year and I do NOT use AI) once it was done I was really drained.

So I let myself be a winter animal and rest.

I also found this great article by Kaelyn Hansen that said:

“When Goals Are Set From Exhaustion, They Don’t Last

If you’re setting goals while still recovering from the holidays, running on poor sleep, mentally overstimulated, emotionally drained, or overcoming illness, you’re probably not ready for another energy expenditure.

Instead of setting a goal that requires you to do more, a good idea for this time of year is setting a resolution or intention that helps to support your foundations of holistic health.”

This winter I have been focused on getting my knee better, hanging out with my daughter (we’ve been playing a lot of games), cooking nourishing foods, learning more about the craft of writing, and drafting a thriller that I think is my favorite book I’ve ever written.

I have some questions regarding the last thing. I have two mystery-thriller books and I’m not sure what to do with them. Part of me wants to try traditional publishing the one I just finished so it could reach a larger audience, but part of me doesn’t. If I were to publish them, should I do it under another name???

I’d love your input.

Last Saturday, I participated in a local author event at House and Hazel with six other authors and it was so FUN! I had the best time. It was well worth coming out of my blanket cave. It made me excited to dive back into the fourth Fortune Falls book.

It was also so cool to see Meet Me at the Loch (my latest and first in a new series) find so many readers. I sold out of my copies, but more are on the way.

Meet Me at the Loch was also selected as the book for February in the Once Upon a Sisterhood Book Club. If your local and want to join in, we’ll be discussing the book on Saturday February 21st.

Here are the other events I have coming up.

Events

Bundok Books Jan 31, 2026, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM

3827 S Meridian, Puyallup, WA 98373, USA. I’ll be signing copies of all four books! Come out and say hi.

Book’d and Tatt’d Feb 7th 11am-5pm

Art Major Studio 8030 Railroad Ave Snoqualmie, WA 98065. Hardline Collective will be there doing bookish flash tattoos and there will be tons of other authors there.

More coming soon!

Thank you all so much for being here. Are you a get up and goal setter in January or more a wait for spring creature?

I hope to see you at one of my events soon or online.

Hello Lovelies. I’m tired. I released my third book November 1st and my fourth book (first of a new series) Meet Me at the Loch comes out Friday! I’m so excited, but I feel like I haven’t given the launch of this book my all because I’m pooped.

I did not write all these books this year and I do not use AI. I’ve been writing for years and when I decided to self publish I wanted to try a rapid release schedule. So that’s what lead to my publishing schedule. The Now in Forever August 18th. The Art of the Meet Cute October 10th. The Road Not Taken November 1st. And for my last book of the year Meet Me at the Loch December 5th.

Whoo! Have I mentioned I’m tired? I also am dealing with an injury. I sprained my knee and I’m still recovering. Still limping as a friend I saw recently so helpfully pointed out. I have this vision of my self in the hall (I work at a school) all of sudden walking normally. Like Kaiser Soze at the end of The Usual Suspects. One day I will Kaiser Soze the hall, but it’s going to take a lot of PT. I’ve kept a bright outlook. We went to Disneyland (a trip we planned for years) and I rented a scooter. I’ve still smiled and laughed with the kids at school. I’ve tried to make things fun and happy for my daughter. But it hit me this week. I am frustrated. I want to run. I want to at least go for a walk outside. I want to take my daughter to the park. Or the zoo. It’ll get better, I know that. But damn if it isn’t frustrating at over two months in.

But maybe I have the injury to thank partly for avoiding burnout, because it made me realize, I need to slow the fuck down.

So, how am I avoiding burnout…

1. I took a break. from writing. While we were in Disneyland I did not write anything after a 983 day streak. And it felt good. I needed the break and I took it.

2. I started drafting something new that is not part of my carefully planned publishing schedule. I put romance on hold to pursue a mystery I’ve been working on off and on since 2023. The characters would no longer shut up in the best way. My comps are Rebecca Makkai’s I Have Some Questions For You and Stacy Willingham’s Forget Me Not. When this draft is done I will go back to my Fortune Falls series, but it feels nice to follow my creativity where it leads.

3. At night instead of marketing, I’ve been crocheting or reading. And it’s been heaven. For months I’ve been waking up early and staying up late working on my books. Burning the candle at both ends and it hit a point where I couldn’t anymore. Do I still need to find time to market? Yes. But is having a half hour at night to reset my nervous system also important, maybe, dare I say, more important? Yes.

What I’ve realized is my why? Why did I want to self publish in the first place? To bring joy to readers. A lightness to their day. To try and bring my family some income by pursuing something I love. To follow my dreams. To say yes to life.

If I’m going so hard that I’m literally breaking, I can’t be there for my readers. I can’t be there for my family. And I won’t have the stamina to continue pursuing my dreams. So a little rest it is. In this dark season I will nurture my creative fancies, I will do my PT exercises, I will find ways to have fun with my family and I will recharge.

And if I have the energy I will also try to sell some books. Because I love them and I’d love if you did too.

What’s New???

The Road Not Taken is free right now!!!! Offer ends today. Woot Woot! Thank you for being here. Get your holiday cheer on.

Meet Me at the Loch comes out Friday!!!!

Meet Me at the Loch is out this Friday! If you’re looking for a sweet, spicy, Scottish escape this is the book for you. Get your ebook here. Or your signed paperback here.

Book’d and Tatted Naughty List December 6th 11-7pm

I’ll be at Orting Station 101 Washington Ave N, Orting, WA 98360 with Book’d and Tatted this Saturday until 3pm. It’s my last event of the year. Come say hi, and get a tattoo.

Thank you all for being here. If you have tips on avoiding burnout and author self care drop them in the comments. I’d love to hear them.

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

First things first. THE ROAD NOT TAKEN comes out in one day! Tomorrow.

I’m so excited. I truly love this friends to lovers Christmas road trip novella. If you’re looking for a quick, sweet and spicy holiday read you can order your copy here.

My ARC campaign for this book was not without it’s problems. Indie publishing is a constant learning experience and this past month I’ve learned a lot. One major thing I’ve learned is that the romance community is the absolute BEST! Readers, fellow writers, everyone that makes up our tight-knit group bonded by our love of kissing books—thank you for being amazing.

The Art of the Meet Cute

My second novel, The Art of the Meet Cute has been out for three weeks! Woohoo! It has gotten a fun reception and I’m thrilled people have responded to Oli and Zara (and Louise of course). To celebrate this and the release of The Road Not Taken the ebook will be FREE from Monday November 3rd to Friday November 7th! Mark your calendars and get it here.

Meet Me at the Loch

Second order of business, my next novel Meet Me at the Loch comes out December 5th. EEEE!!!! It’s a dual pov, reverse grumpy sunshine celebrity romance set in Scotland! It’s a lot of fun, and I’ve been rereading it (for the billionth time) and falling in love with Miles and Skye all over again. If you’d like to pre-order that one you can do so here.

Kid, Job, Sprained…knee?

My kid is amazing. She’s five, this is her first year of kindergarten, which has been an adjustment for us all. We’ve been doing Halloweeny stuff: making pumpkin muffins, scary storytime at the library, and trick or treating at the fire station. We’re all excited to trick or treat the neighborhood tonight.

My job is also amazing, but challenging. I work at a title one school and I’m so worried what SNAP benefits going away will mean for our families. But the kids are being kids. 67 whatever that means.

My knee…what was that now? Well, I stepped funny and it did something to my knee. I haven’t been able to fully bend or straighten it for over a month. I’ve been hobbling around in a brace and I have a black cane that one of the kindergartners at school said needs “details.” I got an MRI (which insurance finally approved) on Tuesday and got the results yesterday. Thank goodness nothing is torn. My IT band is so tight that it is pulling the kneecap out of place. Fun. I also have ACL scarring, which does that mean at some point I tore it? And didn’t know? According to the internet… I guess. I should’ve asked my doctor but I was so relieved I don’t need surgery it didn’t occur to me.

Events, Friends and Recs

Book’d & Tatt’d November 15th 11am-7pm

My next event is another amazing bookish tattoo event at The Hardline Collective in Tacoma hosted by @a_brew_story and @northwest_booknerd. Get a tattoo and buy some spicy books.

Author Marysa Stevens signing tomorrow in Olympia

If you are in Olympia tomorrow check out my friend Marysa Stevens signing. Saturday, Nov 1 at Barnes & Noble in Olympia, WA from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Her novel IF THE FATES ALLOW is available now! Check it out.

Annie Abel’s debut rom com is out tomorrow!

My friend Annie Abel’s debut novel also comes out tomorrow. I’m in the middle of reading and absolutely loving it! Her line level writing is impeccable, her characters are so real and the tension is delicious! You can read it here!

Audiobook Recs

I’ve been listening to A LOT of audiobooks and the two that completely blew me away recently are Lucy Score’s STORY OF MY LIFE and B.K. Borrison’s GOOD SPIRITS. Both these books brought me so much joy. I loved them.

New Manuscript

I started something new…. It’s fun. It’s spicy. It’s brought me a lot of blissful moments while, my knee has made normal things challenging. I’m about 15k words in and things are heating up. I can’t wait to share it with you when it’s ready.

Thank you all so much for being here and sharing this crazy, hectic, labor of love.

I had a blast being an attending author at Romance Recess. It was seriously so fun. Thank you to all the volunteers, to Emerie Spark for putting it all together, to all the other attending authors that made it so fun, and a HUGE thank you to all the readers that came out.

I have now officially sold over 100 copies of The Now in Forever. It was one of my goals for Q4 and I did it! We did it! YAY!

To celebrate I bought myself this absolutely stunning handmade mug by @circlingskiesceramics. It’s beautiful and my coffee tastes delicious out of it. She has a grumpy sunshine set that is so adorable. I nearly bought that too. Here’s Stef’s market schedule so you can get one too!

I held a swag bag giveaway (bookish tote, highlighter tabs, stickers and a signed copy of The Road Not Taken when it comes out) to everyone that signed up for my newsletter at the last two events and the winner is……

Ava!!!! Congrats. I’ll be in touch on how to get you your goods.

The Road Not Taken comes out in less than two weeks!!!!

AHHHHH!! I sent out the ARC to over two-hundred people Saturday morning! I’m thrilled. If you would like an arc and didn’t get the chance to sign up, I’m still taking sign-ups through the weekend. Sign up here. Here’s the blurb if you haven’t checked it out yet.

If you’d like to order a signed copy my paperbacks should be here this week, so you should get it pub day at the latest. The link for that is here. Or come see me at one of my upcoming events.

Meet Me at the Loch Cover Reveal is tomorrow!

I have a new series coming out in December! The first book in the series is called Meet Me at the Loch. It’s a fun, dual pov, fish out of water celebrity romance with a little spice and a lot of heart. The cover will be revealed tomorrow on IG @ncbartonwrites. But here’s a sneek peek at the blurb.

I have so more events coming up! So if you missed me at Romance Recess you can find me in one of these places.

Upcoming Events

Book’d & Tatt’d November 15th 11am-7pm

It’s another amazing bookish tattoo event at The Hardline Collective in Tacoma hosted by @a_brew_story and @northwest_booknerd. Get a tattoo and buy some spicy books.

Tis the Damn Season at We Be Book’N November 22nd 10am-6pm—

Lots of authors, lots of vendors, and I’m going to be doing some So, I Wrote a Book.. Now What? interviews.

More to come!!!!!

Thank you all so much for being here!!! If I haven’t mentioned it lately this is all a dream come true for me. And this morning especially I’m so grateful I get to do this. Thank you! I hope to see you soon!

Tomorrow is The Art of the Meet Cute’s book birthday. And it’s my real birthday too. If you’ve ever wondered what would Nicole like for her birthday the answer is buy my book. JK, sorta.

I’m so excited for Zara and Oli to enter the wider world. If you’d like to purchase a signed copy today is the day! Online orders are closing tomorrow (for a bit). I need to make sure I have enough stock for my upcoming events. Signed copies come with free shipping and all the swag above plus this character art.

I have gone down the procreate rabbit hole…so expect to see some more character art in the future.

In other news THE NOW IN FOREVER is on sale! The ebook is currently .99! Woot woot!

In personal news, I have injured my knee. They thought it was a sprain at first but now they’re pretty sure it’s a larger tear. I’m waiting on insurance to get an MRI. It’s not the way I wanted to kick off my forty-fifth year on earth. But it is what it is. I kicked off my thirty-fifth year with a broken hip and I made it through that, so… I’m trying to stay positive.

Upcoming Events

October 12th 2:30-4pm—

I’ll be at The Wine Alley in Renton signing copies of both books. Come hang out! There will be snacks!

October 18th 10am-2pm—

I’ll be at Romance Recess in Snohomish. 📚 a nostalgia bomb wrapped in spice and paperbacks🌶️ grown-up book fair for indie romance authors and readers. This event is going to be so fun!!! Lots of romance authors, lots of vendors, an after party and free parking! You can get your tickets here.

Holiday Event TBA—

I’m working with We Be Book’N on a holiday market! Lots of authors and vendors. It’s still in the planning stages. I will keep you updated.

Book’d & Tatt’d Naughty List—

It’s another amazing bookish tattoo event at The Hardline Collective in Tacoma hosted by @a_brew_story and @northwest_booknerd. Get a tattoo and buy some spicy books.

Thank you all so much for being here!!! I hope to see you this weekend if you’re in the area.