Happy New Year, Darlings,

I couldn’t have made it through 2025 without you. This last year has been a rollercoaster of emotions, and I’ve learned so much from my bookish community. But I want to reach more readers and authors. Reach is my motto for 2026, and I’m starting the year off right!

Reach for the stars ✨ I want to expand my writing/publishing/distribution in 2026 and branch out into some new spaces I’ve avoided for fear of failure. Could I still fail? Maybe. But I won’t let that stop me. I have BIG plans for 2026, so hold on to your butts.

1. Special Edition Collections
2. Kickstarters
3. Audiobooks
4. A Direct Online Store
5. Writer’s Retreats

As I get more information, I’ll let you know the details. My first goal is to get my online store up and running so readers and purchase paperbacks and ebooks directly from me. It’s a win-win for everyone involved. I may even get some swag in there too!

Second step is to work on Kickstarters and Special Editions. I’m really excited about it!

While I’m working on these, I’ll be on the lookout to get some audiobooks done. Which book should I have done first? I’m thinking Death and Desire, but When I Find You would be a blast too.

Now, the writer’s retreats are my little pet project. I want to host an indie romance reader event here in Cheyenne, but I’m trying to network with as many (local) indie authors as I can. Building a romance author community is important to me, and I want to offer a writer’s retreat to get us together so we can brainstorm and connect. 

But wouldn’t a reader’s romance retreat sound fun too? 🤩

What are you most excited about in my list? Do you have any suggestions or resources to share?

Why am I going big in 2026? Well, this year I came really close to giving up and closing up shop. No more books, no more events. I was ready to toss in the towel and say screw it. Looking back on it now, I’m glad I didn’t give up. But I still struggle with wondering if this is the right direction for me as an individual and as an author. Some days it’s overwhelming.

Reality is, I can’t NOT write. It’s part of me. If I don’t put words on paper, I go a little crazy. These stories are part of me and I embrace it. But sharing those stories with the world is hard work and daunting as hell. If you’ve ever read and enjoyed one of my books, I’d love to hear about it. Those messages are what keep me in the publishing mindset.

While 2025 was a whirlwind of chaos, I accomplished most of what I set out to do. I wrote and released the five Fangirl novellas, then compiled them into a hardcover collection. I also wrote and edited two novels for my Society of Wanton Widows coming from Dragonblade.

Speaking of the Society of Wanton Widows, I’ll be releasing some fantastic cover art soon! My first book in the series releases in March…here’s a little teaser of the first book cover. It embodies the classic historical romance look I fell in love with years ago. I can’t wait to share it with you. Once I have a pre-order link, you’ll get the full cover reveal!

I’ll post the pre-order links and covers for The Society for Wanton Widows once I get them finalized! I’m so excited to share these with you. You’ll fall in love with my Widows. 💖

And a heads-up, my writing plans for this year include my final Widow’s book, as well as another book in the Pirates and Persuasion Series and the third book in the Huntsmen Series. They won’t release until 2027, but I’ve got them on my schedule. 😉

Thank you again for all your love and support. I look forward to hearing from you and sharing more stories with you in the upcoming year.

xoxo, Kirsten/Jen